Embedded Linux is starting to penetrate embedded computer

applications within the U.S. Military -- a phenomenon attributed

to the operating system's stability, real-time capabilities, and

open source license.

For the last few months of its existence, CMGI's iCast was the official home of the

colorfully named

Ogg Vorbis project, an attempt to create a digital music

compression format that would sound as good as or better

than the MP3 format but lack prohibitive license fees.

Linux is an ideal candidate to make this scenario not only possible but cheap, too. For under $200, one can setup an inexpensive box that runs Linux and allows only web access. The maintainence cost of such a machine will be low, especially if booting off the CD-ROM drive is used and reliable remote administrations tools are deployed.

Shares of Linux operating system companies extended gains into a second session after IBM it will invest nearly US$1 billion in the open operating system next year. The IBM investment combined with Nasdaq's robust but short-lived rally and sentiment that the stocks have been pounded all boosted Linux companies, said an analyst at ABN Amro.

The system will be built as a package combining Oracle's Linux database option, for Oracle8I, "Oracle Parallel Server for Linux" (to be shipped beginning in April 2001), with NEC's cluster system "CLUSTERPRO for Linux."

1,100 Linux processor configuration combines unique software and operational IT techniques with world-leading science to accelerate drug discovery through the analysis of protein structures.

IBM announced it would spend $1 billion on the open source system in 2001 and a Linux clustered computer win with Shell. While the news shows continued momentum for the alternative operating system, its path toward commercial acceptance remains lengthy.

Red Hat shares rose 17 percent on investor optimism that the largest U.S. distributor of software based on the Linux operating system will meet or exceed financial forecasts, an analyst said.

If you want to use Linux for your brandnew, super-speed Pentium

4 CPU, just go ahead! SuSE has integrated backward-compatible Pentium

4 recognition in the standard Linux kernel 2.2.16 included in

SuSE Linux 7.0.

In the first quarter of next year, two software bundles will be available through Red Hat's channel and on its website: Red Hat Domino Bundle, an integrated messaging, collaboration and web application platform; and Red Hat Linux Small Business Suite, an offering for smaller companies.