IT Jobs
Downturn fuels growing interest in Linux
Lower support costs.
By John Fontana, Network World (US)
Published: 15:40 GMT, 17 March 09
Interest in Linux is accelerating because of the downturn in the economy, according to a study by IDC that was sponsored by Novell.
More than 72 percent of the 300 IT executives who responded to the survey said they are actively evaluating or have already decided to increase adoption of Linux server in 2009. On the desktop, 68 percent say they are evaluating or have decided to increase adoption of the open source operating system.
The top reason for migrating to Linux is economic and driven by the need to lower ongoing support costs, according to the survey. Of the respondents, 49 percent said Linux would be their primary server platform in five years.
"In the downturn, Linux might be the Wal-Mart of IT, where people get the most for their money," said Justin Steinman, vice president of solution and product marketing for Novell.
The survey comes at a time when Novell is nearing launch of the next version of its server and desktop operating system - Suse Linux - and Microsoft is expected to ship Windows 7 either later this year or in early 2010.
The survey also found that 67 percent of users said interoperability and manageability between Linux and Windows is one of the most important evaluation criteria.
Of those responding, the retail industry showed the greatest interest, with 63 percent planning to increase desktop deployments and 69 percent considering the same on the server.
The Linux desktop has been trying to find a significant foothold for years without much success, but the economy could be its greatest ally.
"If you think about it, we can deliver a full desktop operating system with everything from an office productivity suite to a web browser to email and do it for a list price of $50 (£40) and you can get it on a netbook, for example," says Steinman.
"When you look at the Microsoft cost with all the equivalent software it is a significant chunk of change."
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Add your commentComments
Mike M | Published: 03:38 GMT, 20 April 2009
"Linux has NEVER been less expensive in TCO". That's not been correct in our experience over the past couple of years. We started using a (free) Linux appliance on it's own box 18 months ago for a critical function in our business - and it has run reliably doing exactly what it promised to do with very little maintenance. That experience has resulted in us trialing a number of other virtualised linux solutions, one of which is now being adopted to replace a Microsoft solution. We'll remain with Microsoft for most things in the forseeable future, but will also use Linux where it makes sense from a financial and technical perspective.
Mike M | Published: 03:37 GMT, 20 April 2009
"Linux has NEVER been less expensive in TCO". That's not been correct in our experience over the past couple of years. We started using a (free) Linux appliance on it's own box 18 months ago for a critical function in our business - and it has run reliably doing exactly what it promised to do with very little maintenance. That experience has resulted in us trialing a number of other virtualised linux solutions, one of which is now being adopted to replace a Microsoft solution. We'll remain with Microsoft for most things in the forseeable future, but will also use Linux where it makes sense from a financial and technical perspective.
Marty R. Milette | Published: 17:58 GMT, 21 March 2009
"Sponsored by Novell" says it all... Linux has NEVER been less expensive in TCO. License costs are NOTHING compared with the cost building complex application servers/services. In terms of maintainability alone -- a properly installed and configured Windows environment blows Linux out of the water by allowing anyone reasonably competent to walk in off the street, be handed an administrative account and begin managing it with little or no documentation. (Try that in a Linux environment where there are absolutely no consistent standards for location of config files -- let alone anything else.) Also pity the poor dude who has to maintan a 'customized' version of Linux -- Oy Vay!