Lineo

Lineo was an American embedded-systems and thin-client company formed in 1999 through the reorientation and renaming of Caldera Thin Clients. Rather than continuing to focus primarily on thin-client products, the company concentrated on Linux for resource-constrained devices, including industrial equipment, networking hardware, consumer electronics, and other embedded platforms. Its best-known product was Embedix, a compact Linux distribution licensed from Caldera Systems and adapted for embedded use. The company emerged from Caldera Thin Clients, a subsidiary established by Caldera, Inc. in September 1998. Caldera Thin Clients had experimented with thin-client operating environments and had also released source code for older graphical environments such as GEM and ViewMAX under the GNU General Public License. In July 1999, management decided to make Linux the center of the business and adopted the Lineo name. Bryan Wayne Sparks, a co-founder of Caldera, became president and chief executive officer, and the new company initially had approximately 14 employees. Lineo retained the former Caldera Thin Clients sales presence in Taipei and reincorporated in Delaware in January 2000. Lineo's main strategic argument was that embedded Linux should remain a genuine Linux operating system rather than merely provide a Linux-compatible programming interface on top of a different real-time kernel. Embedix was designed to deliver a multitasking, networked Linux environment in very small storage and memory footprints. Related offerings included the Embedix Software Development Kit, the Embrowser graphical browser, ThinLinux firewall technology, and technology derived from Rt-Control's uClinux work for microcontrollers without memory-management units. These products targeted chip families and hardware architectures including Motorola 68k and ColdFire, i960, ARM7, and ETRAX CRIS. Through acquisitions and mergers, Lineo expanded from a small Linux vendor into a broader embedded-technology group. Its purchases or combinations included Zentropix, Rt-Control, Moreton Bay, United Systems Engineering, Fireplug, Inup, and Embedded Power Corporation. The additions brought capabilities in real-time Linux, microcontroller systems, VPN and router products, Japanese Linux consulting, high-availability Linux, and real-time digital-signal-processing systems. At its peak, the organization reportedly had about 350 employees and offices in seven countries. Lineo also held or managed legacy operating-system assets connected with the Digital Research portfolio. These included DR-DOS, acquired earlier by Caldera from Novell, and licensing activity involving CP/M and MP/M materials. This gave the company a broader historical software portfolio, although its principal strategic identity remained embedded Linux. The business weakened during the early-2000s technology downturn. In April 2002, some Lineo assets were auctioned. By July, the company had been reorganized as Embedix, Inc., led by Matthew R. Harris, but that entity lasted only briefly. The Embedix division was purchased and absorbed by Motorola's Metrowerks later in 2002. Other assets were dispersed: Digital Research materials returned in part to Canopy Group, some DR-DOS source material went to DeviceLogics, uClinux and embedded-module assets went to Arcturus Networks, and the former Moreton Bay router business became SnapGear. The Japanese successor business continued separately as Lineo Solutions. As a result, Lineo no longer operates as the original independent company, but its technology and successor businesses contributed to the development and commercialization of embedded Linux, compact networking systems, and real-time embedded software.

Lineo originated within Caldera's effort to develop thin-client computing products. Caldera Thin Clients, Inc. was established as a subsidiary of Caldera, Inc. on September 2, 1998. Its first president and chief executive officer was Roger Alan Gross, who left the position in January 1999. During the same formative period, the subsidiary released source code for GEM and ViewMAX under the GNU General Public License after those components were no longer required for its principal commercial work. In July 1999, Caldera Thin Clients made a major strategic change. It decided that Linux for embedded systems offered a more promising direction than its earlier thin-client emphasis and renamed itself Lineo. Bryan Wayne Sparks, who had helped found Caldera in 1994, became Lineo's president and chief executive. The new organization began with roughly 14 employees, maintained a sales office in Taipei, and reincorporated in Delaware in January 2000. Lineo licensed a reduced version of Caldera Systems' OpenLinux distribution and marketed it as Embedix. The product was intended for hardware with severe memory and storage constraints while retaining the core characteristics of a multitasking, networked Linux system. Lineo also offered the Embedix SDK and Embrowser, a graphical browser for embedded devices derived from DR-WebSpyder, which itself had roots in the Arachne browser. Its ThinLinux technology supported compact Linux firewall applications. A central part of Lineo's technical position concerned the architecture of embedded Linux. Some competitors sought to provide Linux-like application interfaces on top of independent real-time operating-system kernels. Lineo instead advocated a customized Linux kernel capable of being adapted and hardened for embedded requirements. Its acquisition of specialist companies helped it extend this approach across microcontrollers, conventional x86 systems, networking devices, and high-availability platforms. The acquisition program brought together Zentropix, a real-time Linux specialist; Rt-Control, known for uClinux and small-board products; Moreton Bay, a VPN and router company in Brisbane; United Systems Engineering, a Japanese Linux consultancy; Fireplug, a Canadian Linux consultancy associated with ThinLinux; Inup, a high-availability Linux business; and Embedded Power Corporation, associated with the RTXC real-time and DSP operating system. These transactions increased both Lineo's technology portfolio and its geographic reach. At its largest reported size, the group had approximately 350 employees and offices in seven countries. Lineo's portfolio also included inherited or related legacy operating-system assets. DR-DOS had previously been acquired by Caldera from Novell, while Lineo participated in the continued distribution and licensing of older Digital Research materials. In October 2001, the company renewed and expanded a free license covering redistribution and modification of original CP/M and MP/M binaries and sources through the Unofficial CP/M Web site. The company declined during 2002. Some assets were auctioned in April, and by July the operation had been reorganized as Embedix, Inc. under Matthew R. Harris, formerly associated with Summit Law and Caldera. Embedix was short-lived: its division was purchased and absorbed by Motorola's Metrowerks later that year. Remaining assets were divided among several successors. Canopy Group recovered parts of the Digital Research portfolio, DeviceLogics acquired portions of the DR-DOS sources, and Arcturus Networks obtained embedded modules and uClinux-related assets. The former Moreton Bay router business became SnapGear and later passed through CyberGuard and Secure Computing before Secure Computing was acquired by McAfee. The former Japanese subsidiary continued as Lineo Solutions. The original Lineo company therefore ended as an independent operating business, while its products and teams continued through multiple successor organizations.

1. 2002Lineo reorganizes as Embedix

   Following asset auctions, the company is reorganized as Embedix, Inc., but the new entity operates only briefly.

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2. 2002Embedded assets are distributed among successors

   Motorola's Metrowerks, Arcturus Networks, DeviceLogics, and other successor businesses acquire different parts of the former Lineo portfolio.

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3. 2001CP/M and MP/M licensing is expanded

   Lineo refreshes and broadens a free license for redistribution and modification of selected Digital Research materials.

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4. 2000Delaware reincorporation

   Lineo reincorporates in Delaware as it develops its embedded-Linux business.

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5. 1999Caldera Thin Clients becomes Lineo

   The subsidiary refocuses on embedded Linux and adopts the Lineo name.

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6. 1998Caldera Thin Clients is established

   Caldera, Inc. creates Caldera Thin Clients as a subsidiary focused on thin-client and related systems.

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A specialist provider of compact, customizable Linux and real-time software platforms for embedded-device manufacturers and system developers.

• EmbedixEmbedded Linux distribution1999

  Lineo's principal product was a compact embedded Linux distribution licensed from Caldera Systems' OpenLinux technology. Embedix was designed for systems with limited storage and memory, while still providing a multitasking and networked Linux environment. It served as the foundation for Lineo's embedded-device strategy and was intended for manufacturers and developers building specialized hardware products.

• Embedix SDKEmbedded software development kit

  The Embedix Software Development Kit supported developers creating applications and system images for Embedix-based embedded devices. It formed part of Lineo's effort to provide not just an operating system but also the development environment required by equipment manufacturers and system integrators.

• EmbrowserEmbedded web browser

  Embrowser was Lineo's graphical browser for embedded systems. It was a Lineo port of the 32-bit Extended DOS-based DR-WebSpyder browser, whose earlier lineage included the Arachne browser. The product illustrated Lineo's attempt to provide complete user-facing software stacks for small devices rather than only a kernel or basic runtime.

• uClinuxLinux for microcontrollers

  Through its acquisition of Rt-Control, Lineo obtained uClinux technology for processors without memory-management units. The system adapted Linux to microcontrollers and architectures such as Motorola 68k and ColdFire, i960, ARM7, and ETRAX CRIS. It was intended to run useful Linux functionality in very small memory and storage footprints.

• ThinLinuxEmbedded firewall and networking software

  ThinLinux was associated with Lineo's compact Linux networking and firewall work. The technology targeted devices with only a few megabytes of storage and modest memory, making it suitable for specialized networking appliances and other constrained systems.

• DR-DOSDOS-compatible operating system

  DR-DOS was an MS-DOS-compatible operating system originally developed by Caldera UK after Caldera acquired the technology from Novell. It became part of the wider legacy software portfolio associated with Lineo, although it was not the company's primary embedded-Linux product.

• 2002Reorganization and transfer of the Embedix businessM&A

  Following asset auctions and the deterioration of Lineo's independent business, the company was reorganized as Embedix, Inc.

  What changed. Embedix was established under Matthew R. Harris, and its division was subsequently purchased and absorbed by Motorola's Metrowerks.

  Aftermath. Lineo ceased to exist as the original independent company, with its embedded, legacy operating-system, and networking assets distributed among multiple successor organizations.

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• 2001Expand free licensing of CP/M and MP/M materialsStrategy

  Lineo controlled or managed parts of the Digital Research software legacy alongside its embedded-Linux business.

  What changed. The company refreshed and expanded a free license allowing redistribution and modification of selected CP/M and MP/M binaries and source materials.

  Aftermath. The licensing supported continued noncommercial access to historical Digital Research software, while the company's main business later broke apart.

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• 2000Reincorporation in DelawareStrategy

  Lineo was expanding its operations and corporate structure after its formation as an embedded-Linux company.

  What changed. The company reincorporated in Delaware.

  Aftermath. Lineo continued its international expansion and acquisition activity, although it later declined.

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• 1999Refocus from thin clients to embedded LinuxStrategy

  Caldera Thin Clients determined that Linux-based embedded systems offered a stronger strategic direction than its earlier thin-client emphasis.

  What changed. The company changed its name to Lineo and centered its product strategy on compact Linux operating systems and development tools.

  Aftermath. The reorientation produced the Embedix product line and led to a broad acquisition program in embedded and real-time technology.

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• 2002Lineo assets are auctioned

  Parts of the company were auctioned during its decline, preceding the short-lived Embedix reorganization and later asset sales.

  BankruptcyM&A
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• 2002Embedix division is acquired by Motorola's Metrowerks

  The Embedix business was purchased and absorbed by Motorola's Metrowerks after Lineo had been reorganized as Embedix, Inc.

  M&A
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• 2002uClinux and embedded assets move to Arcturus Networks

  Arcturus Networks acquired portions of the embedded modules and uClinux software assets associated with former Lineo subsidiary Rt-Control.

  M&A
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• 2002Former Moreton Bay router business becomes SnapGear

  The router division separated from Lineo and continued under the SnapGear identity before later ownership changes.

  M&A
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• 2000Lineo reincorporates in Delaware

  The company completed a Delaware reincorporation as it expanded its embedded-Linux business and acquisition program.

  Other
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• 1999Caldera Thin Clients changes direction and becomes Lineo

  The Caldera subsidiary shifted its focus toward Linux for embedded systems and adopted the Lineo name.

  Leadership change
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1. Lineo