IBM and Red Hat Might Form a Partnership for the Development of the System z Software

According to some sources close to the Red Hat and IBM companies, the two players intend to form a partnership through which IBM would sell and support Red Hat Linux software on their mainframe computers, System z. IBM has previously been working with Novell for the sale and development of the SUSE Linux version on the System z computers. Even though Red Hat and IBM refused to make any comments regarding this partnership, some sources claim that they intend to announce it at a Red Hat users conference. The main aspects they have in view through this cooperation would be the development of the Linux software capabilities and the improvement of the mainframe's security.

Based in Raleigh, North Carolina, Red Hat is one of the largest companies providing open source software on the market. The company targeted the enterprise class with the Red Hat Enterprise Linux Edition, but it also provides other operating system platforms, applications and management solutions or consulting services. A possible partnership between Red Hat and IBM would not only bring significant image promotion for Red Hat in the enterprise area, but it would also affect the deployment direction of its software addressed to more sensitive areas such as that of the mainframe computers.

IBM, or the "Big Blue", is one of the largest companies selling computer hardware, software, infrastructure services, hosting and consulting services in various areas, from nano-technology to mainframe computers. It started supporting Linux back in 1998 and has invested a lot of money in the Linux software and services through the IBM Linux Technology Center, and has also released source code under different open-source licenses. IBM is also known as one of the companies providing an anti-discrimination clause for the homosexual employees, being rated with 100% gay-friendliness index since 2003 by the Human Rights Campaign.