[Java4Jay]

Founded in 1993, Red Hat specializes in Linux operating systems, the most popular type of open-source software, which was developed as an alternative to proprietary software made by Microsoft Corp.

[goldstategop]

IBM bought Red Hat for its Linux corporate server software, the best in the world.

[Zathras]

I am a member of the IBM team who is trying to get IBM back into the computing game.
I hope its not too late.

[bigbob]

Very smart.

[PAR35]

Sounds like a lot to pay for a company that sells free software.

[Vince Ferrer]

Does Red Hat do a lot of cloud computing?

[Paladin2]

That’s a chunk-a-change.

[Paladin2]

It was developed an an alternative to Unix.

[hotdogjones]

Bad idea. I expect IBM to drop 10% on this horrible desperate deal. $34B for a company doing $3B. IBM only has $14.5B of cash including marketable securities. It will borrow most of it, already has $47B in debt.

[CincyRichieRich]

I almost worked for Red Hat...3 interviews...oh well.

Should be good for Nasdaq and Big Board tomorrow.

We’ll see what programmed sells Soros pulls tomorrow.

[usconservative]

Great. IBM will ruin another technology platform.

I'm the lead Platform Architect for a big global bank. Tomorrow morning when I arrive at the office the first thing I'm going to do is de-certify Red Hat Enterprise Linux as our preferred Linux platform and announce Ubuntu as our long-term strategic direction.

That's how much I cannot stand IBM.

[butlerweave]

The Free OS Red Hat gives out is just so you can test it for them for free

[Phil DiBasquette]

Centos is the free unsupported variant

RedHat also owns a syndication platform Ansible

With all the politicization of Linux (too long to
explain it here) Red Hat may end up
being the leader

[Freedom'sWorthIt]

Red Hat’s headquarters are in my neck of the woods, Raleigh, NC.

[Yossarian]

I don't like this deal. IBM, with their despicable internal politics, is no place for a technology or product to thrive. Witness: POWER, PowerPC, IBM PCs, Lotus Notes, ad-infinitum.

My industry depends on Red Hat, and I want the owners of Red Hat's sole focus to be the future and well-being of Red Hat. So any new, distracted owner is bad, and IBM being the owner is even worse.

Sincerely,
Yossarian
former IBM-er (in paycheck, never in spirit)

[RayChuang88]

Kind of not surprised. IBM worked specifically with Red Hat in the late 1990's to port Linux itself to run on IBM "big iron" computing hardware. Indeed, the Watson AI system is based on IBM mainframes running a variant of Red Hat Linux.

[Regulator]

Jeez

I remember when Red Hat was 5 guys in a room on the Peninsula

$34 bil? Does Linus get any of that?!

[1L]

Can someone explain to me why a company who practically invented the computer and did invent the PC operating system, can not, for MUCH less than 34 billion, actually CREATE a version of linux or BSD equivilent? I realize they’re buying market share and that costs a ton too, but sheesh. IBM may not have been well run for the last quarter century or so, but they built enough goodwill in their first 40 years to last almost indefinitely IF they made a good product.

[Openurmind]

Red Hat Linux runs the U.S. nuclear submarines.

[cicero2k]

The other story is the decline of Unix OS, from Sun Micro Systems, which made for Redhat Linux ascent.

Unix was overpriced in the eyes of enterprise IT, and migrated from at great expense and risk. Oracle bought Sun, nonetheles and became undertaker of UNIX, though Java lives on.

Oracle itself still dominates enterprise databases and charges mightily. The risk of migration to cheaper is not worth it for most customers.

[Secret Agent Man]

Heres hoping they dont buy it and then fuch it up the ibm way.