Go slow on Linux, says Gartner

Companies should delay the adoption of Linux until the legal issues raised by the SCO case are resolved, Gartner has recommended.

In a message that will boost the case for the Windows and Unix operating systems, Gartner has advised companies to hold back deployments of Linux if they involve vital systems.

"While the actions by SCO are pending, take a go-slow approach to Linux in high-value or mission-critical production systems. Instead, keep pursuing your Unix and Windows strategies," stated Gartner.

And while other analysts have said companies should keep their cheque books firmly in their pockets for now, Gartner warned that if SCO pursues individual companies, the bill could cost far more in penalties than if they had bought a SCO UnixWare licence.

"If you find SCO's case compelling, and you use few instances of [Linux kernel] v.2.4, pay the licence fees," it said.

Gartner estimates that a single unit licence of UnixWare will cost from $500 to $700 per server, with discounts for volume deployments.

The analyst advised companies to contact SCO to discuss its claims, and audit all Linux installations by kernel version and server roles.

"You can fence off such systems from the licence obligation if you have deployed Linux strictly for basic infrastructure roles [such as firewalls and simple web servers] that do not require the 2.4 kernel or its SMP capability," said Gartner.

Companies should also determine whether Unix or Windows "will provide functions equivalent to those of Linux deployments", and investigate outsourcing or other relationships that transfer licensing issues to a third party.

The analyst further warned that if a few large enterprises buy a UnixWare licence, other enterprises are likely to follow, creating hybrid open-source and proprietary software contracts.

If SCO successfully pressurises enterprises to buy UnixWare or delay their purchases, Gartner believes Linux will struggle to grow beyond appliance and infrastructure roles, revitalising Unix and boosting Microsoft.

It will also damage Red Hat's and SuSE's business models, as they would find it more difficult to generate enterprise server subscription fees once the SCO licence was factored into the total cost of ownership of Linux.

The analyst suggested that Oracle's 9iRAC for Linux would also suffer a setback during its ramp-up phase, and that independent software vendors could temporarily delay commitments and investments in Linux.

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