SUSE today announced the expansion of the SUSE LINUX Server family with the release of SUSE LINUX Standard Server 8 – aimed at small and medium-sized businesses. Available for Intel and AMD 32-bit processors (x86) and supporting up to two CPUs, SUSE LINUX Standard Server 8 includes features such as Internet access, e-mail, file and print services, plus graphical configuration wizards – enabling Linux novices in small and medium-sized organizations to easily set up the server as a Windows domain controller, file and print server in Windows environments, Internet gateway, E-Mail server, application server, DNS server and DHCP server.

In light of the SCO allegations, SGI's code comparison was done during September using the Comparator software created by open source advocate Eric Raymond, as well as some other internally developed tools, according to SGI. It compared source code from the Unix System V release 4.1 software that SGI has licensed from SCO with a version of the Linux kernel released this June, SGI said.

It's an oft-repeated maxim that one of the reasons that Windows operating systems are plagued by so many viruses, worms, and security exploits is because they are so popular. Extrapolating on this, many have remarked that if Linux, MacOS, or other OSes become more popular, they will attract the attention of virus writers. That may be true, but the increased attention will not necessarily yield the same quantity of viruses and other exploits, says a Register article. Update: Rebuttal article.

"This is my review of Libranet 2.8.1, a Debian based GNU/Linux distribution. This was my first experience with Libranet, but I was impressed with what I saw. Read on for the details of my review, which will follow the same framework as my earlier reviews." Read the review at Linux-Universe.com.

The first release of the Syllable 0.5 development series has been released. The Changelog lists a huge number of changes, notably the inclusion of the new Media Framework, USB support and yet more new drivers. If you are upgrading from Syllable 0.4.5, then you must ensure that you read the upgrade notes.

A new job opening posted on Sun Microsystems' Web site confirms the company's growing aspirations to roll out servers based on AMD's Opteron processor. "Solaris is the world's premier 64-bit operating system," the post on Sun's job board reads. "Now Sun is taking the next step: to make Solaris the operating system of choice for the AMD64 architecture."

After OpenBeOS gets a preliminary version of Java, Dr. Richard Lipes is currently working on the MorphOS Java Virtual Machine. If you are interested in assisting him, you can contact him through the MorphOS Developer Connection.

OSNews often reports on small and hobby operating systems. Here is a list for you to vote for the one with the right amount of technical and wider success potential for a bright future.

Chris Lanfear and Steve Balacco of Venture Develpment Corporation (VDC) have published their perspective on Wind River's announcement of Linux tools support. VDC speculates that Wind's announcement signals a strategic shift for the largest embedded software company, but wonders how the embedded Linux developer community will react, given the company's historic anti-Linux stance.

ZetaNews carries a review of YellowTAB's Zeta 1.0-RC1 (earlier story). It discusses installation, networking, hardware support, media, office apps and development. Screenshots included.

Hewlett-Packard is offering users of rival Sun Microsystems' Solaris operating system $25,000 in free services and equipment as an incentive to switch to Linux-based HP systems. Our Take: It seems HP has decided to jump on the new hype marketing bandwagon, forsaking its own HP-UX, OpenVMS, and Tru64 UNIX in favor of Linux. This is in line with our editorial a few months ago.

A deal with BIOS maker Phoenix Technologies would allow the Windows operating system to directly control hardware. It also raises concerns over who controls the software in PCs, ZDNews claims. Elsewhere, a lawsuit faulting Microsoft for security defects in its products has added a new front in the software giant's battle against vulnerabilities in its software.

Microsoft's long-awaited launch of its Windows 2003-based Small Business Server next week is designed to cut Linux off at the knees in its SMB territory, according to company executives. On Oct. 9, the Redmond, Wash.-based company is scheduled to release two editions of Windows SBS 2003--a low-cost entry-level version and a premium edition that includes, for the first time, BizTalk Partner Edition, executives told CRN Wednesday, roughly a week before its annual partner show, Microsoft Momentum, kicks off. News.com also has a related article.

Turbolinux has announced the release of Turbolinux 10 Desktop. Skipping version 9 and inventing a term "High Windowsability" in the process, some of the notable features in Turbolinux 10 include complete Japanese support, interoperability and file sharing with Windows, and Turbo Update. Turbolinux 10 is the first distribution shipping with the new 2.6 kernel series (2.6.0-test5) as the default kernel and it also comes with KDE 3.1.3 and GNOME 2.4 desktop environments, as well as a number of commercial applications. Read all about it at DistroWatch. Also at DistroWatch check for a link for the Tectonic site which takes a brief tour of the forthcoming Ark Linux version 1.0, with screenshots.