SCO action fails to slow Linux

SCO's controversial legal action claiming ownership of core Unix copyright has not deterred enterprises from deploying Linux as a platform for web servers, the latest research has revealed.

According to website technology watcher Netcraft, Linux web servers are still gaining market share.

"At the time, many analysts speculated that SCO's behaviour might deter enterprise companies from using Linux. However, this has not happened to date, at least in respect of their internet visible websites," the company stated.

"In the past two months Linux has made a net gain of over 100 enterprise sites; sites which have migrated to Linux including Royal Sun Alliance, Deutsche Bank, SunGard, T-online and, most noteworthy, Schwab."

Netcraft added that, while SCO has almost certainly generated attention from the media and Linux evangelists, it does not presently have the attention of IT practitioners in large companies.

The company suggested that businesses are continuing with Linux migrations because they believe the likelihood of a successful conclusion to SCO's lawsuit is extremely small.

It is also widely understood that the costs of migrating from Linux to FreeBSD at a later date are small.

"In practice we think that conventional competition from Windows and Solaris currently presents more of a barrier to Linux adoption in the Enterprises than SCO," Netcaft pointed out.

"Although Linux has enjoyed a net gain over the past two months, it is not by any means one-way traffic. In the past 12 months over 1,600 enterprise sites have changed operating system in one direction or another."

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