Posted on 09/11/2003 9:21:17 AM PDT by Golden Eagle
IBM bundles up with Chinese Linux company
By Stephen Shankland
IBM has expanded its geographic ambitions for Linux, signing a deal to bundle a version of its database software with a distributor of the open-source operating system in China.
Under the deal, Red Flag Linux, will bundle DB2 Express with its software for small and medium-sized businesses, the companies said Wednesday.
The agreement comes not long after database leader and IBM rival Oracle said it will certify its software with Red Flag's Linux.
"Given the size of China's economy and the related growth of information technology infrastructure, Red Flag could become the most widely deployed Linux distribution," said Stacey Quandt, an independent Linux analyst. "There are multiple distributions in China, but Red Flag has an advantage in being blessed by the Chinese government."
IBM has other competitors besides Oracle vying for Red Flag's attention. Last week, HP and Red Flag joined to market and develop Linux in China, with HP supporting Red Flag Server 4 software on its Xeon-based ProLiant servers and Itanium-based Integrity servers.
There are several regional Linux specialists, such as Conectiva in Brazil and Turbolinux in Japan, but two companies are seeking a global presence. Leading Linux seller Red Hat and No. 2 SuSE both have extensive support and marketing relationships with most of the top server makers.
Microsoft, which has criticized China for not doing enough to curb software piracy, is trying to court Chinese customers, but Linux has the advantage that its core components are available for free. Microsoft also is trying to allay concerns by letting Chinese officials view Windows' underlying source code, a move that acknowledges one advantage of Linux and its open-source development process.
I'd be a little more worried about Microsoft showing the commies their source for Windows. Who knows what the security implications of that are.
Some commies downloading software off the Internet and putting it into a little box with their flag on it, doesn't move me in the slightest.
I don't see many people in the US buying Red Flag and calling China for support.
While it is obviously of concern, it was nothing more than a 'peek' at Redmond Washington in an attempt to compete with Linux who has given them full access as well as control of their entire source.
Red Flag Linux is completely owned and controlled by the communist Chinese government, and therefore is of much greater concern, especially as it begins to proliferate not only in China but around the world.
But what does the US run on? That's right mostly Windows. Now the ChiComs can use the knowledge from that 'peek' to get break into US computer systems, write viruses, or whatever else they come up with.
Bad news, IMO.
But any improvements you contribute to Red Hat, waalaa, will soon appear in Red Flag. By supporting one, you support the other, because the changes are shared as the kernel grows.
It was only a peek and often only shown under strict circumstances, such as through intermediary contractor. Regretable, for sure, but hardly equivalent to Red Hat fully releasing their entire source code tree for use in Red Flag.
It's a bit more substantial than just a "peek". IIRC, in the Government Program they only have to travel to Redmond for 3% of the code, and they can also make mods for their own purposes.
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