IBM reveals large-scale Linux push

IBM has announced its intention to integrate all of its hardware products with the Linux open source software platform.

Linux will become the common operating system on the S/390, AS/400, RS/6000 and Netfinity servers.

According to Tony Occleshaw, a manager within IBM's European software business, the company is looking to open platforms to tap a wider development community. "Not many people develop for OS/390," he commented.

The move makes IBM one of the first companies to make this scale of commitment to Linux. And it's a commitment beyond the actual capabilities of Linux, according to Kirsten Ludvigsen, EC director at IDC.

"It gives Linux access to more computing power than it has access to at present," she said, adding that it will be another one and a half years until Linux is truly useful at the mainframe level. At the moment, the OS is in use mainly on PCs.

"Linux does extremely well in Web servicing, and print and mail servers," Ludvigsen commented, but said Linux currently does not pose a direct threat to IBM's own brand of Unix, AIX.

"I would promote the features that AIX has over Linux, such as the software portfolio, the middleware and management offerings, and security. AIX is definitely ahead right now."

According to Occleshaw, the company will not abandon AIX or the forthcoming Project Monterey, but IBM has been working to extend the scalability of Linux. "It's all about customer choice," he said.