IBM Makes Major Bet On Linux.

Late last fall in an effort to develop major initiatives to help revive the growth of IBM's big server computers - main frames, minicomputers and AIX UNIX machines - IBM undertook a study designed to help IBM compete against two key rivals, Microsoft and Sun Microsystems, using Linux. The study concluded that IBM should advocate Linux as the operating system of choice for the Internet as a more robust and reliable system than Windows NT and Sun's Solaris. In a surprisingly rapid process, IBM approved and adopted the proposal and mobilized hundreds of engineers across the company to engage in the Linux campaign. IBM expects the Linux strategy to provide its server business with a single, homogenous server platform, from desktops to mainframes, allowing it to compete with Sun and Microsoft for the attention of the software industry technologists.

IBM is following the lead of other major companies, including Dell Computer, HP and Oracle in having singular strategic Linux efforts, but has designed a more tightly focused program than the others.

IBM had earlier lost its operating system battles with Microsoft and Sun when its personal computer software, OS/2 was overwhelmed by Windows and its AIX version of UNIX by Sun's Solaris. IBM would hope to compete with both companies by removing the profit from the operating system's revenue of Microsoft and Sun by providing browsing software (Linux) free. Its ultimate success will depend upon whether Linux does evolve into a genuine alternative to Windows or Solaris, a conclusion which must await several years of operation and development for Linux to become more powerful and dependable. As open source software it is available to be developed, debugged and improved by the entire international community of programmers. Some skeptics say, however, that the Linux community with its focus on personal computers will not work effectively to assist IBM on its other platforms.