IBM was the first big company to fully commit to Linux and tie its fortune to the success of the Linux OS.  It is hard to argue that IBM has done very well embracing the open source operating system with such vigor.  They are hoping to do it again.

Believing Linux to be mainstream and viable, IBM is moving into other open source areas, attempting to get them to the same level of functionality / viability.

At Linuxworld yesterday, IBM announced what has been dubbed their “Beyond Linux” Strategy — a roadmap showing where IBM is investing time and money to the benefit of the open source community (and IBM Global Services, to the tune of $250 / hour).  The strategy targets the following eight areas:

  • Client-side Middleware - Supporting the Eclipse Rich Client Platform project for hosting cross-platform applications.
  • Development Tools - Built on Eclipse, a universal open integration platform of frameworks and exemplary tools.
  • Web Application Servers - Based on Apache open source projects like Geronimo.
  • Data Servers - Building on the open source Apache Derby and no-license fee IBM DB2 Express-C.
  • Systems Management - Including open source Aperi storage project.
  • Open Hardware Architectures - Community-driven collaborative innovation with Power.org and Blade.org.
  • Grid Computing - Expanded support for Open Grid Services Architecture and the Globus Alliance.
  • IBM Research/Business Consulting and Technology Services - Enabling customers to innovate with open source-based solutions and development models.

Per an analyst on CIO’s blog, ”(the strategy) takes the cost out of the maintenance budget and allows (IT managers) to put it into the innovation budget”.  Open source benefits software service providers like IBM especially because the free software frees up resources to put into services like consulting.  This feels like a slight — like I’m accusing IBM of something sneaky, but when looked at through the lens of the above analyst (the innovation budget) it could be money well spent.  Or just as likely, there will be no real benefit to anyone other than the ones selling services.

 

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