Mainline Information Systems forms Strategic Alliance with SuSE® To deliver Linux® Solutions for IBM® eServers

June 6, 2002


Mainline Information Systems forms Strategic Alliance with SuSE® To deliver Linux® Solutions for IBM® eServers

Oakland, CA

Mainline Information Systems Inc., IBM's leading solutions provider, along with SUSE Linux, the international Open Source technology leader, announced a worldwide strategic alliance to deliver the most comprehensive Linux for S/390 and zSeries services offering to date. Assessment, design, installation, implementation, porting, migration, customization, tuning, Linux software distribution, fixes, patches, features, and drivers, combined with an unmatched 7 x 24 services agreement providing Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 maintenance and support.

This partnership represents a very sophisticated teaming agreement that combines SUSE world-class software and technical skills, with Mainline?s extensive zSeries experience and market reach.

Companies that are in the early adopters stage of implementing Linux applications can take advantage of Mainline?s Linux Starter Kits. These kits were designed to jumpstart Linux evaluation projects. Mainline support staff will install and configure a Linux S/390 or zSeries environment utilizing standard Linux services resident with the base product. Services include Samba File and Print, Domain Name Serving (DNS), Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP), Web Services (Apache), File Transfer Protocol (FTP), Network File System (NFS), and Secure Shell (SSH).

Those companies that are in the Integration stages can engage Mainline?s support team for more complex services to further exploit the power of the mainframe. WebServing (Websphere Application Server), Data Base Management (DB2/UDB), Connector Technology, Hypersockets, Server Consolidation, and application porting, are but a few of the components of our services portfolio.

For more advanced implementations, Mainline will provide engineering services to develop Java J2EE ebusiness applications that provide the benefit of writing once, deploying anywhere. This is where architecting is at its finest.

With our SUSE alliance we expect to set the standard for the deployment and support of Linux solutions in large-scale corporate computing environments?, says Rick Kearney, CEO and President of Mainline Information Systems Inc. ?Delivering unprecedented products, services and support is the drumbeat we execute our business by?, adds Rick.

"Our cooperation with Mainline is based on the joint goal of providing professional users with the best solutions and services for corporate deployment," added Holger Dyroff, Head of SUSE Linux, Oakland California. "We have reached an important milestone today towards the support and services of SUSE Linux for our zSeries customers"

About SuSE SUSE Linux is the international technology leader and solutions provider in Open Source operating system software. SUSE unique expertise in Linux and its largest development team worldwide dedicated to Open Source software has contributed to the recognition of SUSE as the most complete Linux solution available today. SUSE Linux is a privately held company focused entirely on supporting the Linux community and Open Source development. For more information, Please visit suse.com.

SUSE is a registered trademark of SUSE Linux AG. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. All other trademarks mentioned herein are the property of their respective owners.

About Mainline Information Systems Mainline Information Systems was founded in 1989 and has become a global provider of information technology and e-business solutions. An IBM International Business Partner, Mainline is the top IBM solution provider in North America, and is certified in the complete eServer product line as well as storage and software. Mainline provides application software, tools and consulting expertise that allow companies to make the most from their hardware investment. In addition to its United States offices, Mainline Information Systems has offices in Tokyo and Seoul. Corporate offices are located at 1700 Summit Lake Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32311. The Company can be reached by phone at 850.219.5000, and on the Internet at www.mainline.com.

About Novell
Novell, Inc. is a leading provider of information solutions that deliver secure identity management (Novell® Nsure™), Web application development (Novell exteNd™) and cross-platform networking services (Novell Nterprise™), all supported by strategic consulting and professional services (Novell NgageSM). Active in the open source community with its Ximian and SUSE Linux brands, Novell is firmly committed to open source and offers comprehensive Linux products and services for the enterprise, from the desktop to the server. Novell's vision of one Net - a world without information boundaries - helps customers realize the value of their information securely and economically. For more information, call Novell's Customer Response Center at (888) 321-4CRC (4272) or visit http://www.novell.com. Press should visit http://www.novell.com/pressroom.

Novell is a registered trademarks; Nsure, exteNd and Nteprise are trademarks; and Ngage is a service mark of Novell, Inc. in the United States and other countries. SUSE is a registered trademark of SUSE Linux AG. * All third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners.