Sun, SuSE Sign Global Alliance To Push Linux And Java
As part of the deal, announced Thursday and to be highlighted at LinuxWorld Expo next week, Sun will ship and offer support for SuSE's Enterprise Server 8 on its x86-based systems.
Nuremberg, Germany-based SuSE will license Sun's Java 2 Standard Edition (J2SE) and ship Sun's Java Virtual Machine across its Linux software line. The products will be available this fall, said Ann Wettersten, vice president of software product marketing at Sun.
"We're offering the top two Linux leaders," said Wettersten, noting that Sun now ships Solaris and two Linux distributions on its low-end, x86-based systems. "We offer [full front-line support] for both SuSE and Red Hat and back-line support for each company. The first call comes into Sun. As we diagnose the problem, we then tap into SuSE's expertise."
After scrapping its custom Linux distribution in March, Sun opted to go with standard distributions of the open-source operating system. Its first deal, with market-leader Red Hat, was announced in April.
What differentiates the SuSE deal is the licensing of J2SE, said a Sun marketing executive.
The deal will give Sun's Java expanded reach into the United States and in Europe, where SuSE dominates in the Linux market.
Initially, the deal calls for SuSE to ship Sun's Java Virtual Machine with its server software. In a conference call with CRN, however, SuSE CTO Juergen Geck said the UnitedLinux vendor also will ship JVM on its Linux desktops.
"This is a major one," said Geck of SuSE's deal with Sun. "Java is a key component around what we ship to our customers, and we can provide Java support [for servers] and on the client."
SuSE launched a global channel program in March and has signed up about 100 partners to date, a SuSE spokesman said.
With the Sun alliance, SuSE aims for access to Sun's more developed channel and expanded distribution of its Linux product in the U.S. market. "That's what we're counting on," Geck said.
The alliance is not exclusive. SuSE also has major products and service alliances with Advanced Micro Devices, Dell, Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Intel, he said.