Linux moves deeper into the enterprise

Products and initiatives to push Linux deeper into enterprises, such as development tools and cluster management platforms, were among the announcements at this week's Linuxworld show in New York.

Borland released what it claims is the first native-code rapid application development environment for Linux. It is a component-based development tool for two-way visual creation of graphical user interface, internet, database and web server applications.

Called Kylix, the product includes CLX, a component library for cross-platform development, and is modelled after similar tools for Borland Delphi and C++Builder.

CA announced the beta availability of its Unicenter TNG Cluster Management Option for servers from Compaq, Hewlett Packard, Sun Microsystems and IBM. The product offers a common look and feel for multiple vendors' cluster servers from a single console.

Also in the clustering space, Compaq has signed a deal with SteelEye Technology to develop Linux clustering on the hardware vendor's ProLiant servers and Storageworks storage platforms.

The product will be based on SteelEye's LifeKeeper cluster platform which includes support for Apache web servers, network file systems and journaling file systems.

As part of its push into the Linux sector, Oracle plans to open a Linux competency centre with Dell in the spring. The facility, which will be based at Dell's headquarters in Texas, will enable customers to test Dell servers running the Oracle9i database and application server, and Red Hat's implementation of the open source operating system.

Oracle also aims to lure users of the free MySQL open source database with a migration kit to its own products based on Red Hat Linux. The vendor claims that its migration kit for Microsoft database users was downloaded 4400 times in December alone.

Meanwhile, BEA Systems posted new sample Java code for its WebLogic Commerce Server and WebLogic Personalisation Server to its developers' website. The code includes new portlets for Commerce Server that allow developers to build multiple applications for different types of portals.

A sample analyst tool has also been made available to reduce the maintenance and testing time needed to change business rules.