Data Center
IBM exec predicts the future of Linux, open source
LAS VEGAS -- With LinuxWorld showcasing the popularity of the open source operating system, and with open source in general finding its legs in the enterprise, Bob Sutor, IBM's vice president of open source and standards, made a slate of predictions for Linux and open source during his keynote address on Wednesday at the Black Hat conference.
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Sutor spent time covering the past 10 years of IBM's involvement with Linux and open source, but it is his predictions for the next decade that should be cause for discussion. (Hint: Post your reactions and predictions below.)
See if you agree with Sutor's peek into the crystal ball:
No. 1: "Green" will drive significant initiatives in open source.
The drive to green computing will spawn significant application innovations, and Linux will help reduce energy consumption
via server consolidation, virtualization, load-balancing and more efficient resources management.
No. 2: Linux will not be replaced.
A new open source operating system will not come along and unseat Linux because the current operating system will continue
to evolve to solve new problems.
No. 3: Linux mind share will be less x86 focused.
Linux already runs on many different processors, and that won't change. Linux will find significant new opportunity in software-as-a-service
and cloud computing.
No. 4: The idea of Linux on the desktop will be significantly different.
The very definition of desktop will change, and become more focused on clients that sit anywhere from a cubicle to the bottom
of a pants pocket. Client focus will be on collaboration via open standards, cloud computing, enterprise appliances, Web 2.0
and rich-client platforms. If Linux wants a stake on the traditional desktop, it needs to mimic the Apple Mac in usability and design.
No. 5: SMB is too close to call.
Smaller companies will focus on "buying solutions" rather than hardware, operating systems and applications; and that could
be a boon for Linux. The wild card is the split between embracing open platforms, desktops and clients, or moving pieces to
the cloud.
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LinuxWorld Conference and Expo San Francisco, August 4-7, 2008.
Linux Plumbers Conference Portland, OR, Sept. 16-19, 2008.
FreedomHEC Santa Monica, November 8-9, 2008.
SMBs and SaaS By dmarti on August 7, 2008, 5:32 pm Reply | Read entire comment SMBs are going to be good news for Linux on the whole, as they cut back on in-house IT projects and use more Salesforce.com, Amazon, Google and other IT services....
All comments (1)