Sun signs up SuSE for x86 systems

By Alun Williams

Posted on 1 Aug 2003 at 17:05

Sun and SuSE have announced a new alliance.

Under the terms of the agreement, SuSE will become a Java 2 SE (Standard Edition) source licensee and promise to distribute Sun's Java Virtual Machine. In return, Sun will sell and provide customer support for SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 running on its x86 systems.

It was only back in June, that Sun similarly signed up with Red Hat to support x86 versions Red Hat Enterprise Linux. Specifically, 'AS' (advanced server), 'ES' (enterprise sever) and 'WS' (the workstation edition) versions of the Enterprise Linux, with Sun providing level 1, 2 and 3 support, ie the consumer would be wholly dealing with Sun.

Red Hat was the distro of choice, Sun told us at the time, due to perceived market demand. Either the market has changed, or Sun is covering all Linux bases.

'This agreement further demonstrates the accelerating momentum of Java and Sun's support for the open community,' said Jonathan Schwartz, executive VP of software, Sun Microsystems.

'Sun values SuSE's expertise and welcomes them to the Java community and we look forward to working with them to grow the global marketplace,' he added. 'Through this collaboration and Sun's continued commitment to open systems, customers benefit from greater choice and innovation.'