In an article for fellow LDN-member site LinuxandMain.com, Anthony Awtrey comments on GNU/Linux's tremendous growth in the server market. ” I have searched for market information and corporate strategy documents that outline where we are today and give some idea where we are headed. At first glance I can tell you that plans to deploy Linux and other Open Source software are evident everywhere. Independent software vendors, especially those writing software for niches like computer aided design, law offices and medical practices, are porting their applications from Windows and commercial Unix to Linux to take advantage of customer interest.”
Sales of general purpose servers running Linux grew in 2001, to 486,000 units worldwide, while sales of Windows NT and Unix servers declined in the same time period. In 2002, while most parts of the server market shrank, Linux server sales grew 78.9 percent, Gartner said. In March 2002, Linux surpassed NetWare to become the second largest operating system used for new Intel-based server deployments according to IDC.