BuzzCut: Open-Source-Based Businesses Square Off

Whatever you might think about open-source-based businesses, they aren't afraid of a fight. Like Red Hat battling Microsoft, start-up Vyatta is squaring off against Cisco Systems. This October it launched an open-source routing appliance, which combines a Dell PowerEdge 850 with Open Flexible Router software and a Linux OS for $1,797. A one-year support contract is also included.

Vyatta hopes to win over small and midsize enterprises that would typically spend several grand on Cisco 2800 and 3800 product lines. "It debunks the myth that you need specialized hardware to do routing," says Kelly Herrell, Vyatta CEO. Yet to be proven is whether open-source routing is up to the fight. --Andrew Conry-Murray, [email protected]