Quarter of firms on Linux by 2009, say analysts

Computer Weekly ^ | 2007-01-03 | Antony Savvas

[N3WBI3]

Around 25% of enterprises will be running mission-critical business application on Linux platforms by 2009.

The prediction comes from analyst Saugatuck Technology, as a result of joint research with BusinessWeek Research Services.

The researchers questioned over 130 firms and also found that 45% of enterprises will...

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... be using Linux to run critical applications by 2011. At the end of this year, 18% will be relying on Linux for critical applications.

The analyst said Linux and other open source software take-up had now reached critical mass in the market place.

It said recent open source announcements by Oracle and Microsoft had fuelled take-up by supporting the notion that open source solutions were “enterprise grade”.

Saugatuck also said Linux would play a key part in the emerging software as a service (SaaS) market, as providers came to increasingly rely on Linux platforms to deliver solutions.

[N3WBI3]

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[MikefromOhio]

why do I get a feeling this will be about 300 posts of personal invective?? :)

And no I won't be participating, but I'll be watching.

Within our building (I'm still working for the Air Force), we are expanding Linux for our own uses as well.

[ShadowAce]

I'm actually surprised the number is that low, though it's nice to be a part of the migration :)

[N3WBI3]

Linux has over the past three years become the backbone of our infrastucure from a hand full of boxes which were one shot (like shell systems) to our major data, web, and applications servers..

I might in the next little bit be moving to a Mostly Solaris shop. I look forward to working with Solaris again its been a few years of 95% Linux and 5% Aix / Solaris. This shop also runs Linux on an LPAR of their big ol mainframe (should be fun)..

[the_devils_advocate_666]

The IT project that I work on switched last year from Windows based servers to Linux boxes. FWIW...

[Space Wrangler]

I think 25% may be a bit steep, but there is no doubt that Linux is gaining some major momentum. What I'm seeing is IT departments increasingly turning to Linux on their non-mission critical needs to keep from busting the budget on MS's draconian and exorbitant licensing and pricing schemes.

An interesting dynamic is certainly forming. I see many MS types becoming more and more interested in Linux all the time. Attitudes are changing, and that is in no small part due to the impression that the IT grunts are coming away with when they see the price of the new Vista licenses. MS is in desperate need of a reality check. I'm an MCSE, and just recently bought the courseware for Linux+. Though Linux certainly has some ground to cover in the consumer market, web servers and many workstation type systems will function fine as Linux systems.

[Space Wrangler]

why do I get a feeling this will be about 300 posts of personal invective?? :)

It is absolutely baffling to me at how invested people get in one OS or the other. I run a Windows Server 2003/XP workstation environment at home, own and use a MacBook, and run about six different distros of Linux. Each has their strong points and weaknesses depending on the task, and all have their place. Where the idea came from that one must use and show total devotion to a single one I have no idea.

[N3WBI3]

SW,

It despends on what you call non critical. File, Auth, Mail, Print is windows and will be that for a good long while but is your source control server non critical? are your web servers non critical?

As a fellow MCSE might I recommend Red Hats training its far better than the Linux+ stuff..

[Space Wrangler]

I may do that eventually, but I have a free test voucher from CompTIA, and I picked up the courseware on Amazon for dirt cheap. I haven't really played with Fedora much, but 80% of the Linux-heads I know swear by it.

[The_Reader_David]

Where the idea came from that one must use and show total devotion to a single one I have no idea.

Maybe it comes from Microsoft's business model (and to a lesser extent reactions against it). I say to a lesser extent because those of us who hate MS for lack of attention to security, lack of stability (admittedly less of a problem on their newer stuff), the fact that nearly every default setting on nearly every MS product assumes the user is an idiot (and is, thus, usually idiotic), or any of the other host reasons folks have, usually aren't one-OS partisans, we usually are happy with both Linux (in multiple flavors) and Mac OS X and, for that matter, with Unix.

[Space Wrangler]

It depends on what you call non critical. File, Auth, Mail, Print is windows and will be that for a good long while but is your source control server non critical? are your web servers non critical?

Most of the non-critical stuff I'm seeing are things like network monitoring, Linux desktops loaded with OpenOffice for lower level employees, and things of this nature. Web servers are definitely ripe for the Linux pickings though. Sleek and secure when compared to Server 2003 Web Edition.

[antiRepublicrat]

My BS alert kicked in when I read this, thinking they had a self-interest in Linux, but I can't find any connection between these guys and Linux companies. Looks legit. False alarm?

[N3WBI3]

Well I think its good, I read it as Linux will have a presence in 25% of companies not 25% of computer will be Linux..

[Salo]

You are IBM-loving Chicom-sympathizing thieves. When Bill Gates becomes Caesar, you two will be the first ones on the wall.

Did I miss anything? :-)

[rzeznikj at stout]

LOL

Yeah, i think that covers the main ones...

[PAR35]

You are IBM-loving Chicom-sympathizing thieves. When Bill Gates becomes Caesar, you two will be the first ones on the wall.

I recognize the style, but not the name. Did you used to post under a different name? Yellow Vulture, or something like that?

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

I switched away from fedora in favor of Suse(since 10.0) for one reason.... YaST.

But I'd recommend fedora to anyone. There's very very little left that you'd be required to do in CLI with it, though the last one I used was FC4. In Suse, I don't have to do CLI for one single thing. It's great.

In case you cared........ :-P

[Halfmanhalfamazing]

Heh heh..... did you forget your sarcasm tag?

[Space Wrangler]

I care. I like getting all the info that I can, and that includes the opinions and experiences of others.