The History of Caldera Linux
Caldera Linux was an important part of the early history of Linux as a commercial operating system, playing a key role in bringing Linux to enterprise environments. Developed by Caldera, Inc. (later known as Caldera Systems and eventually The SCO Group), Caldera Linux was one of the first distributions to target business users, focusing on ease of use, professional support, and enterprise-ready features.
Founding and Early Days
Caldera, Inc. was founded in 1994 by Ransom Love and Bryan Sparks, former Novell employees, with the financial backing of Ray Noorda, Novell’s former CEO. The company aimed to address the growing interest in Linux within the business sector, providing a polished Linux experience tailored to corporate IT needs. At the time, Linux was mostly the domain of hobbyists and developers, lacking the user-friendly features and support that businesses required.
Initial Release and Features
The first version of Caldera Linux, Caldera Network Desktop (CND), was released in 1995. It was built on top of the Slackware distribution and was one of the first Linux distributions to include a graphical installer, which set it apart from most other distributions of the time. It also featured bundled commercial software, such as WordPerfect for Linux, signaling Caldera's vision to make Linux a viable alternative to commercial UNIX systems and even Microsoft Windows.
Caldera Systems and OpenLinux
In 1998, Caldera spun off a separate entity, Caldera Systems, to focus exclusively on Linux. This company introduced OpenLinux, which became its flagship product. OpenLinux was specifically designed for ease of installation and use, targeting small to medium-sized businesses and enterprises. Key features included:
- A user-friendly graphical installer.
- Proprietary software and drivers bundled with the system.
- Technical support and documentation to assist businesses in deploying and managing Linux.
By the late 1990s, Caldera Systems positioned OpenLinux as a serious contender in the commercial Linux market, competing with Red Hat and SUSE. It offered features such as full compliance with the Linux Standard Base (LSB) and tools for system administration that were aimed at IT professionals.
Acquisition of SCO and Legal Controversies
In 2000, Caldera Systems acquired the server software and services division of The Santa Cruz Operation (SCO), a UNIX vendor, in a bid to expand its market beyond Linux into the broader UNIX ecosystem. The acquisition led to the rebranding of the company as The SCO Group in 2002.
This period marked a shift in focus, with SCO increasingly moving away from Linux to concentrate on its UNIX products. However, the company became infamous in the early 2000s for its legal battles. SCO claimed that portions of the Linux kernel infringed on its UNIX intellectual property and launched lawsuits against major Linux users and vendors, including IBM and Red Hat.
These lawsuits tarnished SCO's reputation within the Linux and open-source community. Many believed the claims were unfounded and viewed SCO’s actions as an attack on open-source principles. The legal battles consumed significant company resources and alienated much of its customer base.
Decline and Legacy
By the mid-2000s, SCO was facing severe financial difficulties. Its legal battles failed to yield significant victories, and the company filed for bankruptcy in 2007. Its legacy in the Linux world remains controversial due to its pivot away from Linux and its role in the SCO-IBM lawsuits.
Despite its contentious later years, Caldera Linux's early contributions to the Linux ecosystem were significant. It was among the first distributions to focus on usability and enterprise features, helping to pave the way for the widespread adoption of Linux in business environments.
Impact on the Linux Ecosystem
Caldera's emphasis on ease of use, support, and enterprise-readiness influenced the development of other distributions. Its early graphical installer, for example, inspired similar efforts across the Linux landscape. While its brand no longer exists, its efforts helped establish Linux as a credible option for businesses, laying the groundwork for modern distributions like Ubuntu, Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), and SUSE Linux Enterprise.
In retrospect, Caldera Linux is remembered both for its pioneering spirit in bringing Linux to businesses and for its controversial later years. Its legacy is a reminder of the dynamic and sometimes contentious evolution of Linux as a major force in computing.