This IDC study continues IDC's provision of annual reports on Unix server market share, including data on revenue and unit shipments. In 2003, IDC tracked Unix servers that are based on three types of microprocessor architecture: RISC, x86, and EPIC (formerly known as IA-64). The server splits, by chip type, are included in this IDC document. As in last year's document, IDC is extending its annual Unix systems study with comparable information on servers that run Microsoft Windows 2000/2003, Novell NetWare, and Linux server operating systems.

"IDC expects that Unix servers will continue to play a strong role in IT ? deployed at the heart of datacenters as database engines and as anchors for corporate networks serving thousands of end users. Unix servers will also likely continue to be strong platforms for a variety of packaged applications from ISVs for corporate enterprise and high-performance computing workloads. IDC also expects Unix servers to be delivered in a number of form factors, including freestanding cabinets, rack-optimized servers, and bladed servers. The number of Unix blades is also expected to grow, over time, as older applications migrate to low-cost blades and Unix customers look to flexible configurations of Unix blades as a good answer for the peaks and valleys of Internet-driven data processing." ? Jean S. Bozman, research vice president of IDC's Global Enterprise Server Solutions group