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IBM will support x86 Linux apps on System p servers (Linux.com)

Linux.com looks at an IBM announcement. "Today, IBM announced a public beta trial of a virtual Linux environment that will let x86 applications run on its System p Unix servers without modification. The new IBM System p Application Virtual Environment (AVE) technology will allow x86 binaries to run as well without modification, removing the biggest barrier against effective virtualization for some companies. As a result, customers will be able to consolidate dozens, if not hundreds, of servers into one virtual environment."
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IBM will support x86 Linux apps on System p servers (Linux.com)

Posted Apr 24, 2007 19:32 UTC (Tue) by miah (guest, #639) [Link]

Maybe IBM should start actually supporting Linux on their existing hardware. Servers like the xSeries supposedly are supported under Linux, but if you look many of the drivers are outdated. The redpapers are all windows centric with very few Linux details. Their "SAN equipment" is shoddy, with no decent documentation for Linux. When you goto their "support" for Qlogic, they redirect you to a broken link at qlogic.com. I know IBM pays lots of people to develop Linux software and for that I am glad, but their hardware support is horrible.

IBM will support x86 Linux apps on System p servers (Linux.com)

Posted Apr 26, 2007 16:15 UTC (Thu) by perbu (subscriber, #14372) [Link]

I've been using Linux on IBM hardware - including System P - for several years and I've found it to be quite average. Neither better nor worse then Dell or HP.

P.

IBM will support x86 Linux apps on System p servers

Posted Apr 27, 2007 17:06 UTC (Fri) by giraffedata (subscriber, #1954) [Link]

Maybe IBM should start actually supporting Linux on their existing hardware. Servers like the xSeries supposedly are supported under Linux, ...

It sounds to me like IBM has figured out that would not be cost effective. So instead, it went this x86-emulated-on-POWER route. Since IBM has more of a monopoly on System P hardware, it can get paid better for supporting Linux on System P even if it has to give away the OS. Existing Linux on P has a limited market because people who want Linux want to run x86 Linux applications, so IBM has bridged that gap with this new offering.

I think IBM is taking the stance that if you want quality Linux, you get an expensive System P server and IBM will make it work, and if you want cheap Linux from IBM, you get it on System X with blemishes.

(BTW a little while ago, IBM renamed its "eServer xSeries" to "System x" and so on).

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