The Linux Executive Report from IBM
October 12, 2011
The Linux Executive Report from IBM: October 12, 2011. A monthly summary of important trends and market research, case studies and information about IBM's Linux initiatives of interest to senior management.
Linux News
Earlier this year, Watson, IBM's highly intelligent machine beat the two all-time winners in Jeopardy!. Watson, named after IBM founder Thomas J. Watson, is a computing system built by a team of IBM scientists who set out to accomplish a grand challenge - build a computing system that rivals a human's ability to answer questions posed in natural language with speed, accuracy and confidence. Of course, IBM did not spend all its time and resources just to create a system that can succeed at game shows.
IBM is broadening its Power architecture licensing program to include a multi-use agreement that provides developers access to the entire lineup of Power cores with a single license. This is the first time such an option has been available for Power systems developers. Designers can now gain access to a blanket license for unlimited uses of the Power 470, Power 460 and Power 405 cores for a 5-year period. IBM also announced a new "no-barriers" license for the Power 405 core which drops the standard access fee.
IBM has been selected by Yi Lian Zhong Information Technology (YLZ), a provider of information services in China, to build a cloud computing platform that will improve the life of citizens in China via an online portal for social services. With an IBM System z mainframe running Linux as the foundation, YLZ will expand its existing services available in Fujian Province to seven more Chinese provinces. This will allow them to construct a citizen livelihood service information network covering a population of 300 million. YLZ selected System z for its reliability, security and cost effectiveness. Specifically, the mainframe's ability to scale easily will help YLZ manage the unpredictable nature of transaction peaks and valleys without incurring additional costs.
LiMo Foundation and The Linux Foundation have announced a new open source project, Tizen, to develop a Linux-based device software platform. Hosted at The Linux Foundation, Tizen is a standards-based, cross-architecture software platform, which supports multiple device categories including smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, netbooks and in-vehicle infotainment systems. The initial release of Tizen is targeted for Q1 2012, enabling first devices to come to market in mid-2012.
New IBM Systems Director VMControl 2.4: Cloud-Ready Virtual Infrastructures, Now Supporting Next-Generation Hypervisor KVM
Since its launch, the Open Virtualization Alliance (OVA) has grown to include more than 200 members, indicating the keen interest in open virtualization and Kernel-based Virtual Machine (KVM). The OVA was founded in May 2011 by industry leaders including Red Hat, SUSE, and IBM in May 2011.
Inside Linux at IBM
BrainShare 2011 is The Attachmate Group conference covering its NetIQ, Novell, and SUSE business units. BrainShare will take place October 10-14 in Salt Lake City, Utah, and is the best place to experience SUSE's latest solutions and to learn about future products.
Virtualization combined with Integrated Service Management helps you use your resources effectively, manage your infrastructures efficiently, and gain the flexibility to meet ever-changing business demands. The Virtualization@IBM blog is an open exchange of ideas relating to virtualization across the entire infrastructure.
LinuxCon will take place for the first time in Europe, October 26-28, in Prague. IBM representatives will be present at the event, covering topics such as "Linux in Growth Markets: The Kazakhstan Experience," "The Brand New Software Development Kit for Linux on POWER," and "Managing KVM with Open Source Projects and Closed Source Projects."
Help! I got my Linux installed. Now what? If you're a Windows user who wants to try Linux, and you are new to Linux, this tutorial is for you.
Server virtualization has quickly become a trusted, mainstream solution aboard x86 servers. KVM, which stands for Kernel-based Virtual Machine, is the newest hypervisor to enter the virtualization market, and it joins a market that already has no fewer than four other major solutions in place.
Interested in finding out what IBM software is available for Linux?
Linux Running on IBM System x and IBM BladeCenter provides an open, reliable and secure IT environment that can scale as workloads demand. Solution briefs from IBM highlight the advantages.
Inside IBM's Linux Partners
Choosing the right virtualization foundation is critical - whether you are virtualizing for the first time or transitioning to a cloud computing model. This one-hour webinar, part of the Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization webinar series, will focus on the benefits of virtualization, alternatives, and the value of KVM and Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization on IBM System x