While IBM is most often found touting SuSE Linux, the company this week firmed up its ties with open source rival Red Hat via a sweeping server upgrade.

Doing the basics, IBM is now ready to ship Version 3 of Red Hat Enterprise Linux across all of IBM's server line. And when IBM says all, it means it. The operating system will be available on Intel-based and RISC-based boxes as well as mainframe systems. The support also extends across IBM's software line, including WebSphere, DB2, Lotus, Tivoli and Rational code.

Tightening the alliance a little more, IBM will now package Red Hat Enterprise Linux with sales of its Xeon and Opteron servers in North America and Japan. This bundle will eventually be extended worldwide.

In related news, IBM has released a new version of its GPFS (General Parallel File System) for AIX. The latest iteration of the software includes support for version 5.2 of AIX and allows GPFS to run across both AIX and Linux servers at the same time.

GPFS is for hardcore users trying to run a file system across numerous servers. It provides shared access to the files regardless of what server in particular they are sitting on.

Along with the improved AIX and Linux support, IBM has added in a few storage features to GPFS. Users can create a logical copy - or snapshot - of a GPFS file system. In addition, both Linux and AIX clients can tap into features of IBM's Tivoli SANergy software. Users can also create backups of the file system with Tivoli Storage Manager. ®