IBM has recently published the following “fact sheet,” summarizing IBM's many Linux activities over the last several years . . .

Fact Sheet — IBM Solutions for Linux

IBM offers the industry's most comprehensive lineup of solutions for Linux, the open source operating system. IBM's efforts to advance Linux stretch back to 1998 and signify an unrivaled show of support via technology, skills, services, and corporate focus. IBM's support extends to the operating system itself, with technical support for major commercial distributions of Linux. With the industry's largest portfolio of hardware, software and services for Linux, IBM support continues to expand, allowing more companies to leverage Linux to grow their e-businesses.

At-a-glance facts on IBM's support of Linux include:

August 2000

• IBM and Red Hat announce an agreement that will enable, for the first time, a commercial Linux developer to bundle all of IBM's Linux-based software into e-business solutions.
  
• Source code of SashXB for Linux is made available from IBM which offers Linux developers the ability to write Web applications that are tightly integrated into the Linux desktop.
  
• IBM introduces Linux NetVista Thin Client for businesses seeking desktop solutions that are reliable, affordable and offer the flexibility of Linux.
  
• IBM introduces ability to run Linux applications on IBM's NUMA-Q servers featuring advanced scalability, availability and management for high-powered Web environments.
  
• IBM is collaborating with HelixCode, a leading open source desktop company, and is shipping select ThinkPad notebooks pre-configured with Linux.
  
• IBM contributes more than 100 printer drivers to the open source community, making printing from a Linux-based system easier.
  
• IBM makes available results from their performance and benchmark results of the Linux 2.2.14 kernel and the Linux 2.3.99 kernel that demonstrate increased scalability for Web serving in the upcoming Linux 2.4 kernel.
  
• IBM introduced a new Linux feature for its Netfinity server that brings the functionality of mainframe technology to its PC Servers – X Architecture.
  
• IBM introduces Netfinity servers with SuSE Linux pre-loaded.
  
• IBM Research shows a prototype wrist watch device that runs the Linux operating system, demonstrating the potential reach of the platform from large servers to pervasive computing.

  July 2000
  

• IBM introduces Linux-based middleware and applications technology to help common household devices such as telephones, televisions and refrigerators communicate without being cabled together. BlueDrekar is IBM's first Linux-based middleware based on Bluetooth specifications for connecting devices wirelessly.
  
• IBM launches $200 million Linux.Net initiative in Europe. This investment will include Linux development centers across Europe designed to help independent software vendors (ISVs) move their applications to Linux, along with rapid deployment of about 1,000 specialized Linux consultants, hardware and software specialists, sales people and services professionals.
  
• IBM announces the availability of WebSphere Homepage Builder software for Linux, which helps people with no programming experience to create and publish professional-quality Web sites.
  
• Wimbledon 2000 nets widest audience ever. www.wimbledon.org using DB2 Universal Database for Linux smashes records for IBM-powered Web sites.

  June 2000
  

• IBM introduces ViaVoice Dictation for Linux, the only commercially available voice dictation technology for the Linux platform.
  
• weather.com announces that it will use IBM Netfinity servers and services to become one of the first major, high-traffic Web sites to run on Linux.
  
• IBM unveils new ThinkPad notebooks pre-configured with Caldera OpenLinux eDesktop TM 2.4.
  
• IBM announces a promotion for small businesses, the Small Business Pack for Linux, that includes IBM's key e-business middleware. The offering, available for under $500, includes: DB2 Universal Database, Lotus Domino and WebSphere Application Sever, Standard Edition.
  
• IBM announces a set of partner initiatives to support development of Linux applications and provide Linux training, education and certification for IBM's 90,000 resellers, and solution providers.
  
• IBM unveils a Linux-enabled POWER 4 microprocessor that will be available next year.

  May 2000
  

• IBM establishes a high-end Intel systems engineering group to bring to market the first enterprise-class Linux application environment (NUMA-Q) on Intel (IA-32).
  
• IBM announces Linux for S/390 servers will be supported by TurboLinux and SuSE.
  
• IBM released preview Java virtual machine (JVM) for Linux, available for download from alphaWorks.
  
• IBM steps up its support for Linux by preloading its Intel servers with three different versions of the operating system.

  April 2000
  

• IBM announces preloaded Linux on Netfinity servers in conjunction with Caldera, Red Hat, TurboLinux.

  March 2000
  

• IBM announces support of Embedded Linux Consortium, known as ELC, made up of 30 vendors to promote Linux-based embedded applications.
  
• IBM launches Linux developer program for its S/390 mainframes.
  
• University of New Mexico announces purchase of 256 IBM Netfinity servers clustered with Red Hat Linux, creating the 24th fastest supercomputer.

  February 2000
  

• IBM announces the first available speech recognition technology for Linux (ViaVoice), which allows developers to create voice-enabled applications.
  
• IBM announces that its Network Station Series 2200 and 2800 thin clients can now run Linux applications.
  
• IBM also announces a forum for customers to exchange information regarding Linux on the Network Station family.
  
• IBM offers an application developer kit to business partners to accelerate development of small business applications for Linux.
  
• IBM introduces a beta version of NetObjects TopPage for Linux, an easy-to-use web authoring and web page design tool.

  January 2000
  

• IBM strengthens support for Linux and open source by announcing its intention to make all server platforms Linux ready; reaffirming its commitment to work with the Linux community to help Linux evolve and make IBM technologies available to the Linux and open source communities.
  
• IBM announces a new lead Linux executive, Irving Wladawsky-Berger, with responsibility for UNIX software, advanced architectures and technologies, and IBM's next-generation Internet strategies.
  
• IBM announces a new Linux-based thin client that cuts the complexity and cost of corporate desktop computing and creates a computing environment that is easy to use and readily updated.

  December 1999
  

• IBM releases source code modifications that enable Linux to run on S/390® servers.
  
• IBM and SAP AG expand their global sales, marketing and development relationship. The two companies agree to work together to provide expanded choices for customers that wish to implement mySAP.com Internet business solutions and DB2 Universal Database on operating system platforms that include Linux.
  
• IBM's PC 300 PL and IBM IntelliStation M Pro are certified by Red Hat Inc. to run its Red Hat Linux 6.0 operating system, meeting all the necessary requirements on Red Hat's Hardware Compatibility List.

  November 1999
  

• IBM makes VisualAge for Java for Linux generally available.
  
• Lotus makes Domino for Linux generally available.
  
• IBM expands agreement with SuSE to include SuSE distribution of selected IBM middleware.
  
• IBM expands its worldwide Solution Partnership Centers (SPCs) to include access to technicians with Linux operating system expertise and a vast array of hardware to test and validate software developers' computing solutions for Linux on Netfinity servers, enabling smoother installations and reliable implementation.

  October 1999
  

• IBM announces new services for Internet Service Providers, including Linux services.
  
• IBM makes the Developer Kit for Linux, Java Technology Edition, generally available.

  September 1999
  

• IBM announces its ThinkPad 600, one of the first mobile computers to run Linux.
  
• IBM unveils the Netfinity 4000R for the Internet Service Provider market. The new rack-mounted server, which measures just 1-3/4 inches tall is specifically designed for Linux and Windows NT operating systems.
  
• IBM unveils RS/6000 B50 “Pizzazz” system, which supports Yellow Dog Linux.
  
• IBM announces plans for a Linux application execution environment that will enable most Linux applications to run on RS/6000 servers with AIX 4.3.3.

  August 1999
  

• IBM makes DB2 Universal Database V. 6.1 for Linux generally available.
  
• IBM announces the availability of consultative and implementation services and technical support for Linux environments.
  
• IBM announces beta testing of Lotus Domino for Linux.
  
• IBM and SAP AG announce plans to optimize a Linux version of SAP R/3 for Netfinity servers and the opening of LinuxLab with SAP, a new development center in Germany.
  
• IBM announces a new low-cost small business server — the Netfinity 3500 M10, specifically designed for Windows NT and Linux-based businesses, that makes it easier to link together computers and the Internet.

  July 1999
  

• IBM offers the industry's broadest education and training curricula for Linux — with both classroom and Web-based courses available worldwide.
  
• IBM certifies four leading Linux versions to run on Netfinity 3000 and 5000 servers following testing by KeyLabs, an independent certification organization.
  
• IBM expands its ServerProven Solutions program to hardware and software vendors supporting Linux operating systems and applications. The ServerProven designation indicates that the software has been tested for compatibility with specific configurations of IBM Netfinity servers.
  
• IBM enables RS/6000 43P Model 150 and F50 systems to run on Terra Soft's Linux operating system, Yellow Dog, and plans support for upcoming B50 thin application server, “Pizzazz.”
  
• IBM announces beta testing of WebSphere application servers and performance pack for Linux.
  
• IBM launches worldwide service and support to Netfinity Server customers running Linux. Support includes 90-day startup period with free support — direct telephone and e-mail help center support in 164 countries, for Caldera and Red Hat versions of Linux.
  
• Hill House Hammond chooses Netfinity servers to run the first live Linux installation in the financial sector.

  June 1999
  

• IBM and Caldera Systems sign an expanded agreement to assist resellers in delivering IBM solutions running on the Caldera OpenLinux operating system. The two companies agree to participate in joint sales and marketing activities to recruit systems integrators, value-added resellers, independent software vendors and to collaborate on porting and testing selected IBM software on OpenLinux.
  
• IBM announces the general availability of SecureWay On-Demand Server V.2 for Linux.
  
• IBM announces limited beta testing of MQSeries for Linux (server).
  
• IBM makes available alpha code for the Developer Kit for Linux, Java Technology Edition.

  May 1999
  

• IBM and TurboLinux team up to promote Linux solutions with an expanded alliance that enables, for the first time, a commercial distributor of Linux to ship DB2 Universal Database with its operating system suite. In addition to the software bundling agreement, the alliance creates a virtual development lab, with IBM and TurboLinux collaborating on porting IBM middleware to TurboLinux.
  
• IBM announces a technical preview of VisualAge for Java for Linux application development.
  
• IBM delivers Linux device drivers for the ServRAID 3 adapter.
  
• IBM announces a new Web-based forum where customers, resellers and developers can exchange ideas and post questions about deploying Linux on Netfinity servers; new education programs; and Linux Professional Server Expert Certification for business partners.

  April 1999
  

• IBM announces a beta version of the industry's first speech recognition technology for Linux (ViaVoice) to enable developers to create voice-enabled applications.

  March 1999
  

• IBM announces alliances with four commercial distributors of Linux (Caldera Systems, Red Hat, SuSE, and TurboLinux — formerly Pacific HiTech). The alliances cover co-marketing, development, training and support initiatives.
  
• IBM announces product plans for Linux support, including:
  • WebSphere Application Servers and a performance pack to enable Linux customers to exploit the Web;
    
  • The general availability of the industry's first commercial, Java-based emulator for Linux
    
  • IBM Host On-Demand, which provides secure access to enterprise data and applications via a Web browser;
    Beta testing of SecureWay On-Demand Server for Linux, which manages access to e-business applications by users, groups and devices.
• IBM announces plans to work with the Linux community to port Linux to selected IBM RS/6000 models.

  February 1999
  

• IBM and Red Hat unveil plans to make Red Hat Linux available for IBM server and client systems, such as IBM Netfinity servers, Intellistation professional workstations, and ThinkPad notebook PCs.
  
• IBM opens in Tokyo the industry's first IBM Linux Support Center, which will provide a wide range of solutions for PC-based client-server systems running on Linux.

  January 1999
  

• Lotus announces plans to offer Domino on Linux.

  December 1998
  

• IBM brings enterprise and web file sharing to Linux (Transarc subsidiary makes its Enterprise File Systems products — AFS Server and AFS Client — available for Red Hat Linux.)
  
• IBM begins beta testing of DB2 Universal Database for Linux

IBM has established the Linux Technology Center as a focal point for its technical contributions to Linux. The center, which has a dedicated staff of engineers, manages the transfer of IBM technology to the open source community.

 
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