Don Somppi writes, Micro Sharp Technology, Inc. a technology provider of thin server solutions today announced the release of Netule Web Module I (WM-I). WM-I is a robust, thin server solution that allows you to simply, predictably and cost effectively meet your Web server needs in the shorter period of time.

“In talking with many of our customers, we found that there was a growing need for a quick and inexpensive way to deploy Web Servers in small to mediums sized businesses. Using the same software technology we used in our previous Netule products, we were able get a full featured, Linux Web server online and ready to roll in about two hours instead of a few days to perform this task,” stated Dave Mandel Product Manager of the Netule line of products. “We also saw the demand for the ability to remotely administer the system on-the-fly and monitor usage without having to interrupting the daily flow of business.”

WM-I is based on Linux, an extremely powerful, stable and reliable UNIX like operating system. Linux is easy to upgrade and offers a true multi-tasking solution. Linux servers have been known to be up for hundreds of days, unlike other operating systems used in business applications today. Based on Apache technology, currently used by nearly 60% of all web servers, WM-I is bundled with PostgreSQL and MySQL relational databases. WM-I is a dedicated web server ensuring less down-time and fewer problems. Python, Perl, PHP, FrontPage extensions and File Transfer Protocol are supported by WM-I.

WM-I provides built in security features that block intruders from your crucial
data. Only web browsers capable of secure connections may access WM-I. WM-I
supports SSL file transfer to provide the highest standard in Internet security.

WM-I uses Webalizer analyzing tools to provide you with extensive compiled statistics
concerning the number of “hits” on your web site, what people are viewing and when
they accessed the site. WM-I makes it easy to redirect traffic, create custom error
messages, and create web site aliasing.

Netule products are available through the Micro Sharp Technology distribution channel.

ABOUT MICRO SHARP TECHNOLOGY
Since 1994, Micro Sharp Technology has been providing business computing solutions to
Consultants, IT professionals and end users. As business needs have changed, Micro Sharp Technology has evolved from a systems and component distributor to a complete solutions provider supplying hardware, systems integration, consulting, remote monitoring and the Netule Server line of products.

Micro Sharp Technology is Headquartered at 1201 SE Tech Center Drive #170, Vancouver, WA 98683. Tel: 360-260-2066, FAX: 360-260-2906. www.netule.com.

LinuxFund.org has introduced its new Linux
User Group (LUG) project that supports open source projects while
allowing the LUGs to earn extra revenue. The project allows LUGs to
make
money by selling the LinuxFund.org MBNA MasterCard to its members. A
group can earn $30 per approved application made by its members.

The Portland Linux/Unix Group (PLUG), headed by David Mandel,
masterminded this project as a way to help LUGs fund incidental
expenses. PLUG is the first LUG to support the project.

The program attempts to reverse the trend of LUG members and officers
using personal funds to subsidize the groups.

“Active LUG members provide a service to the community,” Mandel said.
“It shouldn’t cost them money to do so.”

LinuxFund.org asks that each participating LUG places a link to the
credit card application at the bottom of their LUG mailing list
e-mails,
as well as on their websites. The increase in credit card applications
will allow LinuxFund.org to award more grants that support open source
projects. Each Linux User Group will collect a quarterly check based on
the number of received and approved credit-worthy applications.

LinuxFund.org raises money by purchases made on the LinuxFund.org
Matercard, then uses the money to fund various open source projects.
The
group strongly encourages the submission of new projects through online
means so it can award the most interesting projects. For more
information concerning the LinuxFund.org or to join its LUG program or
submit a project, please visit the LinuxFund.org website at
http://www.linuxfund.org or call (503) 892-3333.

University of Minnesota Fibre Channel Research Group writes, The University of Minnesota Fibre Channel Research Group has developed a tool called SANTK. SANTK stands for SAN Configuration Tool Kit. SANTK is written in Java and can be run on any operating system. This tool allows a user to automatically generate SANs while only inputting the number of servers and number of storage ports. The user can pick a topology or let the tool pick the best fit based on port count for the users needs.

Version 2.0 also has a CAD tool that allows the user to create his/her own SAN topologies. These topologies can be exported to the automatic generation tool and from there the user can get a Rack Mount Display, and helpful statistical information about their SAN.

SANTK is open source and free to download for anyone. Just visit the Fibre Channel Group’s SANTK home page at www.borg.umn.edu/fc/SANTK.

University of Minnesota Fibre Channel Research Group writes, The University of Minnesota Fibre Channel Research Group has developed a tool called SANTK. SANTK stands for SAN Configuration Tool Kit. SANTK is written in Java and can be run on any operating system. This tool allows a user to automatically generate SANs while only inputting the number of servers and number of storage ports. The user can pick a topology or let the tool pick the best fit based on port count for the users needs.

Version 2.0 also has a CAD tool that allows the user to create his/her own SAN topologies. These topologies can be exported to the automatic generation tool and from there the user can get a Rack Mount Display, and helpful statistical information about their SAN.

SANTK is open source and free to download for anyone. Just visit the Fibre Channel Group’s SANTK home page at www.borg.umn.edu/fc/SANTK.

CNET News.com: “Carl Yankowski, Palm’s CEO, also said in comments at the Bear Stearns
technology conference that the company eventually plans to separate its
device-making and software-development businesses and that it has plenty
of cash to fund operations.”

– by Robin “Roblimo” Miller –
I took an inventory of the computers and operating systems in my household, and found that my wife and I have a total of nine copies of Windows, one copy of MAC OS 9.1, and one purchased Linux distribution. But this doesn’t tell the truth about our computer use patterns any more than the recent Gartner Group survey — the one that shows Linux servers with only 8.6% of the market — tells us how many servers really run Linux.My household currently owns a total of 10 computers, but six of them are obsolete units sitting out in our storage shed. All of the old boxes came with Windows pre-installed. We have a total of four computers actually hooked up and operating; three laptops and one desktop. One of the laptops — my wife’s — is an iBook running Mac OS 9.1. The one desktop came with Windows but now runs nothing but Linux. One of the two Intel laptops was purchased with no operating system, and has never run anything but Linux. The newest laptop — the HP Pavilion 5340 I am using to write this article — came with Windows ME installed. I immediately installed Linux on it but have not yet deleted the Windows partition. I have a retail copy of Windows 98 (SE) I purchased back in 1999 while researching a story, and it is on my shelf, not currently installed on any computer. And I own only one purchased copy of Linux, Mandrake 8.0.

Go ahead. Do the math. We own a total of 10 computers — and nine copies of Windows.

But we have three copies of Linux installed and working, despite have purchased only one (a trick that would violate federal law if we tried it with a proprietary operating system) as opposed to only one installed copy of Windows — that I have only booted up a few times, ever.

Suddenly the numbers look different. Now, counting only installed operating systems, we show 60% Linux, 20% Mac, and 20% Windows. We could even take things a step further and count only “operating systems in daily use,” which would show our house running 75% Linux, 25% Mac, and 0% Windows.

Here’s the key phrase in the Gartner Group survey:

“The study results indicated that in the traditional server market in the United States during the third
quarter of 2000, 8.6 percent of server shipments were Linux-based systems.”

As my colleague Jamie McCarthy points out, you could use Gartner Group’s logic to say, “100% of babies born in this country had unpierced ears, therefore, pierced ears are a rarity.”

I suspect that an awful lot of servers — and home computers — get counted as “Windows” machines because that is how they were sold, even if they now run Linux; or *BSD; or BeOS; or (yes, it’s still around) OS/2.

Then comes the question, “Why would anyone buy a Windows-loaded computer instead of one with Linux on it?” Answer: the HP Pavilion has a case and keyboard I find exceptionally comfortable to use, a bright screen and a 20 GB hard drive, and was an excellent value (on sale) for $1,745. The fact that it came with Windows instead of Linux (and has some features that apparently are designed to work only with Windows) is annoying, but it was still the best unit I could find, per dollar, for my particular needs. I’m sure many commercial buyers buy Windows-loaded servers because they get the best price by purchasing low-end, stamped-out units preloaded with [whatever] than they would if they held out for servers built to their specs — including their preferred operating system.

It is not hard to install Linux. And it’s not hard to install RAM, either; if I can buy additional RAM for half the price the original machine manufacturer wants for it, I’ll get it and put it in myself, thank you. Most of the high-end commercial computer users I know (including people who run ISPs and hosting services) are willing to install RAM and operating systems themselves if this will save them $200 or $300 per unit.

I understand why Microsoft is scared of Linux. Windows workalikes for the Linux software I use daily, all of which came with Mandrake 8.0 in the “Powerpack” box that cost $65 (minus a $20 mail-in rebate), would run well over $1,000.

And I understand why Microsoft would help sponsor a Gartner Group survey that shows Linux server usage much lower than other server operating system surveys have shown it to be, really I do.

But I also understand how statistics can be manipulated to give false impressions. And because I am perfectly happy with Linux, I don’t think I’ll switch to Windows anytime soon, no matter how many times I hear that Linux is a “hobby” operating system; or that not as many people use it as we think; or that the Linux desktop (which seems perfectly lively to me) is dead. Or whatever bad thing about Linux the people in Redmond are saying today — or say next week or next month.

ASL, the leading
provider of Linux systems, today announced the release of its Marquis K120
dual AMD AthlonTM MP Linux workstation.

ASL, yet again, redefines Linux performance by introducing
the Marquis K120. Featuring the AMD-760TM
MP chipset and supporting up to two Palomino (AthlonTM
MP) processors starting at 1.2 GHz, the Marquis K120 is first Linux workstation
of its kind. Designed as a highly
integrated platform, the Marquis K120 comes standard with dual channel Ultra
160/m SCSI controllers, dual port Fast Ethernet as well as an AGP 4X port
and 64-bit PCI slots for connecting high-speed peripherals.

Using a Tyan Thunder K7 motherboard, the Marquis K120 takes
advantage of AMD’s Smart MP Technology which enhances overall system performance
through the use of dual point-to-point, high speed 266 MHz buses.
This delivers an unprecedented 2.1 GB/s per CPU of bus bandwidth using
Double Data Rate (DDR) memory.

The AMD AthlonTM MP Processor
was announced June 5, 2001 at Computex in Taipei, Taiwan.
It is a seventh generation x86 processor designed for high performance
multi-processing servers and workstations.
According to AMD, the AMD AthlonTM
Processor provides up to a 38 percent increase in performance over widely
available x86 multiprocessor-based systems on popular benchmarks.

About AMD

AMD is a global supplier of integrated circuits
for the personal and networked computer and communications markets with manufacturing
facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan, and Asia. AMD, a Fortune 500
and Standard & Poor’s 500 company, produces microprocessors, flash memory
devices, and support circuitry for communications and networking applications.
Founded in 1969 and based in Sunnyvale, California, AMD had revenues of $4.6
billion in 2000.

About ASL

ASL Inc. is the leading provider of Linux systems. Its philosophy is to redefine Linux
performance by providing leading-edge technology and extensive systems
customization at competitive prices. As
part of ASL Inc.’s commitment to execute this philosophy, it partners with key
industry leaders to provide the Linux world with the latest features on high
quality products. Every system comes
pre-installed and configured with an optimized Linux operating system. In
addition to its leading-edge product line, ASL Inc. also provides world-class
customer support and service at no cost to its customers. For more information, visit ASL Inc. at www.aslab.com or call (408) 941-2070.

Contact: Vincent
Hwang, ASL Inc., (408) 941-2070 x119 or
vhwang@aslab.com

Tuesday, June 12th, 2001, from the home of Wayne’s World, Aurora IL — Tonight LIVE on
www.thelinuxshow.com

At 6pm pt, 7pm mt, 8pm ct, and 9pm et…. Kevin Hill, Jeff Gerhardt, PJ
Hyett, Doc Searls(Linux Journal), and Arne Flones have what looks to be a
fun show lined up tonight on The Linux Show!! (and yes the Loki tribes
server is up and running)

In Segment One – Hot News: We will be covering the hot Linux news of
the week. In particular, we will talk about the TV Linux Alliance and the
participation in this group by Lineo.

In Segments Two- “The Ripley Project”- wearble Linux Technology
We will be joined by Cliff Leong of
ZeroSpin Inc.http://zerospin.com/ > and we will be discussing the
Ripley Wearable Computer
development project. We were prompted to contact Cliff after posting an
article about the progress of Ripley posted at Linux
Devices web portal.

Ripley has progressed farther than we expected and has released their
Ripley Version 3 based upon 4 boards. This is very cool and pure
un-altered geek.

In Segments Three- Mike O’Dell talks about Linux and Bynari being named
an IBM Business Partner
We will be joined by Mike O’Dell CEO of Bynari(www.bynari.net). Prior to becoming Bynari’s
CEO, Mike started his IT Career at IBM and helped bring UNIXto IBM in the
form of AIX. He ran the LAN products group for IBM.

Mike and a few co-horts then went off to a little startup called Dell
Computers and grew that business to $7.5 billion in sales. When he
decided to move to Dallas to be closer to his family, he went from board
member to CEO of Bynari.

Mike’s a graduate of the US Naval Academy, where is also did his MIS in
Computer Science and created a process for Commercial UNIX as part of his
thesis. He left the Navy as a Commander(what, not a seal? is this guy a
slacker?).

We will discuss the very recent new of Bynari being named as an IBM Business
Partner due in no small measure to the success of Bynari’s Insight
Server On June 7th, Bynari announced that it has been selected as an IBM
eServer z900 and S/390 Business Partner. As an IBM Business Partner, Bynari
will gain greater visibility among IBM customers for the Bynari Insight
Server.

for those who do not know, Insight Server is a Linux software
solution that provides Internet standards-based email and workgroup
collaboration capabilities to connected desktop computers. For example,
Insight Server allows Microsoft Outlook desktops to communicate and
collaborate on a peer-to-peer basis without using Microsoft’s Exchange
server. Insight Server for the z900 and S/390 claims to offer a
viable and cost-effective alternative to other popular messaging solutions
and delivers much higher levels of scalability and availability (TLS does
not know this for a fact because we have never used the product ourselves).
Enterprises with a large population of email and workgroup collaboration
users will recognize significant total cost of ownership benefits through
server consolidation with an IBM-Bynari solution.”

Bynari also offers Insight Server in an entry level version for small to
medium size businesses wanting functionality similar to Microsoft Exchange.
Additionally, Bynari offers its Insight client software product, which
provides features similar to Microsoft Outlook for the Linux desktop.

Bynari is a privately held company headquartered in Dallas, TX. The Company
designs, develops and markets Open Standards-based software products based
on Linux and UNIX which provide advanced messaging, email and workgroup
collaboration capabilities for a number of different operating environments.
More information on Bynari and its products is available at www.bynari.net.

Other opinions are welcome at GeekCast. If you would like to join
us on the show, check our IRC Chat
(irc.thelinuxshow.com #linuxshow).

Remember tune in at 6pm pt, 7pm mt, 8pm ct, and 9pm et.
Catch the Linux show at
www.thelinuxshow.com
“

From Reuters (via CNET News.com): “In its research labs in Hillsboro, Oregon, Intel engineers have designed and manufactured a
handful of transistors that are only 20 nanometers, or 0.02 microns, in size. By comparison, the
transistors found in the latest chips in use today measure 0.18 microns from one side of the
transistor gate to the other.”

ZDNet News: “The server market followed PCs into the high-tech slump in the first quarter of 2001, with
worldwide sales of $13.3 billion representing a 4 percent drop from a year ago, research
firm IDC will report Wednesday.”