PeopleSoft extends Linux support to software

PeopleSoft Inc. will support Red Hat Linux for PeopleSoft EnterpriseOne, meaning that customers who choose to run their applications on Linux can reduce their total cost of ownership by using an open source, secure, and stable operating system, the company says.

PeopleSoft EnterpriseOne will support Red Hat Linux for its human capital management, supply chain management, supplier relationship management, financial management, asset lifecycle management, and project management applications.

Linux is said to be continuing to gain momentum and acceptance in organizations around the world. The following examples bear testimony to this:

-- Meta Group Inc. predicts that Linux will grow its current enterprise server market share from less than 10 percent to around 30 percent by 2007;

-- IDC has projected that Linux server shipments will have a compounded annual growth rate of more than 28 percent through 2007;

-- A December 2003 SG Cowen survey of more than 500 ICT users in North America found that Linux was in use at nearly 80 percent of sites, with 72 percent on servers and 15 percent on desktops.

"PeopleSoft EnterpriseOne support for Red Hat Linux is a direct response to increased customer demand, and our commitment to giving customers greater choice," says Mike Evans, MD of PeopleSoft Africa. "PeopleSoft EnterpriseOne support for Linux provides a new lower cost alternative for the mid-market."

Support for Red Hat Linux will be available in the Q2 2004 release of PeopleSoft EnterpriseOne 8.10, and is currently available for the PeopleSoft Enterprise family of applications, the company adds. PeopleSoft EnterpriseOne applications running on Red Hat Linux will also aim to support the database, application and Web server tiers. PeopleSoft says that it is continuing to work with IBM Corp. as a development partner to deliver its applications in a Linux environment.