Neoware built NeoLinux based on Red Hat Linux, and optimized it for use in information appliances. That means it has full Linux compatibility, like using Qt and FVWM user interfaces and window management, but that it doesn't require a hard drive or monitor to run an application. NeoLinux includes functionality that makes it usable when booting from flash memory or from a network server. NeoLinux also has the advantage of being remotely manageable using Neoware's standard remote administration toolkit.

Neoware has made NeoLinux an open source project so that other developers can take advantage of our embedded Linux platform for their projects. Developers are already working on information appliance applications such as Web kiosks, routers, cache servers, POS registers, and firewalls. NeoLinux projects have all the development advantages of Linux plus the availability of a readily-available hardware platform (Neoware's Eon, "The Anything Box") suitable for immediate deployment. But you don't have to use Eon -- developers are already working with NeoLinux on various PC platforms, too.

NeoLinux is basically a tailored version of Red Hat Linux targeted at a broad range of "post-PC" information appliances and net-connected devices including such applications as cash registers, firewalls, routers, web kiosks, thin clients, security devices, web kiosks, and email terminals.

The core operating system components of NeoLinux are derived from standard Red Hat Linux. To that, Neoware has added the "ez" products -- a set of utilities and capabilities oriented towards appliance, rather than personal computing, applications. These currently include:

• ezOff -- allows an appliance running NeoLinux to be powered down simply by pressing the on/off switch.
• ezSecure -- allows the Linux operating system to run "read-only," securing it from viruses or other unauthorized changes.
• ezCompress -- streamlines the Linux operating system, allowing it to operate in as little as 8 MB of Flash memory.
• ezManage -- allows large numbers of NeoLinux-powered appliances to be discovered across the net, as well as centrally managed, configured and updated in groups.
• ezConnect -- a control system for Linux based appliances that configures what the device does at startup; e.g., establishes connections to local or remote servers, starts and initializes local processes; based on an easy-to-use graphical interface.
• ezSnap -- allows administrators to easily add software to, or upgrade, designated remote devices running NeoLinux.

Using ezConnect, users and administrators can easily create connections to run Microsoft Windows applications on servers, UNIX applications via the X Window protocol, terminal connections to mainframes and minicomputers, Netscape Navigator Internet sessions for applications such as kiosks, and custom connections to launch virtually any Linux application. A unique "lock down" feature lets Administrators control the user interface to prevent unauthorized modifications. Unlike traditional Linux interfaces, ezConnect requires no Linux programming experience, and can be customized without training to completely tailor the Linux desktop, automatically launch new applications at startup, and create custom computing appliances for a wide variety of markets.