Tokyo, JAPAN - March 4, 2004 --
VA Linux Systems Japan K.K.(VA Linux), Japan's leading Linux and Open Source solutions provider, announced today that the latest version of Ultra Monkey, an Open Source project designed to provide high availability and load balancing solutions, now supports Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 and Fedora Core 1. VA Linux also announced a collaborative project with NTT Comware Corporation, which will further help to promote the development, spread, and implementation of Ultra Monkey.

Ultra Monkey operates under the Linux 2.4 kernel and is a solution designed to provide load balanced and highly available networks. Ultra Monkey employs such Open Source projects as Linux Virtual Server (a highly scalable and highly available virtual server), Ldirectord (monitors the health of real servers and makes them quiescent when necessary), and Heartbeat (monitors servers via the implementation of the Heartbeat protocol). The latest release of Ultra Monkey (2.0.1) supports the monitoring of a wide range of protocols, including HTTP, HTTPS FTP, IMAP, POP, SMTP, NNTP, and LDAP. Considering that it is common to employ cluster systems, which utilize costly hardware and software combinations, to provide load balancing and high availability, the software-based Ultra Monkey solution is a unique technology, made possible by its Open Source nature. Ultra Monkey is currently employed by a large number of Web hosting providers and Internet Service Providers (ISP) and is used over the entire Open Source Development Network (OSDN) Japan, which is composed of such sites as Slashdot Japan, SourceForge.JP, and japan.linux.com.

Although previous releases of Ultra Monkey supported Debian Woody(Stable 3.0), Debian Sid (Unstable/Testing), and Red Hat 7.3, 8.0, 9, the latest release (2.0.1) also supports Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 and Fedora Core 1. Documentation on Ultra Monkey has only been available in English, primarily via the Ultra Monkey Project Website. VA Linux has now established an official Japanese language site(http://ultramonkey.jp/ ). VA Linux will actively provide users with Japanese language support and strive to promote the increased use of Ultra Monkey in the Japanese domestic market.

VA Linux, in a collaborative project with NTT Comware, is also focusing on promoting high availability and load balancing solutions and working to strengthen enterprise and carrier class systems through the implementation of Ultra Monkey. As a step towards this goal, VA Linux has announced the establishment of technical consulting services for Ultra Monkey implementation, operation, and system optimization.

About Ultra Monkey

Ultra Monkey is a project to create load balanced and highly available network services. Simon Horman, a member of VA Linux, has been the main force behind the development of Ultra Monkey.
For more information, please visit:
English Project: http://ultramonkey.org/
Japanese Project: http://ultramonkey.jp/

About VA Linux Systems Japan K.K.

VA Linux Systems Japan K.K. (VA Linux) offers a high level of technology consulting and solutions based on Linux and Open Source software. VA Linux was established in September 2000 and has continued to grow. VA Linux is one of Japan's most technologically advanced leaders in the Linux and Open Source fields.
http://www.valinux.co.jp/en/

About NTT Comware

NTT Comware established its Linux Center in 1999 and began Japan's first comprehensive (system architecture, operation, maintenance) Linux consulting service in 2000. NTT Comware has made a great number of achievements in the Linux field, including the construction of NTT's communication system, undertaking migration from UNIX-based systems, and developing the architecture for VoIP networks and systems used in educational institutions.
In November 2003, NTT Comware participated in both the Japan OSS Implementation Forum, which is composed of representatives from government, industry, and the academy, and the Open Source Development Lab, a U.S.-based global consortium. NTT Comware is also actively involved in a collaborative project between the Japanese government, industry, and the academy, which is designed to support local NPOs. Many of NTT Comware's more than 3000 Unix specialists are also highly versed in Linux, making them an expert team when it comes to network and system architecture.
http://www.nttcom.co.jp/

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