Linux Products Still Server-Centric

Much of the keynote address and seminar content at the trade show has been devoted to the inroads Linux is beginning to make into sectors like client and grid computing, but most agree this still is a few months or quarters away from seeing widespread product releases.

Where Linux is going strong is in the server sector, especially in the area of clustering and consolidation. This week, HP unveiled new Linux-based management and clustering solutions, including several management software products for deploying multiple Linux and blade servers, basic network management and real-time performance monitoring and problem resolution across Linux systems. The clustering solutions include a factory-integrated technical compute cluster from 16 to 128 nodes; enhanced clustering software for Linux servers, storage, database and messaging deployments; and a "do it yourself" cluster kit for Oracle Real Application Clusters.

Qlusters released version 1.6 of its ClusterFrame software for creating enterprise-class Linux clusters using Intel 32-bit hardware, and Veritas unveiled ClusterServer agents for IBM DB2, MySQL and Oracle databases. The storage provider also announced that its Foundation Suite now runs on IBM's eServer zSeries. InfiniCon Systems shipped its 3000 switching series for building database cluster and high-performance computing fabrics. Finally, open-source software provider Revario released Virtual Blade, a Linux server consolidation tool.

Other server-related announcements include one from Novell, which said it will release GroupWise for Linux in the first half of 2004. The suite already handles e-mail, calendaring, instant messaging, contact and document management and workflow services for NetWare- and Windows-based networks. Change management software developer Linuxcare released version 2.0 of Levanta, an application that administers virtual Linux servers on the IBM eServer zSeries platform, and Newisys unveiled its 4300 Enterprise-Class server, an AMD Opteron-based server with 64-bit compatibility.

In the database sector, Pogo Linux and MySQL AB combined to deliver the DataWare 2600 server, a turnkey solution for developing solutions such as Web hosting at financial institutions. And Storix released its System Backup Administrator for Linux, version 4.2, a backup and disaster recovery system for IBM pSeries eServers and other Intel-based systems.

In the security space, data center management company Cyclades introduced AlterPath Bio, a biometric scanner that provides remote access to the company's Advanced Console Servers; and AlterPath Manager E2000, a centralized network management console.

AlterPath Bio will be available after August 15, the Newisys server is in beta now with general availability in Q4 and the Novell GroupWise suite will be released early next year. All of the other products are shipping now.