Windows, Linux gain in server sales, but what about 'free'?

"Microsoft is moving into a 'dominant role' in the server market, says IDC, 'even as Linux grows.' Which is an intriguing headline to the research outfit's take on the 2002 operating system market, but who's winning?

The data IDC puts forward perhaps speaks of a more even match than 'dominant role' suggests. The company notes that Microsoft's share of new server licence shipments grew from 50.5 per cent in 2001 to 55.1 per cent in 2002, while paid for (aha...) Linux server licences took 23.1 per cent of the market. The paid for market itself grew 9.6 per cent.

You can make several observations from this little pile of data. First, we're talking about new licence shipments here, and as companies do not in general replace their server systems at particularly high-velocity (hence NetWare's continued, commendable, but perhaps slightly perplexing existence), the process has a slow, drip drip effect on installed base. By maintaining, even increasing a little its 50 per cent share of new shipments Microsoft may be slowly turning the game its way, but it remains a long way from ruling the server world. "

The Register - Windows, Linux gain in server sales, but what about 'free'?