SCO plans to boost profile of Linux line

OS firm outlines Unix strategy and details of deal with Compaq and Oracle.

Santa Cruz Operation (SCO) has unveiled plans to increase its Linux range while declaring war on other Unix vendors at the SCO Forum last week.

The company has also signed an international deal with Compaq and Oracle to push more packaged internet database systems through their combined channel.

Oracle and Compaq will begin shipping a database starter kit to VARs within the next three months, according to Barry Walker, UK and Ireland regional director at SCO. He added the kit will contain evaluation products, tools and support for existing and new partners.

"No customer wants to buy just an operating system - they want to buy a total package. Compaq, Oracle and SCO already work extensively through VARs, so it made sense to increase that strength," Walker said.

The growth of Unix variant Linux was also a focus for the 4000 Forum attendees. SCO announced its intention to take advantage of the system's growth by offering customer support through its professional services division.

The support, which will compete with services from Linux vendors and IBM's global services division, will be introduced in Europe in the next few months.

SCO will help customers evaluate the different versions of the operating system and manage the costs of its implementation.

Walker played down the threat Linux poses to SCO's share of the Unix market. "People are looking at Linux and open source in general. We see Linux as a chance for us to use the Unix skills at our disposal to help customers and VARs."

The professional services unit will also help businesses implement the vendor's shared memory software, Unixware 7 non-stop clusters, which will ship next week.

In addition, SCO's plans to make Project Monterey, the joint venture with Intel, IBM and Sequent, the leading high-volume enterprise Unix environment, were bolstered by support from Samsung and Computer Associates.