Linux marches on in corporate world, in spite of SCO

By Matt Whipp

Posted on 15 Oct 2003 at 17:37

A recent survey by Credit Suisse First Boston of 100 CIOs has shown that Linux is reaching beyond low-level server adoption and into mission-critical areas, with four out of five not adjusting Linux plans in the light of the litigious SCO.

The survey revealed that Linux is being taken ever more seriously: 73 per cent of those polled said they were considering using the Linux platform. And SCO seems to have cast barely a shadow on their plans: 84 per cent said they had not changed their Linux strategy, despite SCO wanting to charge a steep $699 a chip licence.

The survey described the technology as having established a 'beach head' in the corporate world, with 29 per cent already using Linux for mission-critical applications and 23 per cent using it in data centre operations.

Credit Suisse First Boston says it expects the Linux rise in both use and importance to continue, with 'negative implications for Unix and probably Microsoft'.

The survey polled US-based CIOs from Fortune 1000 firms or equivalents in September. The CIOs represented various industries, with the largest concentrations in financial, telecommunications and manufacturing markets.