The Agenda Setters: SuSE Linux breathes in Microsoft space

The success of Linux has had little to do with Microsoft's preoccupation with the Department of Justice and everything to do with the quality of the software. That's the view of Roland Dyroff, CEO of SuSE, speaking on this week's Agenda Setters programme.

In the past year Linux has enjoyed a massive growth in popularity among high profile hardware vendors. And Microsoft is now free to continue business as usual pending appeal, Dyroff said he was confident that Linux will retain the ground it gained against the computer giant.

"Linux has a huge market share, especially in the server market. Potentially a Microsoft split could be beneficial, but we are not dependent on any outcome. There is a broad market using Linux," he said.

Dyroff said that while Linux was becoming more commercialised - often the subject of criticism by purists - vendors like SuSE were instrumental in its ultimate success.

"The majority of the open source software developers want to see it used. The Linux vendors are beneficial in that. They are spreading the word and delivering Linux to a large customer base," the SuSE CEO said.

Dell is the latest big name vendor to adopt Linux. In a deal with RedHat, announced earlier this week, the hardware manufacturer will offer customers a Linux operating system option.

Tjas Vakil, VP of enterprise solutions at Dell, agreed that commercial acceptance was crucial in the development of Linux.

"If any operating system is to be accepted, it needs structure. It needs somebody to take responsibility for developing it and evolving its features. Companies like RedHat are beneficial here," he explained.

Vakil said that Dell was offering customers Linux to establish a foothold in the substantial market of Unix users.

"There is a large group of people with Unix experience who are more comfortable with Linux than Windows. It's a market that we have not tapped into yet. It will give some sense of unification that has eluded the Linux market for the past 15 years," he said.

You can see the entire Agenda Setter interview with the SuSE CEO in our Enterprise OS Channel (http://www.silicon.com/a38191 ).