Informix courting Linux users
The database vendor will soon begin shipping a version of its Dynamic database server that is compatible with Linux.
As reported last month by CNET News.com, the database vendor will soon begin shipping a version of its Dynamic database server that is compatible with the Linux open source code operating system.
Informix is also readying a version of its Dynamic 4GL tool for the Linux platform and porting its Informix-SE light database for small to midrange applications to support Red Hat Software's products. Red Hat is a leading distributor of Linux systems.
Linux has been getting a lot more attention from software firms across the board as it continues to gain in popularity. It is consistently ranked the fastest growing Unix platform and is making its way into mainstream use.
Informix joins Netscape Communications, Oracle, and Sybase in porting products to Linux. In fact, Informix executives recently said that the growing popularity of the platform at the enterprise level for major corporations is driving Informix's Linux development efforts.
The company sees demand for Linux applications growing extremely fast, outpaced only by sales of software on Microsoft's Windows NT operating system.
And even Microsoft is keeping a close eye on the open platform. The company admitted in a recent Security and Exchange Commission filing that Linux is a threat to NT sales.
Although Linux has been around for seven years, it is only now gaining popularity among corporate executives. It was initially released in 1991 when creator Linus Torvalds was a student at the University of Helsinki. It has since grown into a Net-based software phenomenon, with millions of users counted as converts and countless software additions submitted to various ad hoc Linux Web sites for use.