The Evolution of the Virtual Environment: Where Does Linux Fit?: Industry Report

The Evolution of the Virtual Environment: Where Does Linux Fit?

Product Type: Market Research Report
Published by: IDC
Published: April 2003
Product Code: R104-21497

Description

This IDC study defines virtualization technology and details why it is emerging and its various forms and goals. In addition, the study examines why many types of virtualization may expand the use of Linux.

Because virtualization isolates the application from the underlying operating system, the implication is that as the degree of application virtualization increases, the value of the operating system decreases. This suggests Linux will become more important.

Combined revenues of virtualization software are currently roughly equivalent to those of operating systems, and OS revenue will decline as a percentage of the total of these categories.

"As the degree of application virtualization increases, so the value of the operating system tends to decrease," said Paul Mason, group vice president, Infrastructure Software Research.

Table of Contents

IDC Opinion

In This Study

Situation Overview

Figure: THE REAL COST OF OWNERSHIP
Figure: #1 VIRTUAL ACCESS SOFTWARE
Figure: #2 VIRTUAL PROCESSING SOFTWARE
Figure: #3 VIRTUAL PROCESSING SOFTWARE - VIRTUAL MACHINE SOFTWARE
Figure: #4 VIRTUAL APPLICATION ENVIRONMENT SOFTWARE
Figure: FULLY EXTENDED VIRTUAL ENVIRONMENT
Figure: INFLECTION POINTS

Future Outlook

Figure: INCREASED VIRTUALIZATION REDUCES THE IMPORTANCE OF THE OS
Figure: WORLDWIDE SOFTWARE REVENUE IS ALREADY SHIFTING TOWARD VIRTUALIZATION

Essential Guidance

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