Ubuntu Server Edition: Canonical’s Big Challenge

On desktops and Netbooks, it has been a stellar year for Canonical’s Ubuntu Linux distribution. But on the server, Ubuntu continues to face long-term challenges in terms of application and vendor support. Here’s the scoop from The VAR Guy.

First, let’s be clear: The VAR Guy isn’t pressing the panic button. It will take several years for Canonical to build a business around Ubuntu Server Edition. The effort will require an ecosystem of independent software vendors (ISVs), server hardware makers and VARs.

Remember: It took Microsoft roughly four years to build a decent ecosystem around Windows NT Server, which originally launched in 1993 but didn’t gain much traction until 1996 or 1997.

Now that The VAR Guy has set some expectations, it’s time to offer some key observations.

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