*Gartner Evaluates the Progress of Linux in latest Hype Cycle*
*Open-source operating system making progress, but still two to five years
short of mainstream use*
**
*Bangalore, September 8, 2005-* Gartner's Hype Cycle for Linux 2005
illustrates how, over the past two years, Linux has matured as an
established operating system environment, primarily on one- to
four-processors. However, Gartner found that for eight processors and
beyond, Linux must demonstrate performance, security and application proof
points based on the 2.6 version of the kernel and that the biggest test
continues to be whether it can function as a data centre server for
mission-critical applications.
The Gartner Hype Cycle for Linux 2005 is a graphical representation of the
maturity, adoption and business application of Linux. The Hype Cycle shows
that Linux is, as a mission-critical system, almost half way along the
technology trigger - the first phase of a Hype Cycle in which the product
has generated significant press interest. This represents some progress from
2004, even though leading-edge organisations are at an early phase in
deploying it. By the end of 2005, Gartner expects increased
commercialisation of Linux, such as improved storage and systems management.
At this time, Linux is used primarily for WebSphere and infrastructure
applications on mainframes, Web services on blades and racks, computer
clusters and some Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) systems.
On the desktop, the positions are based on Linux's functional use, and on
its degree of complexity and cost for mainstream businesses, mainstream
consumers and data entry. Data entry is the most promising, having passed
the Trough of Disillusionment, a period when a technology does not live up
to its over-inflated expectations and rapidly becomes unfashionable.
Mainstream business use of Linux is nearing the Peak of Inflated
Expectations, where the costs of migration may exceed the cost benefits.
This phase is characterised by over-enthusiasm and unrealistic projections
when flurries of well publicised activity by technology leaders results in
some successes, but more failures, as the technology is pushed to its
limits.
The positions on the Gartner Hype Cycle for Linux 2005 take into account
factors such as the open-source development community, the conversion of
open-source software into products by system and storage vendors, support
and marketing strategies of Linux distributors and hardware vendors, and the
costs required to move from legacy platforms. Some markets, such as blade
and compute-intensive clustered servers, will be quite advanced; others will
fall behind because of lack of richness in manageability and availability.
--
"You see things and ask why, I dream of things as never before and ask why
not" :)
GB Shaw