3 Examples of Linux Complementing Windows in Enterprise
A number of recent announcements from Linux vendors and manufactures adopting the Linux platform indicate that Linux is making in roads to the enterprise, but not by beating Microsoft on the desktop. These announcements are just a few data points but I think we’ll see more indications of the growing value of Linux in non-desktop deployments.
For starters, there is Mandriva Flash 4GB device that gives users a portable Linux on a flash drive. For road warriors, this could mean the chance to take their desktop with them. As a bonus, they don’t have to worry about virus-infested shared PCs in hotel business centers. I haven’t tried this yet, but I will post more once I get my hands on one and try it out.
Then there is the recent Palm announcement that they’ll offer a Linux-based smart phone. This is great for application developers as well as for security conscious users. As long as the device can make calls, synch with desktop apps and enterprise servers, and provide the other basics, like calendaring, this will be a hit. One analyst see the move to Linux on mobile devices for a number of reasons (from Digital Lifestyles):
Stuart Carlaw, research director at ABI reckoned that Linux’s growth will be down to a number of factors; the breaking down of barriers for adoption, more industry bodies working to promote the OS (including Motorola, NEC, Panasonic and Samsung) and the ease in which phone makers and mobile operators can customise their handsets.
Linux has long been a favorite for database servers, especially with Oracle and IBM as strong backers of the operating system. Now IBM has extended the reach of DB2 by supporting the relational database on Ubuntu, a popular and fast growing distro known more for client than server side use. Database vendors are increasing support for Linux giving enterprise more support options. (See Dell’s move in this direction too, at CRN).
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