IBM positions itself firmly behind Linux, says it is 40 percent cheaper than Windows
An IBM-commissioned study has found that it is 40 percent cheaper to use open-source servers like Linux rather than licensed ones like the Microsoft Windows servers. Two total cost of ownership (TCO) reports commissioned by Big Blue found these startling facts.
These reports come in the backdrop of a massive PR campaign by Microsoft titled, "Get the facts”, in which Redmond has tried to highlight the usefulness of Windows over Linux. The Robert Frances Group conducted the study on the TCO of Linux and Windows and tabled a report called, "TCO For Application Servers: Comparing Linux With Windows And Solaris." The group polled IT executives from 20 companies, which had more than 250 employees. Scott Handy, the vice president of Worldwide Linux for IBM, refuted rumors that these reports were a direct response to Microsoft's campaign, "Last quarter there was $1.5 billion in Linux server sales as an industry, with Linux server revenue growing eight times that of the overall server market at 42 percent, versus five percent growth for the total sever market. That growth was also more than four times that of Microsoft's Windows Server, which gained 10 percent," he said adding that IBM was credible since they has projects based on Linux, Unix as well as Windows and hence were impartial.
The study showed that over a timeframe of three years, Linux was very cost-effective even as Microsoft has scaled down the prices for its software. Businesses based on J2EE application servers were found to be 40 percent cheaper than those based on Windows and 54 percent cheaper than the Solaris-based ones over a period of three years.
The study said that the fair degree of flexibility allowed by Linux was one of the main reasons for its deployment. Chad Robinson, a senior analyst with the Robert Frances Group said that people generally mistrusted TCO reports, but "Linux is of significant value to large enterprises. We talked to IT executives and their direct reports. But these are companies with large systems and lots of IT staff, so you need to bear that in mind."
Another report titled "Beyond TCO--The Unanticipated Second Stage Benefits Of Linux," says that Linux is very popular among emerging IT executives.
The research firm Pund-IT tabled this report. The report is based mainly on the findings in three companies, namely Alliance UniChem, Boscov’s Department Stores, and Zahid Tractor & Heavy Machinery. "All three succeeded in their efforts, reaching or exceeding the goals and results they planned. All realized significant second stage benefits that resulted in improved IT capabilities, enhanced staff performance and reduced effort and costs," said Charles King, an analyst at Pund-IT Inc.
IBM said that the two reports highlighted the inherent benefits of Linux over Solaris and Windows in the long run. "They also show that once customers get started with Linux, they continue to do more and more with it going forward," Scott Handy concluded.
