HP backs Debian

By Steve Malone

Posted on 16 Aug 2006 at 11:12

Hewlett Packard is expanding its support for Linux distributions by adding Debian GNU/Linux to its list. The company says that the software is now enabled across HP's range of ProLiant and BladeSystem servers.

HP already offers support for a range of Linux distros including ones from Red Hat, Novell Suse and the Asianux foundation of Miracle, Red Flag and Haansoft.

Along with the announcement, HP also debuted its first Debian GNU/Linux, customisable thin client. According to HP, the new t5725 Thin Client can be configured with the thousands of Debian applications already developed for general users and vertical industries, such as retail, healthcare and kiosk environments.

Currently, Debian GNU/Linux is offered with a bundle of 15,490 programmes from games to business applications all of which is free.

Although not as widely known in the UK as some other versions of Linux, Debian GNU/Linux has a healthy and growing user base, which is now bound to get a major boost with HP support.

It was begun in August 1993 by Ian Murdock and the name comes from the merger of his name and that of his wife Debra. The software is currently used by a wide range of government, commercial and educational organisations.