IT News & Technology update

Open source on the wire

Written by IT News on 3:55 AM

Once upon a time, using open source servers and applications business was frowned on in many circles. Today, you'd be hard pressed to find any significant infrastructure that does not leverage open-source code in some form or another, whether for a few databases MySQL, Apache Web server, or the pilot of Perl, PHP, Ruby, Python or requests to participate things together.

But there is one place in the enterprise, modern infrastructure, where open source solutions have yet to make significant dentist, and this is very network that connects all these pieces.

Of course servers and network equipment, such as routers and firewalls are fundamentally different animals. Servers are large, disk-laden, high-powered computers with Ethernet interface, running a full-penoplastmasa operating systems and applications, ranging from light to heavy web servers databases. Routers and firewalls are slim small appliances which do not have the drive, run high optimized and controlled operating systems, and in case of routers, do not need much administration after initial configuration. In short, servers are from Mars, routers are from Venus.

But if we take a closer look at the functions of routing and firewalling, guess what? We believe that not only modern operating systems offer these functions they perform them as well as, or better than its dedicated cousins - and using open source for much cheaper.

The general rule of thumb when shopping for routers is to determine the requirements, then call or Cisco and Juniper Inquiry - end of story. But companies such as Vyatta and several open source projects are challenging that notion, offering a full, open source routing platforms, which are built on Linux or FreeBSD, and moving on standard x86 hardware. The server becomes a router.

VIA Goes Open-Source, Embraces Linux

Written by IT News on 8:19 AM

By: Bogdan Botezatu, Hardware Editor

Taiwan chip manufacturer VIA has announced a new project aimed at supporting open-source development, in writing software for companies, processors and chipsets. The company also announced its official Web site VIA Linux, which will welcome its first visitors at the end of this month.

When, finally, the site is public, open-source developers will be able to download and post-Linux source for the drivers, as well as technical documentation, source code and information on the VIA CN700, CX700 / M, CN896 and new chipsets VIA VX800.

As the draft rolls, the chip manufacturer will establish a full-fledged development in the community forums, bug tracking, and online support. The company priority on the development agenda provides software to enable 2D, 3D and video acceleration on the VIA processor platforms.

"This statement is the first step in the implementation of the new initiatives in order to better meet the needs of Open Source community," commented Richard Brown, Vice President of Corporate Marketing, VIA Technologies, Inc "We strongly increase the level of collaboration with the community and the adoption of a more consistent approach on the platform processor VIA Technologies. "

In order to put into open source in time, VIA will next quarterly release schedule in accordance with the important developments in the Linux world, such as changes in the nucleus or the release of major distributions.

Beta releases will be paid an additional admission, and the company relies on user feedback and error reports, in order to obtain full, stable version of the software.

"We are delighted that VIA has announced its commitment to strengthen support for Linux and the Open Source community," said Jim Zemlin, executive director of The Linux Fund. "This action opens up exciting new opportunities to accelerate innovation around open source platforms VIA, and ultimately deliver a better user experience."

VIA, in cooperation with the Linux open-source community is an important step in a proper driver for the next generation of ultra-mobile PCs powered company ultra-low-voltage equipment.