When IBM announced that some zSeries users could run hundreds of Linux instances on its mainframes, tech buyers were interested, but few could afford the hardware needed to test the new capability.

Recently, however, a growing list of commercial technologies have emerged making it possible to power up multiple Linux copies on an ordinary Intel box, including products from SWsoft, VMware and Idaya. Open Source efforts -- notably the User-mode Linux Kernel project -- also offer technologies that create virtual, self-contained Linux versions.

Full story...