The deal brings Toshiba's DNCware ClusterPerfect clustering software and IBM's NetFinity server hardware, a combination that both companies will bring to the Japanese server market. The product will be offered as a Linux-based redundant fault-tolerant server and disk array system.

Sun is considering replacing Linux on Cobalt Networks server appliances with its own Solaris. Sun has announced that it intends to acquire Cobalt, which is the

leading maker of server appliances.

In the interests of full disclosure, I must reveal that I participated in the "Name-the-SuSE-lizard" contest last February at the Manhattan LinuxWorld. My entry of "Get the Hell Away From Me You Big Green Thing!" did not win for some reason, and I freely admit I hold no bitterness towards SuSE for picking the name "Geeko" instead. Really.

The 486 makes a perfect firewall/router/IP-masquerading machine. The Linux Router Project (LRP) has created a GNU/Linux distribution that runs from a single floppy.

Finding your way around Linux can be difficult if you don't know the purpose of

each directory. The Filesystem Hierarchy Standard (FHS) attempts to make this

easier by standardising the location of Linux commands, files, devices for the

many Linux distributions. The following article explains most of the important

directories.

Configuring Linux to stream MP3 music over a TCP/IP network is a matter of

installing and configuring just two RPMs. These are Icecast-an MP3 server,

and Shout-which streams MP3 data to the MP3 server for broadcasting. On the

client side, you'll need MP3 players like Winamp for Windows, or X11amp and

Mpg123 for Linux.Learn more about this here.

The interesting thing about Sun's plan to purchase Cobalt Networks is how little Sun has had to said about Linux. Sun undoubtedly has a Linux strategy that goes way beyond anything they're saying publicly.

Despite the outwardly can't-miss combination of Cygnus' engineering talent and Red Hat's marketing savvy, the company has spent almost the entire year watching a host of competitors sprint past it.

While this release represents an excellent summary of all that Linux has had to offer so far, it is the next anticipated point release that will bring some of the most eagerly awaited features to X Windows desktops everywhere.

VA Linux Systems and Sumitomo have created a subsidiary to help VA establish a toehold in the notoriously hard-to-enter Japanese market.