IBM Intros Linux Mainframe In A Box, Linux Tools

As the new year begins, IBM opening up another effort in its unrelenting support for the open source Linux operating system with the introduction of a number of new Linux tools for devices from the handheld to the mainframe, including a pre-configured and tested Linux on mainframe installation, and Lotus Notes client software for Linux.

The eServer Integrated Platform for e-business on zSeries provides enterprises with pre-configured and tested hardware and software packages providing all the components needed for a reliable Linux installation on a mainframe, including SuSE Linux Enterprise Server for S/390 and zSeries 7, WebSphere Application Server AE V4.0.4, IBM Directory Server (LDAP) version 4.1, one year of software support and IBM Global Services LinuxLine Support, and optional installation and customization support from IBM Global Services and IBM Global Financing.

IBM will provide Linux client support for its Lotus iNotes Web access software, a rich Lotus Notes client that runs in a Web browser. Previously, the client was available for Microsoft Internet Explorer running on Windows. Now, the client will run in Netscape 7 on IBM's thin client hardware.

The vendor introduced a Linux reference platform for low-powered devices such as smartphones and personal digital assistants, based on the IBM PowerPC 405 LP embedded processor and MontaVista Linux CEE software, and includes IBM WebSphere Everyplace Mobile Device Edition, to allow mobile users access to WebSphere apps. The reference platform includes tools for handwriting and speech recognition, e-mail, video and databases, and is designed to extend enterprise applications to mobile devices. The software will be available in the second-quarter.

IBM Tivoli System Automation for Linux is designed to provide users with high availability for Linux, identifying failing IT clusters and automatically notify administrators about underlying problems, or alleviating problems automatically. It runs on IBM eServer zSeries mainframe servers, pSeries servers (formerly known as the RS/6000) and xSeries Intel-base servers.

IBM eServer x345 is an upgrade to its two-processor rack-mounted Intel-based Linux server, with 2.8 GHz Intel Xeon processor and support for Intel's faster 533 MHz frontside bus connecting the processor and memory.

IBM eServer p640 with Linux brings native Linux to the midrange pSeries, providing two processors with 4 GB memory, or four processors with 8 GB memory, or 8 processors with 16 GB memory.

Other new products and services from IBM for Linux will include clustering support for DB2, with support for up to 1,000 nodes, and new developer and partner programs for Linux.

The Lotus iNotes Web Access for Linux on the server will be available this quarter, and client technology will be available next quarter. Pricing starts at $48.65 per client, with volume discounts available. IBM did not provide pricing and availability on most of the other products.

For more information, go to www.ibm.com.

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