HP builds open-source stack

HP last week announced deeper support for key open-source projects in a move that presents a contrasting approach to IBM, which is focusing on making its own software lines available on Linux.

HP will certify, support and jointly sell two of the best-known open-source projects on its hardware, the MySQL database and JBoss application server, to offer a software stack that can be purely open source if the customer so chooses.

Although IBM is perhaps the blue-chip supplier most linked to open-source in the minds of IT buyers, the company favours its own DB2 database and WebSphere application server on Linux servers.

"It's a good way for HP to differentiate itself because we have great relationships with the open-source community as well as traditional software companies like Oracle and BEA," said Russell Coombes, HP Linux business manager. "We all know that IBM has done a great job pushing Linux but they are a big software company and have a bunch of middleware."

HP's endorsements of MySQL and JBoss are an extension of other recent efforts to support customers seeking to combine the low-cost deployment of open-source projects with the hardware and support options of enterprise IT giants.

Earlier this year, HP issued its Linux Reference Architecture software stack, which is based on open-source technologies including the Apache web server and OpenLDAP directory protocol, as well as commercial products from Oracle and BEA.

Last year, HP also offered customers indemnification from SCO Group's threat to sue users of some versions of Linux for allegedly breaching its copyright.

Now, by certifying the open-source packages, HP may help win over IT buyers that are unsure about the support implications of going down the open-source road. HP said that it would handle first-line support and MySQL and JBoss would deal with more complicated enquiries.

HP's announcement is a significant gain for the Sweden-based MySQL project after Computer Associates (CA) last month said that it was making its Ingres database open-source in a move that appeared to threaten MySQL.

Similarly, the HP endorsement is a boon for JBoss and supplements CA's recent announcement that it would work with the company to bolster the application server. JBoss also last month announced it had won $10m in venture funding.

Basil Cousins of UK open-source advocacy group OpenForum Europe welcomed HP's endorsement. "Clearly the market is splitting into several parts but everyone is focusing on the blue-chip part," he said. "There are significant signs that Linux and open-source software are being taken more and more seriously in financial and other sectors in the UK."

David Goodwin, technical consultant at Open Minds, a services firm that works with MySQL in clustering solutions, said, "People aren't directly asking for [the support of IT giants in blue-chip projects] but if they saw it they would probably be happier."