Research shows Linux costs less than Windows

February 16, 2006

New research conducted in I.T. organizations reveals that recent developments in the Linux operating system have actually made its management easier and reduced the overall cost associated with running the popular open-source software and its related systems.

The results of the report directly contradict many Microsoft claims that Linux's total cost of operating it is higher than its Windows counterpart.

The survey was performed by Open Source Development Labs and member company Levanta, and undertaken by Enterprise Management Associates (EMA).

In the research, the majority of IT respondents noted that they spent less effort in managing and supporting Linux than they spent on Windows. Over 50 percent said that they could detect and fix problems in Linux environments in less than 30 minutes.

Leasing links to your website will increase your search engine visibility

Unlike some previous studies that have pitted Linux against Windows in a direct comparison, the Levanta study focused more strongly on gaining a clearer understanding about how Linux is used and how the system is perceived.

Although there were some questions that asked respondents to compare their experiences with Windows versus Linux, that was not that purpose of the study, said Levanta director of marketing David Dennis.

"We undertook the research because a lot of the data about Linux wasn't recent, and didn't accurately show the current state of Linux," he said.

The company decided to do the research after it noticed small and midsize business (SMB) customers shying away from Linux, citing concerns about complicated management. Levanta felt that in giving those companies more information, it would infuse the marketplace with much-needed new data.

"We hope it will engender an evenhanded debate," said Dennis. "There's a lot of data put into the market by Microsoft, and not as much on the other side, and we wanted to help correct that imbalance."

This latest study is likely to fan the flames of an already heated battle in which sponsored and independent studies are used as weaponry on both sides.

Linux advocates likely will point to results in the OSDL and Levanta report as "proof" of what they have known all along, that Linux is mature enough to be widely implemented in enterprise environments.

Microsoft, meanwhile, is equally likely to continue its focused campaign, called "Get the Facts," to emphasize the limitations of Linux in terms of reliability, total cost of ownership, security , and indemnification.

In such a climate of heated debate with strong claims made on both sides, it is difficult to gain a sense of balance, some companies have found. Those not on either side of the debate, especially in the SMB space, have expressed confusion over whether Linux really is less expensive or if they should continue employing Windows.

In some ways, the debate is similar to those seen in the food industry, where something like salmon draws fire on one side for being mercury-laced, and praise on the other side for its health benefits.

Ultimately, some analysts have observed, implementation of Linux or Windows will come down to what is right for each individual business.

Every company has different needs in terms of technology, and I.T. consultants note that, in some environments, Linux makes sense, while in others, a Windows environment might be more suitable.

And, as many companies are finding, there can be a blend of the two, with the systems getting along more peaceably than some of the combatants involved in the debate.

Source: Newsfactor

Bookmark this Tech Blog by clicking here.

         Tech Blog is hosted by Avantex