Intel Adds Linux Driver to Intranet Servers

Intel Corp. announced Thursday it
will marry its Linux Gigabit driver to the Intel PRO/1000 Gigabit Server
Adapter to create Gigabit Ethernet performance for intranet Web servers,
databases and e-mail servers.

This move makes Intel (INTC)
the first company to combine the two for clients who use Linux as their main operating system.

The Linux driver’s source code is available free to the Linux development
community on Intel’s Web site, which allows clients to customize the driver
to meet their individual company needs.

“As Internet service providers and other Web-based companies adopt Linux on
Intel Architecture-based platforms, the need to provide Linux networking
solutions grows,” said Tim Dunn, director of marketing, Intel’s network
interface division.

The driver/adapter matrimony makes sense as more than 90 percent of Linux
installations are found on Intel Pentium processor-based computers,
according to analyst Miller Freeman.

“The new Intel Linux Gigabit driver is great news for Linux customers who
need high speed connectivity to drive their e-business,” said Phil Hester,
chief technology officer, IBM personal systems group.

Last week, Intel dipped into the health industry by launching Internet
Authentication Services, a business that develops online credential
services, with the aid of the American Medical Association.