Novell teams with IBM to promote SUSE LINUX and Linux on power to software providers

EDP Weekly's IT Monitor, Feb 28, 2005

Novell (Nasdaq:NOVL) and IBM have launched a joint promotion to encourage software developers to build their applications for Novell's SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server on IBM POWER platforms. SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9, with the scalability and performance enhancements of the 2.6 Linux kernel, combined with the processing capabilities of IBM POWER5 processor-based servers, including IBM eServer OpenPower, IBM eServer BladeCenter JS20, IBM eServer pSeries and IBM eServer iSeries, provides a strong foundation for a full range of applications. By promoting the creation of new applications for the popular Linux on POWER platform, this initiative will expand customer options for what they can run on Linux.

Under this promotion, which runs through the end of March 2005, IBM and Novell are teaming to provide software vendors the opportunity to evaluate SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 for IBM's Linux on POWER line of servers at no initial charge, including 90 days of online software updates from Novell at no cost. Software vendors can download or request an evaluation kit, then leverage porting and migration information available from IBM and Novell to port their applications to SUSE LINUX on IBM's POWER5 processor-based servers. Vendors can also profit from co-marketing with Novell and IBM by joining the Novell PartnerNet for Technology Partners program and registering their Linux-ready products with IBM and Novell to take advantage of a large client base, a rapidly expanding market, and a motivated sales force.

"There is a substantial growth opportunity for Linux on POWER systems and Novell SUSE LINUX as the ecosystem of certified applications develops across the two platforms," said Brian Connors, vice president, IBM Linux on POWER. "This promotion is the latest in a number of shared initiatives between Novell and IBM to build strong industry support for both the Linux on POWER platform and Novell SUSE LINUX."

"Acucorp was the first to provide a COBOL platform for Linux and we're proud to now support our ACUCOBOL-GT Development System on SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server for IBM POWER," said Cameron Jenkins, Vice President of Strategic Partnerships at Acucorp, Inc. "Together with Novell and IBM, Acucorp makes it possible for customers to retain their legacy assets while modernizing their business-critical applications and taking advantage of the cost efficiencies of Linux."

Partners gain a series of benefits by porting to SUSE LINUX on IBM's POWER5 systems, including:--Enabling their application to run on multiple IBM servers including IBMeServer OpenPower, BladeCenter, pSeries, and iSeries--all with oneport to SUSE LINUX for IBM Linux on POWER--Beating their competitors to market with an application based on thenew Linux 2.6 kernel built into SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9--Gaining exposure to the large base of existing iSeries and pSeriesclients--Leveraging IBM and Novell co-marketing and demand generation programsto sell their product"Linux growth is fueling new opportunities for application software vendors. As Linux moves more centrally into the corporate data center, application vendors who haven't ported to Linux will lose business," said Hal Bennett, vice president of global alliances for Novell. "Novell and IBM are making it as easy as we can for software vendors to put their applications onto SUSE LINUX running on Power servers from IBM."