Compaq signs deal with open-source firm

Compaq Computer has signed a deal with Covalent Technology to jointly develop and market Covalent's Apache Web server software, the companies plan to announce Monday.

Apache is an open-source program that's used to house Web sites, delivering pages to browsers across the Internet. According to Internet research company Netcraft, Apache is the most popular Web server. Covalent sells proprietary add-ons to Apache, such as modules for encryption, virus screening, and easier management.

Under the agreement with Compaq, the two companies will jointly develop and market Covalent software for Compaq's ProLiant line of Intel-based servers running the Linux operating system. The announcement will be made in conjunction with the LinuxWorld Conference and Expo in San Francisco.

Apache is used as part of product offerings from Hewlett-Packard, IBM and Oracle. It competes with products such as Microsoft's Internet Information Services and iPlanet's Web server.