The research of 104 U.S. Get2K and Linux server conditions. IDC found that Win2K is cheaper in four categories of use: networking, file serving, print serving, and security services. However the research does find that Linux has a cost advantage when used for Web hosting. Not that Microsoft or IDC makes it easy.
Neither party is publishing the full survey on its Internet site. But eventually I could get a copy from Microsoft’s PR firm. After reading the lengthy document, it became clear why Microsoft’s strategy is to concentrate on the report’s conclusions – because in the body of the white paper, IDC makes at least three observations that aren’t advantageous to Microsoft. Microsoft’s benefit in administrative staffing costs is temporary.
IDC observes, rightly, that the greatest cost category is people. The authors conclude that Microsoft gets the advantage because Win2K is a “mature processing platform,” that there are more IT systems and professionals-management tools available, leading to lower people-costs. …as Linux matures and more packaged software becomes available in the Linux server market, IT specialists will become more skilled in the effective set up, deployment, and maintenance of Linux server conditions (p.
It is acceptable to expect Linux to aid a older processing environment over the next few years, attaining better ISV support for commercial applications and packed database products. System management tools are rising and can be expected to expand quickly over another couple of years in capability and installed foundation.
- Available cash
- Pick up (and read) a copy of the town’s free paper
- High quality card stock
- Creditable income tax (asset)
- This section is ready after the total plan is written
- Nontraditional hours (very early mornings, evenings, over night care, weekdays and/or weekends)
It is also realistic to expect less customization and scripting to be needed for Linux computing overtime, as Linux tools mature and become simpler to use, thus reducing the TCO for the server environment (p.19). Linux is more reliable. In its evaluation of document server TCO, IDC highlights that W2K users experience somewhat more downtime than Linux users, which drives up the cost of downtime in the TCO computation.
IDC explains that may be partially attributed to the fact that Win2K machines typically carry bigger workloads which the conversation of multiple applications could cause the increase in downtime. Obviously, one could argue that the free cost of Linux software allows IT departments to run as many copies as desired, cost-effectively distributing the workload across a lot more machines. Furthermore, the free nature of Linux promotes its deployment in fail-over clusters, which shields users from drops in availability, as IDC itself highlights in its evaluation of the price of downtime (p. Linux is already cheaper for Web hosting.
This is the main one point in favor of Linux that did reach the conclusions disseminated by the trade press, although most reporters seem to see it more as a consolation award for Linux. IDC acknowledges that, at some true point, Linux will filter the space in trained system and administrators management tools.