VA Linux Systems Announces Software and Hardware Vendor Partner Program - Product Information

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, March 6, 2000

VA Linux Systems, Inc. (Nasdaq: LNUX), a recognized leader in Linux and Open Source solutions, Wednesday announced the launch of its Linux Solutions Partner Program for independent software vendors (ISVs) and independent hardware vendors (IHVs).

The program provides ISVs and IHVs that want to extend their Linux market reach with development resources, including discounts on VA Linux workstations and servers, and co-marketing opportunities. Over 50 companies have joined the VA Linux Solutions Partner Program during its pilot phase.

"ISVs will play a major role in speeding the acceptance of Linux in the enterprise," said Bill Claybrook, research director for Linux and Open Source software, Aberdeen Group. "VA Linux, via its Linux Solutions Partner Program for ISVs and its SourceForge development center, has taken the lead in establishing an environment that will encourage ISVs to port their applications to Linux."

"The VA Linux Solutions Partner Program provides us with a way to work closely with ISVs and IHVs on development issues and co-marketing opportunities," said Brian Biles, vice president of marketing for VA Linux Systems. "Through these relationships, VA Linux will be positioned to extend our offerings of end-to-end Internet, enterprise, and scientific computing solutions. As a distribution-neutral company, VA Linux is also positioned to help ISVs working with multiple Linux distributions."

Development Resources and Co-Marketing Opportunities VA Linux Solutions partners will receive access to new technologies being developed by VA Linux; assistance with development issues; discounts and technical support for development hardware; and opportunities to participate in co-marketing activities, including marketing opportunities on VA Linux business web sites.

ISVs and IHVs developing Open Source software have the further option to join the 2,300-plus software projects hosted on VA Linux Systems' SourceForge[tm], the world's largest Open Source development center. Of these projects, more than 1,800 are Linux applications, and the number of registered users, currently over 14,750, continues to grow.

Tripwire, NVIDIA and Others Join VA Linux Solutions Partner Program Companies that have already joined the VA Linux Solutions Partner Program include Tripwire, the leading provider of integrity assessment solutions, which announced yesterday that it will headquarter development of its flagship product for Linux on SourceForge; NVIDIA, the world's leading supplier of performance 3D graphics processors; The Portland Group, Inc. (PGI), the worldwide leader in parallel Fortran/C/C compilers and tools for Linux workstations, servers, and clusters; and Lutris Technologies, Inc., an Open Source software and services company and sponsor of Enhydra, the leading Open Source Java/XML application server.

"Providing a compatible graphics environment is a fundamental step in enabling the development of professional applications for Linux," said Dan Vivoli, senior vice president of marketing for NVIDIA. "Through the VA Linux Solutions Partner Program, developers will have access to our high-performance, fully native Linux graphics platform."

"We're looking forward to working with VA Linux, drawing on their Open Source expertise to help raise the bar for Linux-based solutions," said W. Wyatt Starnes, co-founder and CEO of Tripwire, Inc. "We recently announced the Tripwire commercial Linux product will be going Open Source, demonstrating our commitment to the Linux and Open Source communities, and are excited to be working closely with VA Linux Systems."

For more information on the VA Linux Solutions Partner Program, visit http://www.valinux.com/about/lspp.html

Since 1993, VA Linux Systems has been a recognized leader in advancing Linux and Open Source solutions. VA Linux provides a single point of contact for Linux systems, Open Source software, and world-class professional services and support. VA Linux Systems owns and operates SourceForge, the world's largest Open Source development center, as well as Linux.com and Themes.org. Headquartered in Sunnyvale, VA Linux is located on the Web at http://www.valinux.com/.>

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