The program, officially known as the eServer Application Advantage for Linux, enables Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) to develop one version of their application that will run across the entire IBM eServer hardware line.
Servers included in the program range from IBM's entry-level x86-based xSeries, to blades and clusters, IBM Power processor-based servers (iSeries, pSeries) and mainframes (zSeries).

Chiphopper certification assures FINEOS clients, opting to leverage the Linux platform, that the FINEOS 5 suite of insurance and banking solutions, as well as the underlying application and technical architecture, has been tested and approved for use on multiple IBM platforms using the Linux operating system and is "Use Ready for IBM eServer with Linux" according to the program agreement.

"FINEOS is committed to providing world-class software solutions to the insurance and banking industries. Our clients can be confident that our solutions are highly portable and easy to support across multiple platforms, resulting in increased savings and resource utilization" says Michael Kelly, president and CEO, FINEOS Corporation.

"IBM's Chiphopper offering provides customers greater platform choice while allowing ISVs worldwide to expand revenue and market opportunities," said Scott Handy, vice president, Linux and Open Source, IBM. "Customers running FINEOS solutions on multiple Linux and standards-based hardware platforms, middleware, and services can look forward to benefiting from greater security, flexibility, and a lower total cost of IT ownership."