HP Forms New Organization to Drive Companywide Linux Strategy
HP Strategy Provides Customers Platform of Choice
San Jose, Calif., March 1, 1999
Hewlett-Packard Company today announced it has established an operation to help drive HP's companywide strategy to contribute systems, software and services support to the open-source community.
The new organization, the Open Source Solutions Operation (OSSO), is part of HP's Internet and Application Systems Division.
The announcement was made here at Linux World Expo, which runs through March 4.
"HP sees Linux as a significant force in the industry and expects it to emerge as the platform of choice for select environments, particularly as it relates to the Internet service provider and electronic-commerce software-development markets," said Nigel Ball, sponsor of the operation and general manager for HP's Internet and Applications System Division. "With our focus in these areas, Linux will play a key role in HP's operating-system strategy."
This announcement is part of a series of scheduled announcements that will underscore HP's commitment to open-source solutions. Earlier this month, HP announced its offering of Linux support on HP NetServer systems and future IA-64 architecture-based systems. HP is the first major systems vendor to offer support and integration services for Linux.
Under the direction of the OSSO, HP is working to drive Linux adoption in enterprise and Internet software-development environments by providing the tools, technologies and solutions to facilitate application development on Linux for easy deployment on Linux, Windows NT or HP-UX(1) systems. To help maximize the developers' productivity on HP-supported platforms, HP will provide Linux-compatible APIs on HP-UX and common GNU development tools on HP-UX, Linux and Windows NT.
HP is facilitating efforts spearheaded in the open-source community to support Linux on the PA-RISC(2) architecture (see today's related announcement). This HP organized, open-source community effort builds on HP's intent to support Linux across the NetServer family and to port Linux to HP platforms based on the IA-64 architecture.
In addition, HP Firehunter service-level management application is now available on Linux.
HP also plans to provide a complete line of services, including electronic support, as well as Web-based training targeted at system administrators and software developers.
HP is a member of Linux International, a non-profit organization consisting of industry influencers dedicated to supporting the continuous development of Linux.
About HP
Hewlett-Packard Company is a leading global provider of computing, Internet and intranet solutions, services, communications products and measurement solution, all of which are recognized for excellence in quality and support. HP has 122,800 employees and had revenue of $47.1 billion in 1998 fiscal year.
Information about HP, its products and the company's Year 2000 program can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.
Editorial Contacts:
Andrea Mahoney
Copithorne & Bellows for HP
(415) 975-2277
andrea.mahoney@cbpr.com
Note: HP press releases are archived on this Web site for historical purposes. Information in the releases is accurate at the time of release. However, product specifications and availability, promotions, prices, relationships, contact numbers and other specific information may change over time. Some information about product pricing and availability may be limited to specific geographic areas and may differ in other areas. Information as stated in the release may or may not be in effect after the date on the release.
In addition, the press releases may contain statements that are forward-looking. These statements are based on current expectations as of the date of a particular release. Actual results may differ materially from those projected because of a number of risks and uncertainties, including those detailed from time to time in HP's reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission. Click here to review these important factors that could cause results to differ materially from those in any such forward-looking statements.