Novell just uncovered a pre-built installation server for SUSE Linux that’s more compatible with IBM’s System z mainframes, and big blue is beaming in the open source limelight.

The new package “simplifies the installation of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server on IBM’s System z mainframes. The starter system eliminates the need for IT managers to search for network access to installation media on the mainframe. With the new Starter System for System z, customers can quickly initiate evaluations of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for System z,” according to Novell.

IBM has been courting the open source community for a while now and this product will only add to the relationship.

Vice President of worldwide System z sales at IBM, Carol Stafford thinks “this starter kit is a great example of the many ways IBM is expanding mainframe compatibility and ease-of-use features. Novell’s Starter System for System z helps Linux customers quickly maximize the mainframe’s high reliability and scalability for mixed workloads.”

Though a positive step forward, this deal tails a similar agreement between Red Hat and IBM in 2007 that would “grow the use of Red Hat Enterprise Linux on System z mainframes . . . including product development and support features,” according to The New York Times.

The package includes a “complete set of RPM packages that ship with SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 SP1. It also includes utilities and configuration tools to help users deploy additional SUSE-based virtual machines.”

Novell continues to focus on Linux as its NetWare revenues sag, “from 2003 through 2005 Novell released many products across its portfolio, with the intention of arresting falling market share and to move away from dependencies on other Novell products, but the launches were not as successful as Novell had hoped for. In an effort to cut costs, Novell announced a round of layoffs in late 2005. While revenue from its Linux business continued to grow, the growth was not fast enough to contain the fall in NetWare revenue. This meant that while the company’s revenue was not falling rapidly, it was not growing either. Lack of clear direction or effective management meant that Novell took longer than expected to complete its restructuring,” according to Wikipedia.

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Entry was posted on Saturday, February 2nd, 2008 at 10:58 pm under Linux, Open source.

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