Novell caught everyone on the hop this week with the news that it backing Linux to the hilt. More than that in fact. Novell is going the whole hog, putting an awful lot of eggs into one basket and committing the company to the Linux movement.

TurboLinux has become the first company to release a test version of the increasingly popular Linux operating system for Intel's delayed Itanium chip.

Even people who don't know what a CPU is have heard of Linux by now. Does that mean that the renegade, Unix-like operating system is on its way to becoming mainstream? Yes. But not by replacing Windows on your desktop.

The LinuxWorld Conference & Expo will be held for the first time at the Frankfurt Exhibition Center from October 5th - 7th, 2000. The trade fair will be the first business-to-business event in Europe dedicated exclusively to the Linux operating system and open solutions.

Over the last two weeks, we looked at Linux from the beginning; then last week, I added some information on other efforts which have contributed to making Linux what it is today. Once I have established the basics, I will start looking into specific areas of Linux and the Linux phenomenon. In future columns and radio programs, expect to see coverage of office suites, web servers, embedded systems and all the other ways Linux is being used.

Attempting to establish itself as a player to be reckoned with in the increasingly critical Internet infrastructure market, VA Linux Systems Wednesday acquired both TruSolutions, builder of rack-mount servers, and NetAttach, which makes high availability storage devices.

WinLinux 2000, the first Linux for Windows 95/98 users, is ready and shipping to customers in the US and abroad. Since its launch in September, the product has been one of the most popular Linux system on CNET Download.com website, frequently topping the list.

Adaptec, Inc. announced that its Ultra160 SCSI technology is the first in the industry to be ported to the Linux IA-64 kernel -- the basis for the 64-bit version of the increasingly popular Linux open source operating system. By working closely with leading Linux provider Red Hat, Inc. Adaptec brings a key technology to the Linux user community.

QAD, developer of industry-specific e-business solutions for manufacturers and distributors, today announced immediate availability of QAD MFG/PRO version 9.0 enterprise applications for the Red Hat Linux 6.0 operating system (OS).

At developerWorks' most recent Barcode event in Boston, Miguel de Icaza, the GNOME project founder was the main attraction during his speech to over 300 software developers and software-developer-hangers-on, on a subject understandably close to his heart, GNOME. GNOME, one of Linux's answers to the ever-popular Windows GUI and development platform, is among the most popular platforms on Linux and other free operating systems.