Intel ramps up support for Linux in Asia

Intel has released its Quick Start Kit for Linux, stepping up support for Asian system integrators that offer Linux-based desktop PCs.

The Quick Start Kit for Linux is similar to software kits that Intel makes available for system integrators that build PCs designed to run Microsoft's Windows operating system, said Scott McLaughlin, a spokesman for Intel. "We are starting to extend what we've done in the Windows world to include the Linux space," he said.

Initially, the kit is only being made available in China and India, McLaughlin said, noting that demand for Linux is strong and growing among education and government customers in these two countries.

"What we're trying to do is provide a resource for the system integrator to be able to offer a validated solution to their customer with a minimal amount of work," McLaughlin said. "They shouldn't have to worry about finding all of the drivers on their own."

The Quick Start Kit for Linux is available for free to Intel Channel Program members and supports Novell's Linux Desktop 9, Red Hat's Red Hat Desktop and Red Flag Software's Red Flag Desktop 4.1, Intel said in a statement. Support for China Standard Software's Linux distribution will be added in a future version of the kit, it said.

The kit has been validated for use with several Intel desktop motherboards, including the D845 family of Celeron-based motherboards, and the D865 and D915 lines of Pentium 4-based motherboards, Intel said.

The Quick Start Kit for Linux is comprised of several software components. The first component is comprised of Linux drivers that have been validated by Intel for each of the motherboards supported by the kit. Secondly, the kit contains a management system that allows systems integrators to install device drivers with a single command, eliminating the need to understand make files, tar files and source code.

The kit also contains Intel's Application Version Compliance tool, which helps to ensure that the applications installed on a desktop PC have been validated for various Linux distributions and motherboards.

While the Quick Start Kit for Linux is currently only available in China and India, it may soon find its way into other markets. "We're actively looking to expand where the product is offered," McLaughlin said.