Novell last week said it plans to use newly acquired systems management tools instead of including its own ZENworks technology in a Linux software package that’s due to open beta testing next month.
Novell to Drop ZENworks from Linux Tool Bundle
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Eugenia Loli
Ex-programmer, ex-editor in chief at OSNews.com, now a visual artist/filmmaker.
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I guess Ximian will be a major force in Novel.
hey, if Miguel plays his cards right, he could pull a Steve Jobs and could turn the Novell take over into a Ximian Take over 🙂
Here is the main issue:
If Linux is adopted by businesses and Linux becomes a product rather than a platform as a result than that is probably a loss for Linux.
On the other hand, perhaps there is no issue here and businesses will use Linux as a platform while vendors approach Linux through middleware (which allows them to accomplish lock-in but not affect the ‘platform’).
Linux is several things; mainly it is the kernel. On top of that there are loads of distributions. There is the LSB standardisation. There are the special patches for special purposes eg embedding.
Although the distributions contain many applications, they are collectively seen as Linux or GNU/Linux. As long as the core continues its development and stays together; GPL’d software with more and better standardisation, businesses will ADD to the success of Linux not detract from it. When business tools. applications become too expensive, the community may develop alternatives. When companies use patents closed API’s etc they will find that the Linux community will frown on it and go elsewhere or go there for a limited time. When they use said API’s and IP into Linux, we will be allowed to use them as it is in the GPL.
With Novell, you have a company that goes for red carpet while there ZEN works is functional for a Linux systems, you have a company that has contributed a lot to the open source community.
As to the concern of business adopting Linux as a product; it is a copyrighted product already. GPL copyrighted.
Thanks,
Gerard
Do you think though that perhaps a vendor ‘has to’ lock-in businesses in order for the vendor to have a profitable reason to develop software?
Yes, the GPL should help Linux remain a platform. The main difference now than, if businesses adopt Linux, is that businesses will have a choice of what vendor middleware to use rather than being locked into only one provider.
There is the LSB standardisation.
Actually, the LSB standard is tripe given that it mandates such specifics as using RPMs to install new packages.
… why don’t they use apt-get (4rpm) ??
Hmm, ok, sure, they can’t earn any money with apt-get…
Charlie (IP: 62.190.92.—) – Posted on 2003-09-15 08:02:32
There is the LSB standardisation.
Actually, the LSB standard is tripe given that it mandates such specifics as using RPMs to install new packages.
Debian is a LSB compliant distribution. All the LSB specification says is that one can install RPM packages NOT that RPM IS the default package. Solaris, for example, is LSB compliant yet retains its traditional SYSV packaging system.
I doubt I’ll find a need for this technology in my apartment. But if I can download it I’ll install it, test it, maybe even QA it and if I like it I’ll be happy to recommend it.
I like Linux and Novell isn’t a bad company, so I see no reason why they can’t play well together.
>As to the concern of business adopting Linux as a product; it >is a copyrighted product already. GPL copyrighted.
Well, it’s actually GPL Licensed. e.g. the kernel code is copyrighted to far to many people to list here.