| Although we are aware of Linux adoption by | | | | vendors including HP, IBM and SGI are |
| large enterprises, most people do not know | | | | throwing their weight behind Linux and each |
| that there are sizeable numbers of | | | | has a SMB specific business strategy with |
| installations in small and medium businesses | | | | significant initiatives to lure them.HP has |
| (SMBs) as well. This base is set to grow as | | | | announced that some of its high end computing |
| server vendors lob tailor made Linux servers | | | | tools from the HP-UX environment are ported |
| and applications at SMBs.Country manager, | | | | onto Linux and made available to SMBs. This |
| pSeries & Open power, IBM says, "Unlike large | | | | includes a clustering solution called HP |
| enterprises, SMBs do not have to face the | | | | service guard for high availability of |
| challenge of migrating legacy applications. | | | | applications and management tools such as |
| The popularity with SMBs has helped Linux | | | | Systems insight Manager(SIM) and open view |
| grow at 30 percent globally".The general | | | | that offer third party integration. |
| consensus is that Linux did better in 2004 | | | | Additionally HP is creating a reference |
| than anyone had predicted. Director | | | | architecture stack, including hardware, OS, |
| Enterprise Marketing & alliances, Customers | | | | database and Middleware. HP certifies a stack |
| solution Group, HP India says, " As per IDC | | | | so that customers can feel more confident on |
| India, Linux in the server market grew by 48 | | | | deploying their core business application on |
| percent in OND, 2004 over JAS, 2004, while | | | | Linux. Linux servers are popular in high |
| the windows and Unix markets showed a modest | | | | performance computing(HPC) environments such |
| 3 percent and 3.4 percent growth respectively | | | | as research labs.IBM has recently launched a |
| during the same period."For any OS to | | | | new family of eserver Openpower systems based |
| succeed, applications need to be made | | | | on its Power5 processor specially designed |
| available. SMBs can be major draw for Linux | | | | for Linux. The Power5 comes with a |
| servers as it offers them lower TCO and | | | | micropartitioning technology called |
| tighter control on their IT spends. Since | | | | Virtualisation Engine(VE) wherein each |
| many SMBs already have home grown | | | | processor can be sliced into ten virtual |
| applications, a proprietary OS will be the | | | | partitions with each partition acting as a |
| single largest area of spending. It is here | | | | new server. IBM's eserver Openpower 710 is a |
| that Linux offers a big advantage.The | | | | single CPU processor with 3 HDDs and 512 MB |
| availability of version 2.6 of the Linux | | | | memory with RAID level 1 and 5. This eserver |
| kernel in Red hat Enterprise Linux 4 and | | | | offers SMBs an affordable alternative to |
| Novell's SuSE 9 will give a big boost to | | | | higher priced entry level Unix or Linux |
| vertical scalability. As SMBs become a part | | | | system. Openpower offers a 64bit platform at |
| of the global supply chain, they want | | | | a price point of a 32 bit offering. We |
| enterprise applications on Linux to keep | | | | believe that it is the right product for the |
| their investment low. This trend will be a | | | | mass market.Sun Microsystems has the Sun fire |
| key enabler for the Linux server market | | | | V20 and V40 severs based on the 64 bit AMD |
| worldwide.Why Linux Based servers?Cost is a | | | | Opteron processor, which has been successful |
| factor and Linux offers better security as | | | | with SMBs. It also offers the Solaris 10 |
| the source code of proprietary software is | | | | Opetron combination. Sun is aiming to |
| always kept a secret. With a community | | | | position Solaris 10 as its trump card to take |
| supporting it, any security hole in Linux is | | | | the fight to commercial Linux with support - |
| quickly found and patched.Linux not only lets | | | | email, phone and onsite - available at a |
| an organization save on software costs, it | | | | small price. Advanced scientific research, |
| also offers long term long term saving on | | | | elite foods, Sage Design systems, Centre for |
| hardware. Instead of being forced to upgrade | | | | DNA fingerprinting and diagnostics, are Sun |
| software with Linux, an SMB can take control | | | | customers running there core application on |
| of its IT strategy. Chief technology officer | | | | Linux.Linux servers are used by SMBs for CAD |
| of IDBI bank says, "You decide when you wish | | | | analysis, CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) |
| to upgrade, not the vendor, hence you get | | | | and FEA(Finite Element Analysis). Linux |
| tighter control on your spending." This can | | | | systems are rugged as they come with SGI |
| be particularly important for users, such as | | | | Propack over and above the standard Linux |
| SMBs that cannot afford to keep up with the | | | | Kernel. This gives customers the ability to |
| pace of change in commercial | | | | scale there computing environments with |
| software.Business application and LinuxThere | | | | independent I/O, memory and power |
| is credit to Oracle for driving the Linux | | | | supply.Banking on SupportLinux is getting |
| server market. During the early part of 2004, | | | | traction and getting into commercial business |
| Oracle came up with a value offering. It | | | | applications in verticals such as |
| offered pre- configured Oracle E-Business | | | | manufacturing, small banking and hospitality. |
| Suite special edition on Lintel Boxes for a | | | | Availability of tally o Linux will result in |
| 10 user License for $36,000USD. The traction | | | | a new chapter being inked in the Linux server |
| of this offering was seen towards the end of | | | | market. Red hat has 950 ISV partners who |
| 2004 when we closed a dozen deals that were | | | | develop applications that run on its Linux |
| in various stages of implementation, says | | | | distributions. Linux offers secure and |
| General Manager, Oracle India. This is a | | | | scalable solutions to meet SMB requirements. |
| testimony that SMBs are opting for Linux | | | | IBM has 35 to 40 pure Linux partners that |
| servers. SAP is following Oracle in making | | | | offers consultancy and assist it in |
| application available on Red Hat Enterprise | | | | integrating and implementing services for its |
| Linux.Customized and certifiedAll server | | | | customers who are using Linux. |