LinuxWorld: Xen lures big-name endorsements

special coverage In just a few months, the open-source software package has been catapulted to the limelight. Also: Sun bumps back Opteron servers. Photos: Scenes from LinuxWorld

Feb. 18, 2005 4:31 a.m. PT

4 min read

Open source is already popular with large companies.

According to a Forrester Research survey of 140 large companies:

46 percent use open source today
14 percent on top of that plan to use open source
19 percent use some Linux on the desktop
25 percent plan to evaluate desktop Linux use this year

Of the companies using open source:

100 percent use Linux
75 percent use the Apache Web server
52 percent use the MySQL database
24 percent use OpenOffice desktop software
21 percent use JBoss application server software

Small and midsize businesses are increasing their use of Linux.

Over the next five years, according to AMI-Partners:

Server shipments of Linux will grow 34 percent, to reach 6 percent of the total SMB market.
Linux desktop shipments will grow 39 percent, to reach 6 percent of the SMB market.

Sun launches free Solaris
November 15, 2004

Ballmer on Linux: The evidence is clear
October 22, 2004

Gates: open source is a trade-off
October 1, 2004

JBoss to Red Hat: Grow up
October 1, 2004

Fans of the open-source operating system are gathering in Boston for the latest news and products. Among the hottest topics: patents and licenses.

Xen lures big-name endorsements

In just a few short months, the open-source software package has been catapulted from obscurity to the limelight.
February 18, 2005

Sun bumps back Opteron servers

Delay in delivery of Galaxy family casts light on Sun's x86 ambitions and on the unending tug-of-war between AMD and Intel.
February 17, 2005

Seeking focus, CA will mothball some products

Instead of trying to maintain a portfolio of 1,000 products, firm will focus on 300 or 400 in security, systems management.
February 16, 2005

Open-source board eyes fewer licenses

The Open Source Initiative is taking aim at the "proliferation problem" as the number of open-source licenses grows, CNET News.com has learned.
February 16, 2005

Novell's Linux makeover

newsmaker CEO Jack Messman says his company used to have trouble getting noticed. A little penguin changed all that.
February 16, 2005

Photos: A gathering of penguin pushers

From Big Blue booths to freshly laundered jumpsuits, LinuxWorld brings out the faithful.

February 15, 2005

HP: Don't like software patents? Learn to deal

Boycotting the patent system means "leaving oneself exposed for absolutely no good reason," says Hewlett-Packard's top Linux executive.

February 15, 2005

Novell tunes in open-source server software

"Hula" is meant to compete not only with Microsoft's Exchange and IBM's Domino, but also with Novell's own GroupWise.
February 15, 2005

Live from LinuxWorld

blog From the show floor, David Berlind tunes in to CA's and Novell's plans for software patents. Also: Meet Bruce Perens.
February 15, 2005

Bill Gates and other communists

perspective Free Software Foundation president Richard Stallman says Microsoft's chairman is blurring the discussion about software patents.
February 15, 2005

The top Linux seller's new product version is the first to include the newer 2.6 kernel, or heart, of Linux.
February 14, 2005

PowerPC support on tap for Red Hat Linux
Firm's next product for Linux enthusiasts will support IBM's Power processor and allow users to run multiple OSes simultaneously.
February 14, 2005

IBM taking open source on world tour
Big Blue plans a Linux outreach effort to help groom local talent around the globe, News.com has learned.
February 14, 2005

Second start-up tackles open-source hygiene
San Francisco-based Palamida begins selling software aimed at making sure open-source and proprietary software don't intermingle.
February 14, 2005

MySQL Network shifts pricing and licensing
Open-source database company introduces subscription-based service with tiered support, around the General Public License.
February 14, 2005

IBM looks to spread Linux with 'Chiphopper'
Hopes new tools for creating Linux applications on multiple processors will help spur sales of its hardware.
February 14, 2005

Novell taps open source for security
Company releases code to write programs for its eDirectory software and launches a security appliance based on its SuSE Linux OS.
February 14, 2005

Linux license overhaul--don't hold your breath
General Public License governing heart of popular open-source OS is being updated to deal with patents, other issues. But it'll be a struggle.
February 14, 2005

IBM to ship supercomputer system this month
Company plans to begin selling a powerful but power-hungry server specialized for supercomputing, CNET News.com has learned.
February 10, 2005

Judge slams SCO's lack of evidence against IBM
Federal judge criticizes "astonishing" lack of evidence but denies Big Blue's request to defang SCO's claims.
February 9, 2005

HP plugs Linux for 64-processor servers
Company is working to build support for Integrity Superdome models into versions of Linux sold by Red Hat and Novell.
February 8, 2005

IBM brings Power5 to low-end Unix server
New machine uses a chip with one or two processing engines and accommodates as much as 32GB of memory.
February 8, 2005

MontaVista aims to simplify cell phone Linux
Embedded software specialist launches package of mobile software and hardware designed to work well together.
February 7, 2005