Tokyo, JAPAN - October 13, 2004 --
NTT Data Corporation (NTT Data, JP:9613) and VA Linux Systems Japan K.K. (VA Linux), Japan's leading Linux and Open Source solutions provider, as part of a collaborative Linux fault analysis tool project which began this May, announce the release of Mini Kernel Dump. The two companies have worked to develop fault analysis tools based on the analysis of this fault information. And, through this, today, as part of a joint research project, announce the release of Mini Kernel Dump function under the Open Source policy.

* About Mini Kernel Dump

NTT Data and VA Linux announce the release of Mini Kernel Dump, a crash dump function which automatically sends all internal information to an external recording device at the moment a fault occurs on Linux-based systems. When compared with Unix-based enterprise systems, determining the cause of a fault on Linux systems has been considered a major weakness. This tool aims to rectify this weak point.

Current Linux systems offer such fault analysis features as LKCD *1, netdump *2, and diskdump *3. However, all of those existing solutions have a major drawback -- they need some Linux device drivers to put their information out, thus they actually rely on the very Linux kernel they are running on and monitoring. This makes it extremely hard to get needed information under tough situations when even the Linux kernel itself is unstable and unreliable. Mini Kernel Dump overcomes this difficulty by using another small Linux kernel dedicated only to get dumped information. Therefore, Mini Kernel Dump does not depend on the target Linux Kernel. Besides, Mini Kernel Dump does not require too much modification on the target Linux kernel, thus the expected cost for introducing Mini Kernel Dump solution is very low. Also, Mini Kernel Dump should work under any hardware configuration since no modification for device drivers is needed.

The current Mini Kernel Dump operates on IA-32. Further plans will provide compatibility with x86-64 and IA-64.

* Distribution

All Mini Kernel Dump code is licensed by the GNU General Public License (GPL) and is hosted on SourceForge.net - the world's largest Open Source software development website.

The Mini Kernel Dump URL :
http://sourceforge.net/projects/mkdump/
The Project URL :
http://mkdump.sourceforge.net/

* Future Developments

This version of the Mini Kernel Dump makes it possible to accurately define causes at the moment of a crash and to prevent future occurrences. Therefore, Mini Kernel Dump assures Linux and OSS-based solutions even much stronger position in the enterprise market. In addition to the Mini Kernel Dump, NTT Data and VA Linux, through joint collaboration, will, from next year onward, further advance fault analysis tools and work toward the development of such solutions for Linux.

* Notes on this Release

"The release of Mini Kernel Dump will strengthen the reliability of Linux-based system greatly, and we are sure that even more adaptation of Linux-based solutions will be materialized soon in the enterprise market." said Tetsuya Ueda, president and CEO at VA Linux. "NTT Data's rich experience in building large enterprise systems and VA Linux's peerless technological insight into the Linux kernel internals will bring out the full potential of Linux-based solutions for the enterprise market."

* NTT Data's Involvement with Open Source

NTT Data is now developing Prossione (a tentative name), a new full-range open source solution including system development using OSS, maintenance support and middleware support. One of the results of the joint fault analysis project with VA Linux is the creation of a tool which is highly responsive to fault analysis: Linaccident (a tentative name). We are striving to continue to develop Prossione and provide reliable OSS for our clients.

About VA Linux Systems Japan K.K.

Founded in September 2000, VA Linux Systems Japan K.K. (VA Linux), which has based its operations on the development of Linux and Open Source, has become one of the premier providers of Linux kernel, technological, and software solutions in the Japanese domestic market. From March 2004 onward, VA Linux has been the recipient of funding from NTT Comware and NTT Data. VA Linux is currently at the forefront of implementing Linux solutions for telecommunication and enterprise system markets.
http://www.valinux.co.jp/en/

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Contact

Public Relations
VA Linux Systems Japan K.K.
phone: +81-3-3293-5151
fax: +81-3-3293-5152
Email: mktg at valinux.co.jp