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With more IT users switching on additional Linux servers — and evaluating the use of Linux on the desktop as well — VARs must start planning for a future in which the open-source operating system is a fixture.

UserLinux, an open source push for a freely available enterprise Linux, returns users to the roots of Linux. Project goals include making an enterprise-level version of Linux freely available to businesses. At a recent press conference at LinuxWorld, project leader and open source advocate Bruce Perens updated the status of the project, remarking that UserLinux would ensure that "Linux would be free again."

Local authorities will be the first beneficiaries of a revolutionary partnership between Microsoft and Newham. The council is working with the software company to develop a number of applications that could benefit other councils in the UK – although the creation of an open source model might stun some of Microsoft’s critics.

"I'd like you to help me find out about video screen captures," said one of my editors a while back. "Sure, let me see what's available," I replied. He pointed me to a couple of Web sites to get me started, and here I am a few weeks later ready to share my findings. I'll discuss ways that you can make video clips in Linux, talk about their applications and shortcomings. I'll also cover suitable ways to view your masterpieces once they're recorded.

I had bitter feelings about RealNetworks products and practices years ago, but over the last couple of years I find that RealPlayer8 is one of the first apps I open on my linux machines. I confess I am a BBC Radio addict living in the USA and streaming audio is my only way to listen.

While I'm not one to engage in schadenfreude, the recent announcements from CERT and the United States Department of Homeland Security telling users to avoid the use of Microsoft's Internet Explorer browser came as a happy surprise. Not because I take any joy in watching Microsoft suffer, but because CERT and the DHS are coming clean on the dangers a software monoculture can bring.

Motorola Inc. and Hewlett-Packard Co. on Monday said they agreed to an expanded deal to help mobile telephone service providers use Linux-based computers to run their core network systems.

HP, the seller of tin and fag-free utopian ideals is flogging commodity, standards-based hardware and software, including Carrier Grade Linux, to telephone company Motorola.

It's probably safe to say that the recently released California Performance Review report, by a panel searching for ways to reform the state's government, won't be added to the reports on Microsoft's Get the Facts on Windows and Linux site. Here are some of the highlights from the information technology-related recommendations

The London Borough of Newham, has chosen Microsoft to become the Councils software platform of choice to support the Borough's ambitious, long-term social and organisational transformation plans. So much for Newham going for open-source alternatives then.

Of interest to large-scale installations: Hewlett-Packard finally offers 24x7 support for Debian GNU/Linux with HP Extensions. In an article Chris DiBona highlighted the services offered by GNU/Linux vendors and pointed out that their repositories are miles ahead of competing proprietary commercial offerings.

Computer geeks and music fans will have something in common this weekend in Winnipeg. OpenCity FreedomFest, an effort organized by the Prairie Linux Users Group (PLUG), will be the first festival in Canada to unite the concept of open source software with music and art. Kicking off on Friday evening, the festival will feature local political activists, musicians, video artists and Linux fans at four venues in the Exchange District.

Motorola plans to sell mobile phone network equipment that uses Linux-based code, a step forward in network gear makers' efforts to rally around a standard.

Hewlett-Packard Co. will release the final processor upgrade for its AlphaServer line of Unix servers on Monday.

Xandros Desktop 2.5 represents the fourth release of the desktop GNU/Linux distribution formerly known as Corel Linux. Xandros prides itself on superior Windows compatibility, and to maintain that reputation it includes some hard-hitting tools for making Windows programs work well on GNU/Linux. It's a little on the expensive side as far as desktop distributions go, and it feels somewhat like a slightly watered-down version of Linspire, but Xandros 2.5 Business Edition definitely has its advantages.

Novell Inc. earlier this month bundled the open-source, J2EE-compliant JBoss Application Server with its SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9, giving application developers a built-in deployment option.