GOVERNMENT

Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Sun, both with established enterprise Linux strategies, are approaching the operating system in unique ways, two Aberdeen reports released this week demonstrate. The reports provide a high-level view of HP and Sun's strategies and cast them in a relevant context for IT executives. According to the report, An Assessment of HP's Enterprise Linux Strategy, HP's strategy is a simple one for IT executives to implement. Linux is available on most of HP's 32-bit and 64-bit Intel servers and, as one of the operating systems in HP's multi-OS strategy, the company's comprehensive software suite is available on Linux. "HP's Linux group now has access to worldwide business development teams, solution specialists, sales support, and HP Services in the same proportions as HP-UX Windows platforms," said Bill Claybrook, author of the report. "There are few, if any, issues surrounding HP's Linux strategy." The report, An Assessment of Sun's Enterprise Linux Strategy, explores Sun's approach. "Sun does have some things going for it with respect to Linux," Claybrook pointed out. "For example, it is the only large system vendor offering a Linux desktop solution and giving it not only a client stack, but also the entire front-end/back-end client/server solution." Nonetheless, Sun's Linux strategy does have some issues that bother potential customers interested in moving to Linux on Sun platforms. Notable is Sun's own bias for Solaris that could thwart the movement of Sun Linux beyond entry level for one or two years. Both An Assessment of HP's Enterprise Linux Strategy and An Assessment of Sun's Enterprise Strategy examine at how the two companies will continue to pursue their future Linux strategies and how market events could affect them. For more information about these reports, please visit www.aberdeen.com or follow this link: www.aberdeen.com/ab_company/hottopics/linuxenterprise/default.htm