PeopleSoft gets Linux-friendly

LOS ANGELES: PeopleSoft Inc. is expected to announce additional support for its business software on IBM products that run the free operating system Linux.

"We're teaming with IBM to deliver PeopleSoft applications in an Linux environment, which gives our customers greater choice," Rick Bergquist, PeopleSoft's chief technology officer, said in a statement.

PeopleSoft's business software automates such things as accounting, purchasing and customer service. Its users already can operate some programs with Web browsers, Web servers and database servers that run Linux.

With this latest announcement, PeopleSoft adds Linux support for Web application servers, or software that helps users build, run and integrate Web-based applications.

PeopleSoft said its new Linux-ready Web server for IBM's WebSphere application server and eServer xSeries is immediately available. The Pleasanton, California-based company also said Linux versions of its full line of products, over 170 applications, will be delivered by year-end.

On other fronts, PeopleSoft said it had selected IBM as its strategic Linux technology partner and several of Big Blue's products as preferred Linux development platforms.

© Reuters