A press release from Mandrakesoft:
Conectiva, Mandrakesoft, Progeny, and Turbolinux announce agreement to base products on common implementation of LSB 2.0.
Curitiba, Brazil; Paris, France; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Tokyo, Japan - November 17, 2004. Linux vendors from Europe, Asia, and North and South America have teamed up to create a common core implementation of the Linux Standard Base (LSB) 2.0. This implementation will serve as the core for each company's future Linux distribution products. The Linux Core Consortium (LCC) has the backing of Linux supporters including Computer Associates, the Free Standards Group (FSG), HP, Novell, the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL), Red Hat, and Sun Microsystems.
The consortium members' diverse geographic and market concentrations, strong community ties, and the creation of a common binary implementation of existing standards will help boost industry-wide standardization efforts and strengthen the position of the LSB as an open de facto standard for Linux distributions. In addition, this agreement will simplify ISV/IHV certifications on Linux by providing an industry-supported LSB reference implementation, spurring a stronger LSB certification program for ISVs/IHVs.
The consortium will function through a joint development framework. Members will pool development efforts to create and maintain a common Linux distribution core based on the Free Standard Group's LSB 2.0 standard. Member companies will build their products on top of this common core. The common core will be available in the first quarter of 2005 and will be incorporated into the following product lines:
* Conectiva Enterprise Server
* Mandrakesoft Corporate Server
* Progeny Componentized Linux
* Turbolinux Enterprise Server
The partnership is an open development effort, and other interested Linux companies are encouraged to join. The consortium provides a unique opportunity for companies that might have a very specialized focus to tap into a larger global initiative and gain access to ISV/IHV certifications. Open source developers will also be welcome to join this development effort. Industry partners will be able to influence the direction of this Linux core through their contributions to the LSB, OSDL, and other vendor-neutral industry groups.
Technical details:
* Implementation of LSB 2.0 with extensions defined in cooperation with the LSB futures group (common kernel will be one of these extensions)
* Plan to include guidelines developed by the OSDL working groups in future releases
* Initial architectures: ia32, Intel
EM64T, ia64, AMD64
* Release cycle: 18-24 months
* Over time, the LCC is committed to increasing interoperability between and Debian and RPM-based technologies and will work toward a common binary core that can form the basis of both Debian and RPM-based distributions.
Broad industry support:
Computer Associates
"The broad worldwide embrace of Linux as a strategic computing platform for the enterprise is driving standardization of both the core OS and associated maintenance models," said Yogesh Gupta, senior vice president and chief technology officer at Computer Associates. "CA strongly supports LCC's effort to strengthen Linux standards, which will help customers reap maximum business benefits from their open source investments by reducing the complexity and cost of technology ownership."
Free Standards Group
"The Free Standards Group has received overwhelming industry support for the Linux Standard Base, including pledges of support from 20 vendors and organizations in the Linux community," said Jim Zemlin, executive director of the Free Standards Group. "The Linux Core Consortium takes this support one step further by creating a binary implementation of the LSB that will help in our efforts to secure widespread ISV/IHV certification for the LSB."
HP
"The Linux Core Consortium's implementation of LSB 2.0 will help further the core ideals of Linux, such as freedom, compatibility, and open environments," said Steve Geary, Director Worldwide Linux and Open Source Research and Development for HP. "HP is committed to these core ideals, which is why we offer customers a choice of high-quality Linux solutions based on industry-standard architectures, while providing simplicity, value, and superior price/performance from desktop to datacenter."
Novell
"Novell is committed both to providing customers with standardized Linux technology and to simplifying ISVs' and IHVs' Linux certification efforts," said Alan Nugent, CTO at Novell. "The availability of common standards plays a decisive role in the proliferation of Linux operating systems and applications on server and client systems worldwide, and we support the LSB and efforts of the Linux Core Consortium in developing and promoting these standards."
OSDL
"OSDL supports initiatives that accelerate the use of Linux as an enterprise software platform and allow users to deploy with confidence across multiple distributions," said Stuart Cohen, OSDL CEO. "We also strongly support the efforts of the Free Standards Group and the LSB making it easier for ISVs and corporate developers to port applications to Linux. An increasingly standards-based enterprise Linux environment is good for customers, ISVs, and ultimately the whole Linux industry."
Red Hat
"Red Hat is pleased to support the Linux Standard Base," said Karen Bennet, vice president of Applications and Tools at Red Hat. "ISVs and developers need clear-cut standards. The LSB and the Linux Core Consortium help balance the needs of enterprise customers, ISVs, and Linux vendors and will continue to keep Linux open."
Sun
"Sun believes standards like the LSB help to reduce vendor lock-in and provide platform choice for customers and ISVs," said Glenn Weinberg, vice president, Operating Systems Group, Sun Microsystems. "Sun intends to fully support these standards and applauds the efforts of the Linux Core Consortium to keep these standards open."
The Linux Core Consortium provides benefits to industry partners and the Linux community. ISVs and IHVs will be able to lower certification costs while providing greater distribution choice to their customers. Industry standards will be strengthened by having an industry-supported Linux implementation based on LSB 2.0. Finally, this collaboration will strengthen the Linux ecosystem by providing additional opportunities for distributions with strong community or regional support or unique market niches to attain broad certification and improve their capabilities for industry needs.
About Conectiva
The company was founded in 1995 and is the pioneer in the distribution of Linux and Open Source in Portuguese, Spanish and English for all of Latin America. Besides customized Linux distribution for the Latin American market, Conectiva develops a series of products and additional services directed at the market demand for Open Source Tools; including books, manuals, additional software like Linux Tools and embedded systems, OEM programs, application ports and training kits. In addition, the company provides consulting services, training and technical support in all Latin America through its own service centers and certified partners.
www.conectiva.com.br
About Mandrakesoft
Mandrakesoft is the publisher of the popular MandrakeLinux operating system, one of the most full-featured and easy to use Linux systems available. The company offers its enterprise, government and educational customers a complete range of GNU/Linux and Open Source software and related services. Mandrakesoft products are available in more than 120 countries through dedicated channels and also from Mandrakestore.com, the company's online store. Number 1 in several countries, Mandrakesoft has won many awards for quality and technical innovation. "Born on the Internet" in late 1998, Mandrakesoft has offices in the United States and France. Mandrakesoft is traded on Paris Euronext Marché Libre (ISIN Code: FR0004159382/MLMAN; Reuters code: MAKE.PA) and the US OTC market (stock symbol MDKFF).
www.mandrakesoft.com
About Progeny
Progeny is the leading independent provider of Linux platform technology. Progeny's Platform Services allows organizations to reduce the costly and time-consuming work of creating, testing, and managing their own Linux distributions. Progeny provides security patches for Red Hat Linux 7.2, 7.3, 8.0, and 9; specialized platform migration; custom component integration; and platform creation, maintenance, and customization. Our Platform Services offerings support custom Debian and RPM-based Linux platforms. With more than a decade of experience building Linux solutions, Progeny's Linux experts pioneered a number of the technologies and best practices that shape the Linux landscape today. Progeny was founded by Debian Linux creator Ian Murdock.
www.progeny.com
About Turbolinux, Inc.
Turbolinux develops and sells the leading Linux distribution in Asia-Pacific. The operating system is optimized to run on a wide range of hardware platforms, including Intel-based servers and IBM mainframes. Turbolinux, with headquarters in Japan, plays a major role in developing Linux systems for the Japanese market, including Japanese and Chinese language "double-byte" text support. More than half of Turbolinux's staff is dedicated to Linux engineering development and support, providing expert support and custom application development services that go beyond Japanese localization issues. Turbolinux works extensively with standards bodies and partners to ensure certification and software compatibility in all business environments.
www.turbolinux.com
Conectiva, Mandrakesoft, Progeny, and Turbolinux announce agreement to base products on common implementation of LSB 2.0.
Curitiba, Brazil; Paris, France; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Tokyo, Japan - November 17, 2004. Linux vendors from Europe, Asia, and North and South America have teamed up to create a common core implementation of the Linux Standard Base (LSB) 2.0. This implementation will serve as the core for each company's future Linux distribution products. The Linux Core Consortium (LCC) has the backing of Linux supporters including Computer Associates, the Free Standards Group (FSG), HP, Novell, the Open Source Development Labs (OSDL), Red Hat, and Sun Microsystems.
The consortium members' diverse geographic and market concentrations, strong community ties, and the creation of a common binary implementation of existing standards will help boost industry-wide standardization efforts and strengthen the position of the LSB as an open de facto standard for Linux distributions. In addition, this agreement will simplify ISV/IHV certifications on Linux by providing an industry-supported LSB reference implementation, spurring a stronger LSB certification program for ISVs/IHVs.
The consortium will function through a joint development framework. Members will pool development efforts to create and maintain a common Linux distribution core based on the Free Standard Group's LSB 2.0 standard. Member companies will build their products on top of this common core. The common core will be available in the first quarter of 2005 and will be incorporated into the following product lines:
* Conectiva Enterprise Server
* Mandrakesoft Corporate Server
* Progeny Componentized Linux
* Turbolinux Enterprise Server
The partnership is an open development effort, and other interested Linux companies are encouraged to join. The consortium provides a unique opportunity for companies that might have a very specialized focus to tap into a larger global initiative and gain access to ISV/IHV certifications. Open source developers will also be welcome to join this development effort. Industry partners will be able to influence the direction of this Linux core through their contributions to the LSB, OSDL, and other vendor-neutral industry groups.
Technical details:
* Implementation of LSB 2.0 with extensions defined in cooperation with the LSB futures group (common kernel will be one of these extensions)
* Plan to include guidelines developed by the OSDL working groups in future releases
* Initial architectures: ia32, Intel
EM64T, ia64, AMD64* Release cycle: 18-24 months
* Over time, the LCC is committed to increasing interoperability between and Debian and RPM-based technologies and will work toward a common binary core that can form the basis of both Debian and RPM-based distributions.
Broad industry support:
Computer Associates
"The broad worldwide embrace of Linux as a strategic computing platform for the enterprise is driving standardization of both the core OS and associated maintenance models," said Yogesh Gupta, senior vice president and chief technology officer at Computer Associates. "CA strongly supports LCC's effort to strengthen Linux standards, which will help customers reap maximum business benefits from their open source investments by reducing the complexity and cost of technology ownership."
Free Standards Group
"The Free Standards Group has received overwhelming industry support for the Linux Standard Base, including pledges of support from 20 vendors and organizations in the Linux community," said Jim Zemlin, executive director of the Free Standards Group. "The Linux Core Consortium takes this support one step further by creating a binary implementation of the LSB that will help in our efforts to secure widespread ISV/IHV certification for the LSB."
HP
"The Linux Core Consortium's implementation of LSB 2.0 will help further the core ideals of Linux, such as freedom, compatibility, and open environments," said Steve Geary, Director Worldwide Linux and Open Source Research and Development for HP. "HP is committed to these core ideals, which is why we offer customers a choice of high-quality Linux solutions based on industry-standard architectures, while providing simplicity, value, and superior price/performance from desktop to datacenter."
Novell
"Novell is committed both to providing customers with standardized Linux technology and to simplifying ISVs' and IHVs' Linux certification efforts," said Alan Nugent, CTO at Novell. "The availability of common standards plays a decisive role in the proliferation of Linux operating systems and applications on server and client systems worldwide, and we support the LSB and efforts of the Linux Core Consortium in developing and promoting these standards."
OSDL
"OSDL supports initiatives that accelerate the use of Linux as an enterprise software platform and allow users to deploy with confidence across multiple distributions," said Stuart Cohen, OSDL CEO. "We also strongly support the efforts of the Free Standards Group and the LSB making it easier for ISVs and corporate developers to port applications to Linux. An increasingly standards-based enterprise Linux environment is good for customers, ISVs, and ultimately the whole Linux industry."
Red Hat
"Red Hat is pleased to support the Linux Standard Base," said Karen Bennet, vice president of Applications and Tools at Red Hat. "ISVs and developers need clear-cut standards. The LSB and the Linux Core Consortium help balance the needs of enterprise customers, ISVs, and Linux vendors and will continue to keep Linux open."
Sun
"Sun believes standards like the LSB help to reduce vendor lock-in and provide platform choice for customers and ISVs," said Glenn Weinberg, vice president, Operating Systems Group, Sun Microsystems. "Sun intends to fully support these standards and applauds the efforts of the Linux Core Consortium to keep these standards open."
The Linux Core Consortium provides benefits to industry partners and the Linux community. ISVs and IHVs will be able to lower certification costs while providing greater distribution choice to their customers. Industry standards will be strengthened by having an industry-supported Linux implementation based on LSB 2.0. Finally, this collaboration will strengthen the Linux ecosystem by providing additional opportunities for distributions with strong community or regional support or unique market niches to attain broad certification and improve their capabilities for industry needs.
About Conectiva
The company was founded in 1995 and is the pioneer in the distribution of Linux and Open Source in Portuguese, Spanish and English for all of Latin America. Besides customized Linux distribution for the Latin American market, Conectiva develops a series of products and additional services directed at the market demand for Open Source Tools; including books, manuals, additional software like Linux Tools and embedded systems, OEM programs, application ports and training kits. In addition, the company provides consulting services, training and technical support in all Latin America through its own service centers and certified partners.
www.conectiva.com.br
About Mandrakesoft
Mandrakesoft is the publisher of the popular MandrakeLinux operating system, one of the most full-featured and easy to use Linux systems available. The company offers its enterprise, government and educational customers a complete range of GNU/Linux and Open Source software and related services. Mandrakesoft products are available in more than 120 countries through dedicated channels and also from Mandrakestore.com, the company's online store. Number 1 in several countries, Mandrakesoft has won many awards for quality and technical innovation. "Born on the Internet" in late 1998, Mandrakesoft has offices in the United States and France. Mandrakesoft is traded on Paris Euronext Marché Libre (ISIN Code: FR0004159382/MLMAN; Reuters code: MAKE.PA) and the US OTC market (stock symbol MDKFF).
www.mandrakesoft.com
About Progeny
Progeny is the leading independent provider of Linux platform technology. Progeny's Platform Services allows organizations to reduce the costly and time-consuming work of creating, testing, and managing their own Linux distributions. Progeny provides security patches for Red Hat
Linux 7.2, 7.3, 8.0, and 9; specialized platform migration; custom component integration; and platform creation, maintenance, and customization. Our Platform Services offerings support custom Debian and RPM-based Linux platforms. With more than a decade of experience building Linux solutions, Progeny's Linux experts pioneered a number of the technologies and best practices that shape the Linux landscape today. Progeny was founded by Debian Linux creator Ian Murdock.www.progeny.com
About Turbolinux, Inc.
Turbolinux develops and sells the leading Linux distribution in Asia-Pacific. The operating system is optimized to run on a wide range of hardware platforms, including Intel-based servers and IBM mainframes. Turbolinux, with headquarters in Japan, plays a major role in developing Linux systems for the Japanese market, including Japanese and Chinese language "double-byte" text support. More than half of Turbolinux's staff is dedicated to Linux engineering development and support, providing expert support and custom application development services that go beyond Japanese localization issues. Turbolinux works extensively with standards bodies and partners to ensure certification and software compatibility in all business environments.
www.turbolinux.com
