Sun, Lineo bringing Linux to UltraSparc

NEW YORK--Sun Microsystems has hired Lineo to bring Linux and related programming tools to Sun's UltraSparc IIe processor for "embedded" computing devices such as network routers or digital TV sets, the companies announced Tuesday at the LinuxWorld Conference and Expo. Versions of Linux already exist for UltraSparc chips, but few companies provide support at present. Sun said it hopes the partnership will help Sun's chips gain more widespread use in embedded devices, which more frequently use chips from ARM Holdings, MIPS or Motorola. A royalty-free version of Embedix, Lineo's version of Linux, will be available in the first quarter of 2002. A software-development kit, for which Lineo charges, is expected by the third quarter. --Stephen Shankland, Special to ZDNet News