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Linux Now 25% of Dell's Server Business
Sam Haine '95 writes to mention a ZDNet article discussing Linux's place in the server market, at least for Dell Computers. Linux now makes up over 25% of the company's server business, and has become such a standard that they only need to confer with Red Hat for some 10% of service calls. From the article: "Linux and open source have been a blessing for Dell as it has struggled to make an impression, other than as a desktop and laptop supplier, in enterprise computing, According to Martin Hingley, vice-president of the European Systems Group at analysts IDC, part of the problem for Dell in the enterprise is that 'people don't like partnering with Dell.'"
Of course they don't mention that anyone who uses Dell OpenManage(TM) to install blade servers and probably other servers is actually using Linux to setup the RAID and install Windows. Since OpenManage is actually running on a Linux kernel. Somehow I find it reassuring to know that the Windows admins that I work with use Linux all the time to setup the RAID on a blade.
Plus, when buying servers, we often will buy them as "No Operating System Microsoft Configuration" even though we end up putting RHEL on them. I'm sure that they probably count that as a Microsoft install even though lots of Linux admins simply don't need to have RedHat on their server by default. They do have the option for "Red Hat Enterprise Linux - No Factory Installed Operating System", but I think when you initially read through the options its not obvious that that's a "no OS" install. Then of course you have people who choose VMware ESX server (probably a small percentage right now).
So I'd say that Linux probably accounts for closer to 30-40%, if not even 50% of Dell's server sales.
Dell keeps growing while other companies are missing the mark. Basically, companies like Leveno announce that they will not support linux (only to retract it, for whatever reason; I would bet that Leveno lose more than 10% of their business just over that remark and retraction). And of course, small to medium size computer companies have the opportunities to grow in size by moving into Linux esp on the desktop (an area that Dell forsakes). But they would rather take the fork that everybody else does.
I prefer the "u" in honour as it seems to be missing these days.
Unfortunately, too far off. It is one thing for Dell to support RHEL to people who understand Linux, and a whole other thing to support whatever desktop variants to a less tech-savvy user. I can see it now: Dell: "Thank you for calling Dell Tech Support, this is 'Frank', how may I help you" User: "Ya, um... Why won't snood run on my computer?" Granted, most users who would purchase a Linux Dell, most likely, would have an understanding of the system. Yet, you have to admit that half the fun of installing GNU/Linux (Debian in my case) is getting flamed on debian-user with my questions.
1: Are non-Windows preloaded Linux servers as easy to find as Windows 2003 Server machines?
2: Does Dell try to convince you go buy Windows software anyway, even when you don't want it (to keep Microsoft happy)?
3: Has Dell ever reported purchases of non-Windows based hardware to the BSA, or any other such organization (haven't heard of it myself, but it's a valid question)?
4: Are comparable Dell Linux machines without Windows installed truly available at a price that fully reflects the lack of the Microsoft Tax?
5: Does Dell preload adware/advertising crap on their Linux boxes?
6: Do you get the same level of customer support for a non-Windows box as you do for a Windows loaded one?
That's some of what I'd like to know to assess just how well Dell treats its Linux purchasers.
We already know how well it doesn't treat those customers who must not be demanding AMD processors yet.
"It's the height of ridiculousness to say for those 9 lines you get hundreds of millions."