IBM to invest $1 billion in Linux,open source technologies

IBM said it would invest $1 billion (USD) in new Linux and open source technologies for company's power systems servers.

The investment aims to help clients capitalize on big data and cloud computing with modern systems built to handle the new wave of applications coming to the data center in the post-PC era.

IBM Fellow and vice president of power development Brad McCredie revealed the new investment in front of more than 1,400 Linux industry leaders, developers and end-users at the Linux Foundation's LinuxCon conference in New Orleans, noting the monies will be applied to various product research, design, development, ecosystem skills, and go-to-market programs for clients, developers, Business Partners, entrepreneurs, academics, and students.

"Many companies are struggling to manage big data and cloud computing using commodity servers based on decades-old, PC era technology. These servers are quickly overrun by data which triggers the purchase of more servers, creating un-sustainable server sprawl," said McCredie.
He further added, "The era of big data calls for a new approach to IT systems; one that is open, customizable, and designed from the ground up to handle big data and cloud workloads."

Jim Zemlin, Executive Director of the Linux Foundation, said , "The last time IBM committed $1B to Linux, it helped start a flurry of innovation that has never slowed. IBM's continued investments in Linux for Power Systems is welcomed by the Linux community. We look forward to seeing how the Power platform can bring about further innovation on Linux, and how companies and developers can work together to get the most out of this open architecture."

McCredie also addressed how Watson, IBM's cognitive computing solution that gained fame as the first non-human to win the Jeopardy! game show and now available in a variety of industry solutions, runs on commercially available power systems servers running Linux -- demonstrating how the Linux and power combination is fueling a new era of computing.