Ubuntu Server Edition: Gaining Momentum?

Submitted by k4tz on Fri, 08/29/2008 - 10:46

Source: http://www.thevarguy.com/2008/08/27/ubuntu-server-edition-gaining-momentum/

The next time somebody tells you Ubuntu Linux is just for the desktop, check out Egressive Limited, a solutions provider in New Zealand that’s gaining traction in the Ubuntu Server market. In fact, all of Egressive’s support customers now have Ubuntu servers at the center of their networks, and Egressive uses Ubuntu exclusively as the company’s hosting system. Is this part of a bigger “hidden” trend? The VAR Guy sure seems to think so. Here’s why.

Consider the situation for Dave Lane, one of the key executives at Egressive. As a true believer in Canonical’s business strategy, Lane says Egressive uses Ubuntu for:

  • Business servers the company installs and supports for business customers
  • Egressive’s own desktop and laptop machines; the company’s development team specializes in Drupal implementation
  • A “reasonably extensive” Web hosting infrastructure (primarily LAMP), based both in New Zealand and on virtual machines in the United States.
  • An array of virtual machines (all built on Ubuntu hypervisors as well) using Xen, KVM/QEMU/libvirt, and VirtualBox in various desktop development, business failover, and and hosting contexts

Still, The VAR Guy knows Red Hat and Novell largely dominate the Linux business market. And it’s hard to find Ubuntu-focused companies like Egressive. Alas, the mainstream media often writes “Linux” without crediting “Ubuntu” in stories about recent business deployments. And Canonical’s own partner network — ranging from VARs to integrators to service providers and distributors — remains in its infancy. Chances are, there are hundreds of Ubuntu VARs — and thousands of Ubuntu deployments — across the globe that aren’t yet on Canonical’s radar.

Homework for Ubuntu Users

Is there a way to find and recognize Ubuntu deployments across the globe? Actually, there is. If you know of an organization running Ubuntu, then fill out this quick online survey — which The VAR Guy himself helped to craft. The information you share will help to build the Works With U 1,000 — a global list of organizations and businesses running Ubuntu. Works With U, the independent guide to Ubuntu Linux, is one of The VAR Guy’s sister sites.

Source: http://www.thevarguy.com/2008/08/27/ubuntu-server-edition-gaining-momentum/