IBM and Linux: What's really happening

Zardon · May 20, 2002, 11:25 PM

good article http://linux.com/article.pl?sid=02/05/20/1728220

here is a paste:

Quote:

By Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols -
In February 1999, IBM announced it would support Linux and a partnership with Red Hat. By July of that year, Advanced Communication Design, a developer and OEM of in-store interactive digital audio and video merchandising systems, made history by being one of the first companies to deploy a major, mission critical IBM/Red Hat Linux system. Why? Marco Scibora, ACD's president explained then it was because "Linux is very reliable, and its help resources are extremely fast," and also, "now that Linux has major corporate help support from IBM and other companies, it makes a great environment for customized programs."

Fast-forward to October 2000: IBM announced it had a grand operating system unification plan for its servers. Its name was Linux, and with the partnership of the four major business Linux distributors, Caldera, Red Hat, SuSE and Turbolinux, IBM made it happen. Today, there's no modern IBM hardware from laptop to mainframe that you can't run Linux on.
Now it all seems inevitable. IBM and Linux, Linux and IBM. Today, the two go together as closely as Microsoft and Windows. But what is IBM really getting from Linux? How well is the partnership between what was once seen as the stodgiest of all computer companies and the most rebellious of all operating systems actually going beyond the ad campaigns and the constant announcements of new deals?

high_ping · May 21, 2002, 12:58 AM

Just a few months ago before SuSE 8.0 came out...IBM and SuSE both had on their front pages about their partnership and how it was going to change things in the states. Looks like they are aiming at taking red hat out as top distro in the states.

UberLord · May 21, 2002, 11:02 AM

IBM is one of the few companies to actually spot money making ideas that a corporation readily understands.

IBM makes most of its money (by long way) through service and support - not through hardware and software sales (although this is still profitable for Big Blue). So IBM's current line of thinking is "Why are we spending $$$ making OS's that only run on our platforms when we can save $$$ by getting Linux to run on our platforms, thusly cutting our development costs for DB2 and other applications".

Also, IBM has provided loads of technical and development input into various open source products, like Apache and Tomact. IBM now inlclude these two products integrated in their WebShere development package.

This is why IBM has no fear of Linux and what it advocates - and exactly why Microsoft and others really hate it

May 21, 2002, 11:02 AM	#3
UberLord A Legend in Underwear Join Date: May 2002 Location: Unknown Posts: 5,255 Rep Power: 70	IBM is one of the few companies to actually spot money making ideas that a corporation readily understands. IBM makes most of its money (by long way) through service and support - not through hardware and software sales (although this is still profitable for Big Blue). So IBM's current line of thinking is "Why are we spending $$$ making OS's that only run on our platforms when we can save $$$ by getting Linux to run on our platforms, thusly cutting our development costs for DB2 and other applications". Also, IBM has provided loads of technical and development input into various open source products, like Apache and Tomact. IBM now inlclude these two products integrated in their WebShere development package. This is why IBM has no fear of Linux and what it advocates - and exactly why Microsoft and others really hate it __________________ Gentoo Linux - Developer (baselayout) Read my blog "I contend that we are both atheists. I just believe in one fewer god than you do. When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours." Stephen Roberts

May 21, 2002, 12:58 AM	#2
high_ping King of the Wicker People Join Date: May 2002 Location: Baton Rouge Posts: 98 Rep Power: 0	Just a few months ago before SuSE 8.0 came out...IBM and SuSE both had on their front pages about their partnership and how it was going to change things in the states. Looks like they are aiming at taking red hat out as top distro in the states.