Linux on the AS/400 may not yet have come of age, but it has at
least taken its first faltering steps with announcements from two
major open source suppliers.
German based Suse has released its Linux Developer Edition for
iSeries based on Kernel 2.4.3, which includes the IBM Java
Developer Kit for Linux. It has also announced details of its first
iSeries commercial implementation. Based in Lauchringer, Germany,
textile company Lauffenmuehle has implemented Suse version 7.1, in
the partition of an iSeries 820, for its stock planning and control
system. The application is run in parallel with partitions running
test systems, OS/400, and traditional web applications such as
firewalls. The project was implemented in six weeks by IBM business
partner Fritz & Macziol GmbH.
'Small to mid-sized customers are searching for integrated,
enterprise-class Linux solutions that help them reduce server
sprawl,' said Kim Stevenson, vice president of IBM eServer
marketing operations. 'Linux on eServer iSeries takes advantage of
the strengths of Linux and OS/400 and provides an easy-to-manage
server consolidation solution for mid-sized businesses looking to
drive down cost and complexity.'
Suse's rival in the Linux space, Californian-based TurboLinux, has
announced version 6.5 of its own offering claiming it will provide
functionality previously unavailable to iSeries users. It includes
Linux's firewall and Web server, and Windows compatible file, print
and email services. The company believes the new release will allow
customers faster access to data and the growing number of Linux
applications which utilise IBM middleware.
AS/400 briefly
Create!form International has released a new version of its
flagship electronic forms formatting, management and production
printing software. Create!form 2.0, is claimed to allow an
organisation to fully customise application output and produce
professional quality documents on plain paper without changing
existing systems. It says users can create customised documents,
including variable data, graphics, bar codes and MICR cheque
printing support. The product works for both OS/400 and Windows
NT/2000, and small business solutions start at around £6,000.
Leading IBM business partner Syan, has taken over the Knutsford
based iSeries specialist PR Technology. Syan says PR Technology's
specialism in areas such as iSeries consultancy, LPAR and high
availability, will complement its existing skills in application
and system support services. 'The combined talents of Syan and PR
Technology will allow us to give our customers even better service
and value for money,' said Jeff Trendell, Syan chairman.
Performance management solutions provider Silvon Software, has
released Stratum.InfoCast, an enterprise report writer and delivery
server for its analytical applications. It utilises Microsoft Excel
technology and is aimed at helping users of Silvon's DataTracker
and applications to create, schedule and broadcast key analytical
reports to internal and external users. Silvon claims it gives
users the option of receiving reports in various industry standard
formats.