Informix and Oracle back Linux

Database vendors Informix and Oracle will announce their support for open-source operating system Linux this week. Rob Hailstone, database expert at Bloor Research, said the move indicates "the pendulum of opinion swinging against Microsoft".

Oracle will shock the industry, reversing its decision on Linux - often touted as an alternative to Windows NT and Unix - only a few weeks after saying it wouldn't touch it. Informix will announce its support at its user conference in Seattle this week.

Hailstone said: "Linux makes sense as cheaper, low-end alternative to NT for a system that just needs to handle data efficiently."

Attention will now turn to the other big database players, IBM and Sybase, to see if they will climb on the Linux bandwagon. Hailstone's opinion is that they won't buck the trend, and will port products to Linux in line with customer demand.

IBM's brand manager for network computing software, Mike Collins, wouldn't be drawn on the subject: "IBM has no specific plans for Linux at the moment, but this isn't a final decision and it will be considered if our customers demand it."

Sybase officials were unavailable for comment.