Intel Corp. announced Thursday it will marry its Linux Gigabit driver to the Intel PRO/1000 Gigabit Server Adapter to create Gigabit Ethernet performance for intranet Web servers, databases and e-mail servers.

This move makes Intel (INTC) the first company to combine the two for clients who use Linux as their main operating system.

The Linux driver's source code is available free to the Linux development community on Intel's Web site, which allows clients to customize the driver to meet their individual company needs.

"As Internet service providers and other Web-based companies adopt Linux on Intel Architecture-based platforms, the need to provide Linux networking solutions grows," said Tim Dunn, director of marketing, Intel's network interface division.

The driver/adapter matrimony makes sense as more than 90 percent of Linux installations are found on Intel Pentium processor-based computers, according to analyst Miller Freeman.

"The new Intel Linux Gigabit driver is great news for Linux customers who need high speed connectivity to drive their e-business," said Phil Hester, chief technology officer, IBM personal systems group.

Last week, Intel dipped into the health industry by launching Internet Authentication Services, a business that develops online credential services, with the aid of the American Medical Association.