Sun shines on Linux

Sun introduced the Sun Cobalt server appliance family, which will run Linux rather than Sun's proprietary Unix-based operating system, Solaris.

The Cobalt release is the first fruit of the $2bn deal to buy out Cobalt Networks, announced by Sun on 19 September 2000.

Sun dominates the high-end Unix server market but it has not made inroads into the low-end server market, which traditionally uses smaller Windows-based servers.

Further endorsing the principle of Open Source software, Sun yesterday announced a $5m participation in a $24m funding round for Tripwire, an open source security system which detects when changes have been made to important files.

Sun also announced extensions to the Sun Netra rack-optimised server line, including an entry-level model which retails for less than $1000.