Six Trends at LinuxWorld
The VAR Guy will be watching closely when the LinuxWorld Open Solutions Summit kicks off Feb. 14 in New York. Here are six trends and key developments to note ahead of the show.
**1. AMD Does Open Source:** Some people are surprised that AMD is among the show’s top sponsors. The VAR Guy isn’t surprised at all. In 2005, AMD quietly hosted several open source-focused events of its own. During those small regional events, Margaret Lewis, director of AMD’s commercial ISV marketing efforts, described how the chip company was striving to ensure open source developers optimized their applications AMD’s Opteron processors. Now she’s back, making an appearance at the event. Will she announce some new ISV relationships?
**2. IBM Takes Back the Desktop:** Okay, that’s quite an exaggeration. But Big Blue is taking steps to deliver open alternatives to Windows on the desktop. A few days before the show, IBM unveiled a so-called Open Client Solution that allows businesses to run a mix of Lotus, open source and commercial software on PCs and other devices. The open platform blankets Linux and Windows, with support for Mac OS planned later this year. The VAR Guy doesn’t expect Open Client Solution to be a ubiquitous hit, but it provides more evidence that enterprises want open alternatives on the desktop.
**3. Linux Runs Windows:** Novell and Intel are touting device drivers that allow Windows Server to run unmodified on Xen virtual environments. The Xen virtual software, in turn, runs on SuSE Linux. What’s the upshot for VARs? Novell claims this will let customers migrate to newer and fewer energy-efficient servers.
**4. Resellers Discover Canonical Ubuntu:** Move over, Red Hat and Novell. Canonical Ltd. is the lead sponsor behind Ubuntu Linux–which is gaining popularity for its intuitive, reliable design. SpikeSource earlier this week announced plans to certify its business-ready open source applications for Ubuntu, and deliver support for Ubuntu through its channel of solution providers.
**5. Vendors Solve Integration Issues:** At least eight small companies are forming an alliance that could stir demand for open source applications in the enterprise. The group, apparently led by SpikeSource, will help guide and promote the integration of open source applications, databases and IT support. Known as The Open Solutions Alliance, the group apparently includes SpikeSource, Centric CRM, Hyperic, Jaspersoft, Adaptive Planning, Open Bravo and EnterpriseDB. Collabnet founder Brian Behlendorf is scheduled to host and moderate the group’s announcement.
**6. Open Source Goes Vertical:** Only days before the show, EnterpriseDB inked a partnership with immixGroup, a leading solutions provider that serves federal, state and local government agencies. Under terms of the deal, government buyers will be able to obtain EnterpriseDB’s database through immixGroup’s government-wide acquisition contract vehicles.
Weather permitting, The VAR Guy expects to spot more trends when he roams the show floor on Feb. 14. Stay tuned.