VA Research is splitting into two divisions plus a portal operation, following its acquisition of Linux Hardware Solutions and Enlightened Solutions earlier this week. The LHS deal will spawn a Linux systems division, to be known as VA Linux Systems, but the reorganisation of R&D under the name VA Linux Labs is probably of greater significance. VA Linux Labs' major project at the moment is Trillian, the 'official' Linux port to Intel IA-64. Engineering VP Gregg Zehr will head-up the Labs, but GUI specialist Geoff Harrison and Corel Netwinder architect San Mehat are also on board. Intel, which put money into VA earlier this year, signed a deal with the company to port Linux to IA-64 in March. Intel also has IA-64 Linux efforts coming from Hewlett-Packard and SGI, which will "contribute its skills and experience in large memory systems, high bandwidth I/O and performance computing." On the systems side, LHS president Kit Cosper "will become the primary advisor for VA's service and support organisation," which doesn't sound like a firm job as such to us, "reporting to VA vice president John Hall." VA also has the rights to linux.com, and intends to build a portal operation around it. But it says it doesn't want to over-commercialise the domain, which it acquired earlier this year. ®