IDC: Linux to take 29% of server shipments in 2008

The Linux operating system will account for 29% of units shipped into the worldwide server market in 2008, up from 12% last year, according to IDC.

Download this free guide

2018 UK IT Priorities survey results

IT organisations in the UK and across Europe are starting to accelerate the move to the cloud. Read more about the key areas in which senior IT managers are planning to invest in over the next 12 months.

Start Download

• Corporate E-mail Address:

  You forgot to provide an Email Address.

  This email address doesn’t appear to be valid.

  This email address is already registered. Please login.

  You have exceeded the maximum character limit.

  Please provide a Corporate E-mail Address.

• • I agree to TechTarget’s Terms of Use, Privacy Policy, and the transfer of my information to the United States for processing to provide me with relevant information as described in our Privacy Policy.

  Please check the box if you want to proceed.

• • I agree to my information being processed by TechTarget and its Partners to contact me via phone, email, or other means regarding information relevant to my professional interests. I may unsubscribe at any time.

  Please check the box if you want to proceed.

By submitting my Email address I confirm that I have read and accepted the Terms of Use and Declaration of Consent.

Linux will take $9.7bn (£5.3bn) from the $60.8bn market when measured by revenue, it predicted.

Servers running the Windows operating system will account for $22.7bn of the market.

IDC forecasts that the worldwide market for server hardware will grow at 3.8% per year for the next five years, jumping from $53bn in 2004 to $60.8bn in 2008.

Growth will be strongest in central and eastern Europe and the Asia Pacific region, both of which are expected to grow more than 6.5%, year-over-year, until 2008.

Though Windows systems will account for 37% of the 2008 server market, when measured by spend, they will account for 60% of the units shipped, a slight drop in market share from the 63% of units shipped that IDC reported for 2003.

Sales of blade systems are also expected to grow rapidly, according to IDC. By 2008, blade shipments are expected to reach $9bn, or 29% of server units shipped. Blades accounted for just 4% of the server market in 2003, the research firm said.

Robert McMillan writes for IDG News Service