Dell to demo Linux on Itanium

Dell will demo an Intel Itanium-based server running Linux at LinuxWorld Expo later today, according to company sources cited by Infoworld.

In line with the 64-bit Itanic's focus on enterprise database applications, Dell's demo, which will apparently feature Red Hat's Itanium implementation of its own Linux distribution, will focus on using the technology with IBM DB2 and SAP software.

Tedious stuff, to be sure, but essential to Dell's drive to sell greater numbers of bigger, higher margin servers to allow it to maintain its revenue growth.

Last week, when the Texas-based company announced the results of its most recently completed quarter, it cited notebooks and Linux servers as two of the key drivers behind a 25 per cent year-on-year increase in revenue. The snag was, earnings were up just five per cent, so Dell's focus now will lie on systems with the highest margins.

Dell said last week that enterprise systems and storage accounted for 49 per cent of its total system sales, and generated a 46 per cent increase in revenue.

Dell also wants to get out of the 64-bit Linux gate ahead of server rivals Hewlett-Packard, Compaq and IBM. HP will today make a major Linux support announcement to bring the open source OS to almost every machine in its product line, along with a version of Linux for its HP-9000 server. ®

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