Fujitsu Siemens Computers celebrates Linux`s birthday with broad support across product range

Issued by Opportun(at)e for Fujitsu Siemens Computers
Johannesburg, 04 Sep 2001

Ten years after its announcement by Linus Torvalds, Linux has plenty to celebrate. Once favoured mainly by Internet gurus and academics, the open source system is now the fastest growing server operating system globally, with an average annual growth rate of 50%.

Over 12 million installations worldwide make Linux one of the widest distributed systems and this spectacular growth is forecast to continue - IDC expects Linux to account for 9% of corporate IT spend by 2002.

Crucial for Linux` transition from the Internet to the corporate IT market is the support of IT heavyweights. To this end, Fujitsu Siemens Computers now supports Linux right across its Intel-based product range, from lightweight notebooks to enterprise servers for business-critical operations.

Broad range of products certified to run Linux

For Linux to be widely accepted as a viable alternative for business computing, it needs to run on robust and scalable hardware. Fujitsu Siemens Computers has demonstrated its deep commitment to Linux, by ensuring that products across its entire Intel-based range support Linux. This makes Linux a strong option for companies of all sizes, from SMEs to major corporates.

Linux has been integrated in the quality assurance tests of all PRIMERGY servers and all CELSIUS workstations, as well as some SCENIC desktops and LIFEBOOKS. For all Fujitsu Siemens Computers` Intel-based platforms Linux certification is provided, meaning that the hardware is guaranteed to run Linux. The recently launched Itanium-based PRIMERGY servers and CELSIUS workstations also support Linux.

Supporting Linux` transition to enterprise computing

Fujitsu Siemens Computers` strategic focus on Business Critical Computing makes it an excellent reference for Linux in the enterprise computing space. The company`s broad range of servers, storage and cluster systems guarantees the availability and reliability required for failsafe systems at enterprise level.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers also supports Linux in its cutting-edge clustering technology - the Unix-based Reliant Cluster and the hpcLine of integrated cluster systems. Combining open and flexible Linux software with Fujitsu Siemens Computers` robust hardware creates a powerful Business Critical Computing offering.

World firsts for Fujitsu Siemens Computers and Linux

Fujitsu Siemens Computers has achieved a number of world firsts with its Linux developments:

* Fujitsu Siemens Computers in co-operation with SuSE completed a Linux extension which allows the use of up to four GBytes of memory on Intel-based servers.

* It was the first provider to announce SAP R/3 support on Linux at Cebit in 1999, in conjunction with SAP.

* In September 1999, Fujitsu Siemens Computers achieved the world`s first certified R/3 benchmark running Linux, with the top mark of 241 SD (sales and distribution) users on a 4-way Intel-based PRIMERGY system.

* In September 2000, PRIMERGY four-way servers were confirmed as the fastest Intel-based servers in the industry, running on SAP R/3 with Linux.

* In December 2000 a record 23,000 SD users were reached in cooperation with SBS (Siemens Business Services) on 160 PRIMERGY 4-way servers and a PRIMEPOWER M2000.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers

Fujitsu Siemens Computers is the leading European computer company and offers one of the world`s most complete product and solution portfolios. Its world-leading technology and innovative IT products span the entire range of personal computing and enterprise computing needs.

With extensive

manufacturing facilities in Germany and more than 7 000 employees serving our customers, the company operates in 25 countries across Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers offers unrivalled expertise in enterprise computing with best-in-class Intel- and Unix-based servers, mainframes and enterprise storage solutions. The company is also one of the leading providers of professional PCs, notebooks and workstations to business customers, and is Europe`s leading supplier of PCs for home users and small offices.

Fujitsu Siemens Computers is jointly owned by Fujitsu Limited and Siemens AG, and benefits from the combined strengths and innovation of its parent companies. The global cooperation between Fujitsu and Siemens provides access to a worldwide network of service and integration partners as well as more than 80 000 specialists dedicated to the Fujitsu Siemens Computers product and solutions portfolio.

The company has clearly defined its strategic direction, focusing on Business Critical Computing and Mobility solutions as the key drivers of the e-business and the Internet age. Business Critical Computing builds on the core competencies of Fujitsu Siemens Computers and guarantees extremely scalable, secure and always-on IT infrastructures for both current and future e-business environments. The company is also addressing the dramatically increasing demand for advanced solutions that support the mobility of users with anytime access to Internet services and applications - independent of location and device. For further information, please visit: www.fujitsu-siemens.com.

Editorial contacts