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Compaq Computer Corporation has partnered with Sair, Inc., a provider of Linux training material and certification examinations, to become a Sair Internal Training Organization. Compaq will train its key personnel worldwide with Sair Linux and GNU Certificq ASE Linux certification track.

Progressive Systems announced its Phoenix firewall has received certification from the International Computer Security Association, the foremost independent evaluation and certification facility for network security products worldwide. The Phoenix is the first ICSA-certified firewall to support Caldera, Red Hat, TurboLinux and SuSE Linux distributions, further assuring business customers and value-added resellers that Linux is a viable platform for enterprise network security.

SuSE Linux AG, Europe's leading Linux distributor, announced it has entered into a partnership with VA Linux Systems to co-develop a SuSE Linux software load for VA Linux workstations and servers. The partnership will help extend SuSE Linux's presence on pre-installed Linux systems, while expanding the range of fine-tuned Linux distributions offered and supported by VA Linux Systems in its solutions next year. Co-development is set to begin in December.

Red Hat, Inc. announced the promotion of Matthew Szulik to CEO and president. Szulik, who joined Red Hat as president in November of 1998, has been instrumental in the success of Red Hat Linux, the execution of Red Hat's IPO and the global expansion of the company's open-source service offerings.

Antarctica IT, Inc. and Caldera Systems, Inc. will work together to provide Linux services in Boston and elsewhere in New England. Antarctica IT will provide systems integration and front-line support for Caldera Systems' OpenLinux operating system. New England businesses using OpenLinux will now benefit from on-site support and services obtained from a local service provider. Caldera Systems will provide technical resources, 24x7 telephone support, and experience in Linux.

Stormix Technologies, Inc., a provider of Linux-based software and solutions, announced that Storm Linux 2000 will ship with the full version of Sun Microsystems' StarOffice 5.1a, a leading office suite on the Linux platform. StarOffice is full-featured, interoperable and multi-platform. It is available for free download at http://www.sun.com/staroffice/.

Magic Software Enterprises announced it has merged Canada's Open Sesame Systems with its U.S. operations to more effectively deliver e-commerce and other enterprise-level business solutions and services to a larger North American audience. The merger, which is effective immediately, will enable each company to leverage the other's resources and strengths. The acquisition of OSS' IT business is expected to have a positive effect on Magic's bottom line.

Digi International, Inc., a provider of server-based communication adapters, announced it has joined the Enterprise Computer Telephony Forum (ECTF), publishers of interoperability specifications for the computer telephony industry. Joining as a principal member of the forum, Digi* will take an active role in helping to define computer telephony hardware and software interoperability standards, including the ECTF's computer telephony services platform architecture.

Magic Software Enterprises announced the appointment of Israel Teiblum as president. Teiblum, who has served as chief financial officer of the company since February 1997, will retain his position as CFO while assuming this new role. Jack Dunietz, the company's chief executive officer, has been appointed co-chairman of Magic.

Red Hat, Inc., a developer and provider of open-source software solutions, announced it will be providing on-site consulting, services and support to AutoZone as part of the auto parts retailer's program to base its chain-wide Intranet systems infrastructure on Red Hat Linux. Red Hat's services organization will provide consulting and support services for a network of approximately 3,000 Linux-based Intranet terminals in AutoZone's store locations throughout the United States.

The Linux Internationalization Initiative, also known as Li18nux, has established the initial set of subgroups toward Linux Internationalization: written specification, internationalization system architecture, API/application development environment, graphical user interface, text tools, web technology, input method, typography, globalizable document, inter-application collaboration, heterogeneous interconnectivity, web site administration, localization of web contents and printing. Detailed information can be obtained at http://www.li18nux.org/.