| Linux Pipeline Newsletter http://www.linuxpipeline.com/ Tuesday, October 12, 2004 In This Issue: - Former Sun, Oracle Execs Launch Open-Source Startup - Kodak, Sun Settle Java-Related Court Case - Novell Announces SUSE Linux Update - More News... - Feature: Open-Source Java Brewing In Brazil - Special: TechWeb's 'Best Independent Tech Blog' Readers Choice Award - How-To: MYSQL: Understanding The Basics - More Picks... This issue sponsored by HP. HP technology, services and solutions help the world's great companies face, manage and love change. http://www.techweb.com/databasepipeline/HPBrand0604 ----------------------------------------- Editor's Note: Enterprise Open Source: Big Names, Bigger Money There's a new game in town for unemployed software executives looking for their next gig: enterprise open-source software services. Judging from the money and management talent moving into this market, it's less likely to be a gold rush than a no-holds-barred cage match. And that's great news for firms that need a clear technology roadmap before they venture into open-source territory. Over the past week, we've seen two new startups break into the enterprise open-source market. First, three former BEA executives, working with a couple of high-powered VC backers, launched SourceSafe. The company's goal: to be the "Dell of open-source software," assembling, configuring and certifying a variety of third-party open-source products for specific enterprise scenarios. Then late last week, former Sun and Marimba executive Kim Polese, along with ex-Oracle president Ray Lane, announced SpikeSource. Their firm, which is also getting strong VC support through Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers (where Lane is a general partner), aims to do pretty much the same thing: provide "validated and certified open-source stacks" for enterprise customers. SpikeSource has already introduced an alpha version of its certified LAMPJ stack, and the company plans to expand its offerings to include more than 50 open-source products, all tested and certified for various enterprise usage scenarios. This isn't a completely novel business model. JBoss, like both SourceSafe and SpikeSource, sells maintenance and support services for an open-source enterprise software stack, although unlike its new competitors JBoss also builds the software it supports. In addition, both Novell and more recently Red Hat have invested heavily in their ability to build (or buy), integrate and support IT infrastructure solutions based on their enterprise Linux offerings. Now that the last pieces of an open-source enterprise software stack are falling into place, however, there's an even bigger opportunity for companies that can help customers make the right technology choices. All of this adds up to bad news for Microsoft, whose image of "enterprise Linux" as an activity involving the comic-book-store guy on "The Simpsons" looks more absurd by the day. In fact, enterprise open-source integration and certification services could become the single most important weapon against Redmond's continuing FUD campaigns. As these firms--and others like them still to come--build, certify, install and document hard ROI data on their open-source implementations, we'll see who ends up with a more convincing story to tell their enterprise customers. Matthew McKenzie Former Sun, Oracle Execs Launch Open-Source Startup Two former executives from Sun and Oracle plan to launch a startup designed to provide end-to-end Linux integration services.
Kodak, Sun Settle Java-Related Court Case
Novell Announces SUSE Linux Update
Gluecode Contributes Open-Source BPM Engine
IBM App Server 6.0 Open To Standards
New Standard Reins In Linux Distros
Netline To Post OpenXchange Code
MySQL To Use Open-Source Microsoft Toolset
SGI Launches Linux-Based Workstations
AT&T Takes The Linux Challenge
Editor's Picks Feature: Open-Source Java Brewing In Brazil A Brazilian government-supported group is working to create an open-source version of the Java language.
Special: TechWeb's 'Best Independent Tech Blog' Readers Choice
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How-To: MYSQL: Understanding The Basics
Feature: Red Hat Boosts Enterprise Linux Services
Feature: Solaris Rising
Analysis: The Cost Of Ideas Voting Booth: What Do You Think Of The GPL? Cast Your Vote Now! This week, we'd like to know what you think of the GPL as a license for your open-source software projects. Does it work? It is a problem? Do you even worry about it? The polls are still open and every vote counts. Vote today! Get More Out Of Linux Pipeline Try Linux Pipeline's RSS Feed Linux Pipeline's content is available via RSS feed: Get RSS link. The feed is also auto-discoverable to many RSS readers from the Linux Pipeline home page. Note: RSS feeds are not viewable in most Web browsers. You need an RSS reader, Web-based service, or plug-in to view RSS. Find out which RSS readers the Pipeline editors recommend. Check Out Our
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