IBM will release a series of tools and support services to
port Linux applications to its mainframe and server architectures today, the
company said.
The IBM eServer Application Server Advantage for Linux, or Chiphopper, is
recognition by the Armonk, N.Y., software giant that there’s demand for
Linux applications created by ISVs
the Intel- or AMD-based
x86
architecture.
“In 2004, 40 percent of IBM’s Linux server revenue was non-x86, so the idea
here is for [ISVs] to take their Linux x86 applications and take advantage
of . . . the fact that IBM is selling multi-platform Linux to our
customers,” said Scott Handy, IBM vice president of Linux.
The formal announcement will be made at a news conference at the LinuxWorld
trade show in Boston.
The new program expands Big Blue’s support for Linux applications on its
hardware platforms. At last year’s LinuxWorld event in San Francisco, the
company announced a Linux on
Power program, which gave ISVs access to testing centers and support.
In recent times, IBM has also eased
ISV membership requirements for its PartnerWorld Industry Network program,
which lets developers gain access to IBM support, services and software
tools.
According to Stacey Quandt, a senior business analyst and open source
practice leader at the Robert Frances Group research firm, Chiphopper is an
expansion of IBM’s “Speed-start your Linux app” program and an effort to
narrow the gap in ISV support for Sun’s Solaris on SPARC
She said IBM has 900 applications certified for Linux on its pSeries while
there are more than 10,000 certified for Solaris on SPARC. Porting the
application, however, is only part of the solution, she noted.
“Optimizing the performance of applications and identifying bottlenecks on
pSeries in particular will requires additional tools,” she said. “IBM could
also spur ISV interest if it ported its AIX performance toolbox to the Linux
platform.”
Chiphopper’s main software tool is the Source Code Testing and Checking
Tool, an application that analyzes a Linux application to see whether it can
be immediately ported to IBM’s supported platforms. If there are portability
issues, the software will recommend potential fixes and ISVs can
alternatively get support from IBM technicians to help with the migration.
Platform support includes the eServer iSeries, pSeries, zSeries, xSeries,
BladeCenter and OpenPower.
The program also includes a tool that checks C and C++ code for Linux
Standard Base (LSB) conformity.
ISVs in IBM’s PartnerWorld network will also get access to no-charge support
in the event that a ported application creates a problem with its customers
within the first two years. IBM’s business partners can test their
applications against the actual hardware at one of IBM’s Innovation Centers,
either on-site or remotely.
IBM concurrently launched resource Web sites for ISVs thinking of migrating
their applications from the Solaris or Windows platform, as well as a
resource site for the Chiphopper program.
Developers can visit IBM’s Linux
site for more information.
