rPath announced a technology partnership enabling application providers to use rPath’s rBuilder to create virtual appliances using the rPath Appliance Platform and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server from Novell. The agreement promises to reduce complexity and costs of application distribution and deployment, while maintaining the strategic value of investments in application certification. The Novell-rPath collaboration marks an industry milestone, enabling customers to utilize an open-source operating system with a virtual appliance lifecycle management platform.

Under the agreement, Novell will provide SUSE Linux Enterprise, including source code and maintenance patches, to rPath, who will then include SUSE Linux Enterprise in the rPath Appliance Platform. All of the software certifications associated with SUSE Linux Enterprise will continue to apply to customers who build their appliances using the rPath Appliance Platform. Customers will receive support from rPath, who will be backed up by Novell for Level 3 support issues.

"The relationship between rPath and Novell opens up interesting new possibilities that we believe will resonate for ISVs," said Al Gillen, Research Vice President, System Software at IDC. "Having multiple operating system deployment options gives ISVs and corporate customers more choice when creating and managing software appliances. In particular, organizations that have made application investments on top of SUSE Linux Enterprise now can leverage rPath's lifecycle management technology to add long-term value to their applications.”

A virtual appliance is an application combined with a streamlined operating system, offered in a format that runs in virtualized environments. The next-generation platform for the open enterprise, SUSE Linux Enterprise is a platform for mission-critical computing, from the desktop to the data center, and supported by one of the largest collections of software partners in the world.

"SAP is embracing new methods of application distribution - including SaaS, appliances and virtual appliances - to provide our customers with maximum application value with minimal technology hassles," said Doug Merritt, Executive Vice President, Performance Optimization Applications, Business Objects, an SAP company; President, SAP Labs. "rPath and Novell are important technology partners in these endeavors, and we are pleased to see this partnership between the two companies."

“VMware is committed to making application deployment and management easier through the plug and play simplicity of virtual appliances,” said Dan Chu, Vice President of Emerging Products and Markets at VMware. "The collaboration and support between rPath rBuilder and Novell SUSE Linux will make it even easier for VMware customers to deploy fully supported virtual appliances on our virtualization platform."

“rPath was founded with a single mission — simplify the delivery and consumption of software innovation. We pioneered virtual appliances to realize that vision,” said Billy Marshall, rPath Founder and CEO. "This is a terrific day for those ISVs who have made a strategic investment to deliver their application on Novell's award-winning Linux technology. They can preserve the value of that investment for their customers while enhancing the value of their application through rPath's industry leading virtual appliance technology.”