IBM Gives $1 Billion Boost To Linux on Power Systems

ibm-linux

A new IBM Power Systems Linux Center for developers, clients and partners opened in Montpellier, France today, part of a larger initiative by IBM to commit $1 billion towards Linux ecosystem growth on IBM's Power Systems line of servers. (Photo: IBM)

IBM continues to reinvigorate its line of Power Systems servers, with plans for a $1 billion investment in new Linux and open source technologies for Power Systems. This marks the second time in history that IBM has committed $1 billion in funds for Linux.

Two immediate initiatives were announced: a new client center in Europe and a Linux on Power development cloud. These will focus on rapidly expanding IBM’s growing ecosystem supporting Linux on Power Systems, which today represents thousands of independent software vendor and open source applications worldwide.

IBM Fellow and Vice President of Power Development Brad McCredie revealed the new investment in front of more than 1,400 Linux industry leaders, developers and end-users at the Linux Foundation's LinuxCon conference in New Orleans.

"Many companies are struggling to manage big data and cloud computing using commodity servers based on decades-old, PC era technology," McCredie explained. "These servers are quickly overrun by data which triggers the purchase of more servers, creating un-sustainable server sprawl. The era of big data calls for a new approach to IT systems; one that is open, customizable, and designed from the ground up to handle big data and cloud workloads."

Variety of New Programs

The $1 billion investment will be directed at various product research, design, development, ecosystem skills, and go-to-market programs for IBM's clients, developers and partners, as well as academics, and students. A client center in Montpellier France will enable software developers to build and deploy new applications for big data, cloud, mobile and social business computing on open technology building blocks, using Linux and the latest POWER7+ processor technology.

IBM also announced that it is expanding its Power Systems cloud for development.  The no-charge cloud service is ramping up its infrastructure to provide more businesses the ability to prototype, build, port, and test Linux applications on the Power platform as well as applications built for AIX and IBM i.

"The last time IBM committed $1 billion to Linux, it helped start a flurry of innovation that has never slowed," said Jim Zemlin, Executive Director of the Linux Foundation. "IBM's continued investments in Linux for Power Systems is welcomed by the Linux community.  We look forward to seeing how the Power platform can bring about further innovation on Linux, and how companies and developers can work together to get the most out of this open architecture."