Stories by: Dan Neel and Ed Scannell

Open-source Linux operating systems have graduated to take on mission-critical tasks within computer networks faster than any other operating system. Fueled by a worldwide community of developers, experts predict that by 2005 continued progress will fine-tune Linux into just another mainstream OS option for the enterprise.

The drop in worldwide PC sales has been so severe for IBM that the company will soon integrate its PC sales division back into its normal sales and distribution channel, eliminating it as a stand-alone unit, according to a confidential, internal IBM memo.

With the freshly minted Version 2.4 of the Linux kernel now in their hands, both software and hardware vendors will show off their latest Linux offerings at this week's LinuxWorld Expo in New York.

In a deal that could exceed $1 billion in joint investments, former storage rivals Compaq Computer Corp. and IBM Corp. last Thursday announced an agreement to bury the hatchet and couple their storage offerings into one interoperable product line, a move creating a portfolio large enough to possibly threaten EMC's dominate market share.

When the final InfiniBand specifications are released later this year by the InfiniBand Trade Association, the I/O technology will not only provide 2.5GBps of data throughput but also could allow for radical changes in the way networks are configured, thus altering the role of the server and simplifying what has been the complex task of deploying a network.

When the final InfiniBand Specifications are released later this year by the InfiniBand Trade Association, the I/O solution will not only provide 2.5GBps of data throughput, but will also allow for radical changes in the way networks are configured, changing the role of the server, and simplifying what has been the complex task of deploying a network.