* What readers are doing with Linux
While Linux and server vendors continue to push the open source operating system into data centers, a recent survey of Network World readers showed that Linux adoption for critical applications is slow.
A survey of 500 Network World readers revealed that only 5% of respondents had a majority of their critical applications (over 50% of apps) running on Linux servers. Around 18% of those surveyed said 20% to 49% of their most important applications were running on Linux. Meanwhile, almost 30% of the readers surveyed said they were not using Linux at all for mission-critical applications.
While use of Linux for core apps was low among NW readers, the survey also showed that adoption of other open source applications and tools was more widespread. Over 50% of respondents said they were running an open source Web server, such as Apache. Also, close to 50% of readers said they were using an open source database platform as well, such as MySQL or PostgreSQL. Open source Web browsers, such as Firefox, were also popular, with 50% of respondents saying they had such software installed. Around 30% of those surveyed said they were even using open source for VPN infrastructure.
Major drivers of open source adoption cited in the survey included the lack of licensing requirements (almost 80% said this was important). Seventy-four percent of respondents said avoiding vendor lock-in was a driver. Around 44% said faster performance and lower administrative costs were also reasons to go open source.
Inhibitors to open source adoption included the complexity of integrating open source with existing legacy infrastructures (57% said this was a drawback). Around 39% said legal issues were a factor, and 36% said lack of open source expertise was a drawback.
