Claus Sørensen recently came to me with the following
information:
An un-named source at Siemens Denmark told me that
Siemens will demonstrate their new server, Primergy 870, running
Linux, at CeBIT 1999.This server is an Intel based machine with 4 Xeon CPU’s and
8GB RAM.The un-named source also says, “Running Linux on one of our
servers doesn’t mean that we also will be selling it pre-installed
with Linux or that we will be supporting Linux.”But then why show it at one of the largest IT events in the
world?I’m really looking forward to hearing Siemens’ official
statement on the matter.
By using our super-secret advanced internet sleuthing
techniques, we learn that indeed, Siemens is friendly to the Linux
community, evidenced by the following information:
Siemens-Nixdorf in Denmark contains an entry in their
Lexicon of computer terms for Linux.
“LINUX: Unix variant. Simpelt og billigt UNIX
operativsystem, udviklet af den finske Linus Torvalds. Meget
anvendt i universitetsmiljøer og til
undervisningsformål. Net Term anvender Linux som
operativsystem.”
Now, here is where it gets more interesting:
The Siemens (Munich) webserver contains a page for a
Unix security tool entitled HORUS v2.0.
“HORUS V2.0 is available for system platforms
Reliant Unix, Solaris, Irix, HP-UX and as freeware for
Linux.”
Now that we have determined that Siemens appears to be a
Linux-friendly corporation, let’s address the original question,
the Primergy server:
Siemens (Munich) contains a page that describes the
Primergy Intel-based Server Systems.
With 1-4 Intel Pentium II Xeon(TM) processors
running at 400 Mhz ( later with 450 Mhz) and up to 8 GB of main
memory, the PRIMERGY 870 sets new standards for scalable system
performance far beyond current capabilities.
Supported
operating systems: Windows NT, NetWare, OpenServer, UnixWare,
Solaris, OS/2, DOS 6.2x – no mention of Linux.
However…
Back in October, there was a press
release that came out of Siemens (Erlangen) that says:
“WebCC runs on all operating systems such as
Windows 95/98/NT, Mac, Unix, Solaris, Linux or
HP-UX.”
To be sure, there is one way for Siemens to truly exhibit the
total power of this sweet server: Run it with Linux.