Fujitsu and Novell Deliver Linux for High-Performance Servers

July 8, 2005

Fujitsu Limited and Novell today announced an agreement to deliver new Linux technology and support to their customers. As part of the agreement, Fujitsu will offer support services for Novell's SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server, which will soon be available worldwide on Fujitsu mission-critical PRIMEQUEST and PRIMERGY servers. As a result, customers gain a powerful new Linux solution for their high-performance server needs, backed by two of the leading vendors in the Linux market.

"Fujitsu has been delivering Linux solutions worldwide in line with our Linux business strategy announced in October 2002," said Kiyoshi Sensui, general manager, Linux Software Development Division, Server Systems Unit, Fujitsu Limited. "This agreement with Novell reinforces our commitment to providing customers with high-value solutions on a Linux platform. Together with Novell, we will deliver advanced Linux solutions to customers on a global basis."

Fujitsu ranks among the top five vendors worldwide for PCs, servers and optical networks, and is a leading supplier of servers and optical network equipment in Japan. The growing demand for Linux solutions in mission-critical environments has led Fujitsu to support Linux as an IT infrastructure platform and to strengthen its own services and support offerings. Fujitsu enterprise-class Intel Architecture servers, PRIMEQUEST and PRIMERGY, are well suited for a Linux solution that is also optimized for high-computing workloads.

In 2000, Fujitsu Siemens Computers entered an agreement with SUSE LINUX to deliver and support SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server on PRIMERGY servers throughout Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Today's agreement extends the relationship to encompass worldwide distribution of SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server within the entire Fujitsu Group. As part of the new agreement, Fujitsu will offer support services for Novell's SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server on Fujitsu's high-performance server range.

"Expanding and strengthening the relationship between Novell and Fujitsu promises new benefits for customers," said Ron Hovsepian, executive vice president and president of worldwide field operations for Novell. "This is an important step forward in Novell's commitment to deliver advanced data center and high-performance computing services on Linux."

"Fujitsu Siemens Computers highly appreciates this agreement," said Dieter Herzog, executive vice president of enterprise products, Fujitsu Siemens Computers. "It will strengthen the market momentum worldwide of the companies within the Fujitsu group in the industry standard and mission-critical servers area and will offer our customers the freedom of choice to run their applications in their preferred environments."