The open-source KDE desktop environment is making the jump across platforms with broad support for Windows and Mac OS X. The core KDE desktop programs, the KOffice suite, and the Amarok music player are actively being ported.

N-able has inked a security-related managed services partnership with Untangle. But I believe there’s a bigger trend here. Untangle has a strong position in the open source industry.

Novell BrainShare started March 21 in Salt Lake City, Utah. The company is gradually winning back channel partners like VARs and systems integrators, thanks to SUSE Linux. But so far, Novell doesn't seem to have a compelling story for the fastest growing portion of the channel -- managed services providers (MSPs). The big question: Do MSPs care about Novell?

Delays to the latest version of Intel's project putting an open-source stack on its Atom processors have not deterred IT companies from early backing for the platform.

Sun Microsystems has announced the release this morning of VirtualBox 2.1 with several enticing additions.

Kaseya -- a fast-growing provider or remote systems management tools -- is preparing to introduce remote management software for Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Novell SUSE Linux, and other Linux distributions. Here are the details.

During the Autotask Community Live conference - which attracted roughly 300 managed service providers - Ubuntu Server Edition made a surprise appearance and a surprise encore. Twice during the event, managed service providers (MSPs) told me how they were building their businesses on top of Ubuntu Server Edition. The two prime examples involve Rezitech and Network Depot. Here’s the scoop.

Chris Lyman is setting in the middle of a perfect storm. As CEO of Fonality, Lyman is building an IP-PBX company that leverages Asterisk (an open source platform) and embraces managed service providers. In other words, Fonality has converged three hot markets (unified communications, open source and managed services) into a single solution.

Mandriva today announced that the Nigerian government has selected Intel-powered classmate PCs running on Mandriva Linux for educational use in nationwide pilot in Nigeria. Mandriva is working with Intel Corporation and Technology Support Center Ltd. to provide 17,000 Intel-powered classmate PCs.