Dell to show off 64-bit Linux server
Dell Computer Corp. will affirm its commitment to Linux next week
when it demonstrates a prototype 64-bit server running on the
popular open-source platform, a person close to Dell said Friday.
The Round Rock, Texas-based computer maker will show a prototype
PowerEdge Server based on a 64-bit Itanium processor from Intel
Corp. and running a version of Linux from Red Hat Inc. The server
will be shown accessing IBM Corp.'s DB2 database and running
mySAP.com, SAP AG's suite of Internet-enabled electronic-business
software, the person said.
The demonstration will be offered Monday at the LinuxWorld
Conference and Expo taking place in San Jose, California. Michael
Dell, Dell's chairman and chief executive officer, is due to deliver
the opening keynote speech at LinuxWorld on Tuesday morning.
Dell announced plans in June to sell PowerEdge servers preinstalled
with Red Hat Linux, and to work with the open-source vendor to
develop 64-bit Linux systems. The availability of 64-bit versions of
Linux from a major hardware vendor like Dell should help boost the
operating system's appeal for running higher-end, enterprise-type
applications.
Red Hat Linux joins Microsoft Corp.'s Windows and Novell Inc.'s
Netware as the third operating system that Dell installs and
supports for customers.
Dell has partnered with Toyota Motor Sales USA to equip more than
1,400 Toyota and Lexus dealerships with Linux-based PowerApp Web
appliance servers, an executive said during the PC makers quarterly
earnings call Thursday. The servers will be used to provide digital
multimedia content for customers and employees.
Compaq Computer Corp. and Hewlett-Packard Co. also are set to make
enterprise-related Linux server announcements next week.
Compaq will provide details about select Proliant servers that will
be sold preloaded with Linux, and will also discuss its strategy to
offer Linux across all of its products lines, a spokeswoman for the
company said. Compaq is staying mum about further details of next
week's announcements.
Hewlett-Packard Co., meanwhile, is also expected to announce that it
will make a major commitment to support Linux across virtually all
of its product line. The company is expected to detail plans to ship
a developer release of Linux for its HP 9000 servers, and
demonstrate software tools from its HP-UX environment running on...