Open Source Makes Continued GainsOpen Source Makes Continued Gains

Open source continues to gain acceptance among top-brand software vendors and in the enterprise. Hewlett-Packard announced support for the MySQL database and JBoss application server. CRN reporter Barbara Darrow writes that the endorsements are an effort by HP to undercut rival IBM's open-source commitment; IBM is committed to Linux, but has been reluctant to endorse open-source software competing with IBM's own DB2 database and WebSphere application server.

HP is the latest of a series of big brands to endorse Linux and open source, including IBM, Computer Associates, Oracle and BEA Systems, as TechWeb writer Mark Glaser describes in a recent software feature.

Linux servers grew 57 percent in the first quarter of 2004, keeping pace with growth in the overall server market, according to a study from IDC.

And Linux market share in databases grew enormously, up 158 percent to $300 million. That's compared with an overall database market that was almost flat year-over-year.