Linux continues to gain momentum and credibility as it receives increasing support from dominant industry vendors. Hewlett-Packard and SAP yesterday each touted individual efforts to increase offerings on the platform, starting off what promises to be a big week for Linux-related announcements.

Beefing up its efforts to speed the adoption of Linux in the enterprise and in the Internet software development arena, HP outlined a new organization designated to develop tools and technologies for applications deployed on Linux, Windows NT, or HP-UX systems. The Open Source Solutions Operation will be a subdivision of HP's Internet and applications systems unit. According to HP, Linux is becoming the platform of choice, particularly in the E-commerce and ISP market, and therefore the company intends to make Linux a key part of its operating-system strategy. The company also plans to provide services, training, and electronic support for developers and system administrators using Linux. HP earlier this month integrated Linux into its NetServer and IA-64 architecture systems.

Companies like HP have brand weight and resources, which make announcements such as this important to the Linux cause. But according to Stacey Quandt, an analyst with the Giga Group, the trickle-down effect is equally significant. "When the big companies make their announcements, there are more opportunities for the smaller applications vendors to support it, so there's even more room for Linux to grow," she says. Quandt believes HP's support of the platform is important, but notes that other vendors such as IBM have made equally strong Linux pushes without forming formal organizations.

Only a few months ago, analysts were unsure how far the open platform would go, and if vendors would offer more than words to support the system. But as products continue to roll out, credibility is growing, notably among the reselling community. According to a spot survey published yesterday by Computer Reseller News, a sister publication to InformationWeek, 54% of responding resellers think Linux's low cost and open source code are key selling points over other operating systems, and more than half the respondents see Linux as a viable alternative to Windows in the next 12 months.

Quandt agrees that's a compelling story. "Linux is challenging Windows NT and Windows 2000 on the server level, but it'll take a while for it to get to the desktop," she says.

SAP also jumped on the Linux train yesterday, outlining plans to offer its R/3 enterprise application on the open platform by the third quarter. The company says it is responding to demands by its customers that it include the platform in its ERP offerings. SAP will be joined by several of its hardware and software partners when it presents a full-scale offering of Linux systems, tools, databases, and support services next week at the CeBit 99 conference in Hanover, Germany.

Today also promises to be a big day for the platform, as companies including Computer Associates, IBM, and Intel are preparing to make Linux development announcements and outline partnerships with Linux software distributors Caldera Systems, Red Hat Software, and VA Research.