“Version 2.6 of the Linux kernel crept a little closer to reality as the Open Source Development Lab Inc. (OSDL) on Monday made available a test version of the technology aimed primarily at enterprise developers.

The OSDL is calling on all major Linux users, developers, and systems providers to focus on the new release, called Test9, to ‘test, validate, and enhance’ it in preparation for the finished version of the technology, which is due either late this year or early next. The new version is now available for download at www.kernel.org or ftp://kernel.org.

‘Now is when we want big companies and software vendors to step in and hammer on the kernel so we can get their ideas into the final production release of 2.6 Linux,’ said Linux Torvalds, an OSDL fellow, in a prepared statement on Monday.”