Close
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
Read Down
Sign in
Close
Welcome!Log into your account
Forgot your password?
Read Down
Password recovery
Recover your password
Close
Search
Logo
Logo
  • Latest News
  • Artificial Intelligence
  • Big Data and Analytics
  • Cloud
  • Networking
  • Cybersecurity
  • Applications
  • IT Management
  • Storage
  • Sponsored
  • Mobile
  • Small Business
  • Development
  • Database
  • Servers
  • Android
  • Apple
  • Innovation
  • Blogs
  • PC Hardware
  • Reviews
  • Search Engines
  • Virtualization
More
    Home Latest News
    • Networking
    • Servers

    Outlook 2007: Linux and Open Source

    By
    Jason Brooks
    -
    December 1, 2006
    Share
    Facebook
    Twitter
    Linkedin

      In the year to come, we expect to see Linux maintain its torrid development pace, with major new enterprise releases from Red Hat, which is set to ship RHEL 5 in January, and Novell, which will also ship an update to its Open Enterprise Server early next year.

      Whats more, we expect to see one or two new releases from each of the all-free leading-edge distributions we track—including Ubuntu, Fedora and OpenSUSE—along with new developments from the swelling horde of smaller Linux flavors, in both commercial and noncommercial quarters.

      Among all these new Linux releases, there will be no shortage of new and improved functionality for platform devotees to consume, but, since Linux remains somewhat of an outsider among operating system platforms, whats most worth watching for in 2007 are the new deployment routes along which the platform will wend its way toward greater market share.

      The fortunes of Linux look brightest in the data center, where, having already proved its worth, the platform is set to build on its successes and ride the growing popularity of server virtualization to greater prominence.

      We expect the open-source Xen virtualization project to grow more mature during the next year, thanks in part to the inclusion of Xen and a suite of attractive-looking Xen management tools in RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) 5.

      Were looking forward to seeing the follow-on release to XenSources Xen product. We expect to see broader guest operating system support, including support for Windows guests.

      Also, VMware will continue the push it began in earnest in 2006 toward encouraging ISVs to distribute their wares as virtual appliances. Linux is uniquely well-suited to the appliance approach, since its easy to pare Linux down to only those components required to host an application and since ISVs neednt kick back licensing fees to any operating system provider to distribute their applications in this way.

      Weve been impressed so far with the tools that rPath has built for enabling ISVs and others to assemble maintainable, Linux-based software appliances and output them in ready-to-run VMware and Xen formats.

      Finally, on the server front, well be keeping an eye on the performance of Oracle as a brand-new Linux distributor.

      /zimages/3/28571.gifClick here to read more about Fedora Core 6.

      Much more interesting, we hope, will be 2007s vendor activities surrounding desktop Linux.

      While Linux is well-positioned featurewise to give Windows a run for its money in 2007, what the platform still lacks is the sort of OEM support model that Windows enjoys.

      Its nearly impossible to buy a PC without a bundled Windows license, which makes Windows effectively free for most buyers and erodes the Linux price advantage.

      In addition, Microsofts practically exclusive relationships with PC OEMs ensure that vendor efforts to provide working drivers remain trained almost solely on Windows.

      Linux distributions have grown quite good during the past few years at making their way onto PCs without the help of OEMs.

      For instance, the LiveCD options available with most recent Linux distributions offer a great way to test for hardware compatibility without permanently altering systems. Linux machines are much simpler to install over the network than Windows or OS X, and the fact that the Linux kernel project maintains so many drivers itself means that if a particular piece of hardware works at all, itll work right out of the box.

      Still, companies considering Linux on their desktops need vendors, such as regional resellers, to connect the dots for them: to test and certify PCs and notebooks themselves and, in places, develop the fixes needed to make it all run properly.

      Advanced Technologies Analyst Jason Brooks can be reached at jason_brooks@ziffdavis.com.

      /zimages/3/28571.gifCheck out eWEEK.coms for the latest open-source news, reviews and analysis.

      Jason Brooks
      As Editor in Chief of eWEEK Labs, Jason Brooks manages the Labs team and is responsible for eWEEK's print edition. Brooks joined eWEEK in 1999, and has covered wireless networking, office productivity suites, mobile devices, Windows, virtualization, and desktops and notebooks. Jason's coverage is currently focused on Linux and Unix operating systems, open-source software and licensing, cloud computing and Software as a Service. Follow Jason on Twitter at jasonbrooks, or reach him by email at jbrooks@eweek.com.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.
      Get the Free Newsletter!
      Subscribe to Daily Tech Insider for top news, trends & analysis
      This email address is invalid.

      MOST POPULAR ARTICLES

      Latest News

      Zeus Kerravala on Networking: Multicloud, 5G, and...

      James Maguire - December 16, 2022 0
      I spoke with Zeus Kerravala, industry analyst at ZK Research, about the rapid changes in enterprise networking, as tech advances and digital transformation prompt...
      Read more
      Applications

      Datadog President Amit Agarwal on Trends in...

      James Maguire - November 11, 2022 0
      I spoke with Amit Agarwal, President of Datadog, about infrastructure observability, from current trends to key challenges to the future of this rapidly growing...
      Read more
      IT Management

      Intuit’s Nhung Ho on AI for the...

      James Maguire - May 13, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nhung Ho, Vice President of AI at Intuit, about adoption of AI in the small and medium-sized business market, and how...
      Read more
      Applications

      Kyndryl’s Nicolas Sekkaki on Handling AI and...

      James Maguire - November 9, 2022 0
      I spoke with Nicolas Sekkaki, Group Practice Leader for Applications, Data and AI at Kyndryl, about how companies can boost both their AI and...
      Read more
      Cloud

      IGEL CEO Jed Ayres on Edge and...

      James Maguire - June 14, 2022 0
      I spoke with Jed Ayres, CEO of IGEL, about the endpoint sector, and an open source OS for the cloud; we also spoke about...
      Read more
      Logo

      eWeek has the latest technology news and analysis, buying guides, and product reviews for IT professionals and technology buyers. The site’s focus is on innovative solutions and covering in-depth technical content. eWeek stays on the cutting edge of technology news and IT trends through interviews and expert analysis. Gain insight from top innovators and thought leaders in the fields of IT, business, enterprise software, startups, and more.

      Facebook
      Linkedin
      RSS
      Twitter
      Youtube

      Advertisers

      Advertise with TechnologyAdvice on eWeek and our other IT-focused platforms.

      Advertise with Us

      Menu

      • About eWeek
      • Subscribe to our Newsletter
      • Latest News

      Our Brands

      • Privacy Policy
      • Terms
      • About
      • Contact
      • Advertise
      • Sitemap
      • California – Do Not Sell My Information

      Property of TechnologyAdvice.
      © 2022 TechnologyAdvice. All Rights Reserved

      Advertiser Disclosure: Some of the products that appear on this site are from companies from which TechnologyAdvice receives compensation. This compensation may impact how and where products appear on this site including, for example, the order in which they appear. TechnologyAdvice does not include all companies or all types of products available in the marketplace.

      ×