ZDNet eWEEK reports on Novell’s efforts to reverse declining sales and plummeting profits. Part of the new strategy includes new network management software products for Linux platforms.

TechWeb talks with Dr. Irving Wladawsky-Berger, vice president of Technology and Strategy for IBM Enterprise Systems about Linux, Java, security, and other high-tech topics.

LinuxPlanet reports: “The latest, and allegedly first marketable, version of the New Internet Computer was released at the Showcase conference in Palm
Springs this week. Funded by Oracle CEO Larry Ellison, San Francisco-based The New Internet Computer Company is the tech
titan’s latest attempt to sell the network computer concept he first pitched in 1996.

But unlike the earlier NCs which used proprietary software, the new NIC 2.0 is based on a standard Linux operating and may be the
first device of its kind to support Macromedia’s Flash format as well as other streaming video and audio formats such as Real Player’s
G2. Setup has also been streamlined on NIC 2.0.”

Debian Today posts: “The adventurous will be pleased to note that John H. Robinson, IV has released
an unofficial set of Debian GNU/Linux install disks with ReiserFS compatibility at
http://chao.ucsd.edu/debian/boot-floppies/, allowing you to install and bootstrap Debian
GNU/Linux upon a ReiserFS-formatted root (‘/’) partition (among others) without having the need to
shuffle directories and mount points to install Debian per se and move it from Ext2 partitions to
ReiserFS partitions.”

From LinuxPR: Qbizm Technologies, Inc. is proud to announce a new beta version of its
HyperQbs 2.0 component-oriented framework for presentation logic.

HyperQbs is a specialized middle-ware enabling reusable components with a
dynamic face. The technology of dynamic face is crucial especially in mobile
commerce applications and personalization. HyperQbs functions as an extension
of any Java2EE and XML based application server.

CNet reports that Hewlett-Packard is planning to port one of its Unix software packages to Linux “to make the
comparatively new operating system more useful on high-end servers.

HP will show ProcessControl Manager at the show and release a Linux version in the third
quarter …”

From LinuxPR: Linuxcare, Inc., a leader in providing
comprehensive professional services and solutions for Linux and open-source
technologies, today unveiled a set of professional services that help accelerate
development and deployment of Linux-based network storage and printing
appliances in Windows NT/mixed environments. The new services leverage
Linuxcare’s deep knowledge of the core Linux operating system and Samba, an
open-source software suite that provides seamless file and print services to
Windows clients using Microsoft’s SMB/CIFS protocols.

The Register reports that 17 professors from prestigious computer science programs have “in support of the quarterly hackers
magazine, 2600 Magazine, which is currently embroiled in a legal battle over
DeCSS, a program that decrypts data on DVDs.” The professors, “from MIT, Princeton, Stanford and Carnegie Mellon University,
among others, have stated their opposition to the ruling …
They claim that computer code is a form of free speech, and as such is protected by
the First Amendment.”

ZDNet has a story saying that power outages and electricity costs are causing server customers to focus on servers powered by Transmeta chips that are supposed to consume one-quarter the power of a normal chip.

Microway, well- known designer and manufacturer
of high end integrated Beowulf systems, and Scyld Computing Corporation, leading
developers and providers of clustering operating system software; today announced
Microway’s entering into Scyld’s “Authorized Vendor” program. Microway will provide
pre-integrated, fully tested systems with Scyld’s, second generation Beowulf clustering
operating system – Scyld Beowulf.

Microway’s custom configured, Alpha- and Pentium-based clusters will be completely
integrated, tested and fully supported. Microway will provide systems based on customer’s
needs and can incorporate the latest in processor and interconnect technologies leveraging
Scyld’s clustering operating systems robustness and ongoing capability enhancements.

Ann Fried, Chairman and Co-founder of Microway, commented: “We believe that Scyld
has the leading clustering product on the market for high performance computing. Their
technical expertise, support, and commitment to evolve and maintain Scyld Beowulf is
highly compatible with Microway’s corporated business ethic. Offering Scyld Beowulf
software will allow us to deliver the best possible solutions for our customers’ needs. Plus,
Microway’s years of experience providing Beowulf clusters, will assure customers that they
are purchasing top end, well supported cluster solutions.”

As a Scyld Authorized Vendor, Microway provides the full support of the operating system
backed by the original development team. This allows customers access to the years of
development and expertise of a company that is a leader in the Linux operating system and
Beowulf style high performance computing. Microway’s experienced integration and
technical support team will receive specific training and technical support from Scyld,
delivering Microway customers powerful solutions and top support for cluster deployments.
Scyld software will initially be offered on Microway’s new 833MHz Alpha and 933MHz
Pentium clusters.

“The stability, reliability and advanced clustering features of the Scyld Beowulf software will
provide Microway’s customers with powerful, well-supported, high performance computing
solutions, featuring a standard platform for the creation and deployment of advanced
clustering applications,” states Donald Becker, CTO of Scyld Computing Corporation.

Scyld Computing Corporation develops and supports software for high-performance
computing. Donald Becker, CTO, and Scyld developers are well known in the Linux
community for their extensive contributions to the Linux kernel. Scyld is based in Annapolis,
Maryland. Further information may be obtained at http://www.scyld.com.

Microway, based in Plymouth, Massachusetts has provided HPC solutions to the university
and government research computing communities since 1982. The company currently
integrates Alpha, Pentium, and Athlon processors into Linux and UNIX based
workstations and Beowulf Clusters. Its trademarks include NumberSmasher, Screamer,
FastCache, RuggedRak, and QuadPuter. For more information visit http://www.microway.com.