A colleague forwarded this pointer to me.

http://www.eweek.com/article/0,3658,s=25200&a=24535,00.asp

Linux on mainframe systems? Don't laugh. Dave Ennen isn't. The technical
support manager at Winnebago Industries Inc. recently oversaw the deployment
of Version 7 of SuSE Linux AG's Linux operating system on an IBM zSeries
mainframe to run his company's e-mail server supporting 700 users. Ennen, in
Forest City, Iowa, said the move allowed him to avoid spending $150,000 on
new hardware and software for a Microsoft Corp. Exchange upgrade. The Linux
e-mail system cost Winnebago $26,000.

"Not only did we find a more cost-effective e-mail option, but it also
showed us that Linux is ideal for enterprise applications and for our
mainframe environment," said Ennen. "I'm not planning on buying any more
Intel [Corp.]-based servers. As long as we can integrate new applications to
our legacy side using Linux, I'm going to focus on that."


Mark Post

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