Ubuntu Server Edition Gains ERP, Business Applications
I spotted a guide earlier today that shows IT administrators how to install Openbravo’s enterprise resource planning (ERP) software on Ubuntu. Frankly, the guide extends beyond my technical knowledge. But it signals an important milestone: True business applications are finally coming to Ubuntu Server Edition and its desktop counterpart.
I have to admit: I was getting a little worried about Canonical’s partner and ISV (independent software vendor) efforts with Ubuntu Server Edition. At LinuxWorld Expo in mid-2008, Alfresco, Openbravo and several other companies vowed to more aggressively support Ubuntu Server Edition.
But Canonical’s server efforts have yielded mixed results. It’s a chicken-and-the-egg type of problem. Developers won’t write for Ubuntu Server Edition until there’s customer demand. And customers won’t demand Ubuntu Server Edition until developers write applications for the operating system.
Slowly Canonical is overcoming that technology paradox. Canonical scored a huge win in December, when IBM and Virtual Bridges announced plans to offer virtualized Ubuntu desktops on centralized IBM servers. Also in December, Unison Technologies began promoting a free, advertising-based unified communications platform for Ubuntu; it’s designed to compete with Microsoft Exchange Server.
Spring 2009 Server Offensive?
Now, my sources are telling me a renewed Ubuntu Server Edition push is coming really soon — perhaps this spring.
In the meantime, technical guides that show IT managers how to install Openbravo ERP and other applications on Ubuntu reinforce a clear trend: Ubuntu is no longer just a desktop Linux story.
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There was an interview with Shuttleworth the other day in the NY Time and widely reported (Slashdot, etc.), in which Mark said that Canonical is now financially self-sufficient.
For those who wish Ubuntu and Canonical to do well, this is the most important matter, I think.
But thanks for the article. It’s good to know the server biz is taking off. I think things can only get better.
The New York Times article was quick to note that Canonical is roughly a $30 million (annual revenues) business now, which is great news. But I hesitate to believe a company is financially self-sufficient because that term can have many different meanings.
As the dot-com implosion taught us, real earnings per share and net income are a true measure of a company’s long-term viability.
It would be nice if Ubuntu no longer ruined people’s hard drives with ITS HARD DRIVE DAMAGING ACPI BUG which has been allowed to exist for the past couple years.
That must be part of the freedom of Linux.
@me : you mean the bug that was recently patched?
The issue was really with over agressive defaults on the manufacturers part – so this patch, although should of been released sooner, is fixing an issue that manufacturers created.
I believe that Debian have a motto somewhere like:
“if you break it, you get to keep both halves”
I think people wishing to see Ubuntu make it in the server market are going to have to be very patient. Server guys aren’t like desktop camacazie users. They don’t jump in feet first and worry about fixing it later.
I think it is all great news. I am a fan of unix based operating systems and this is a great step. I ask that some of you not be so quick to attack ubuntu in these comments as you can start the whole boy who cried wolf thing. When others don’t have that issues don’t scare them away from something that is good to more than most it’s user base. Now hearing they are now a self sufficient company that is really amazing. And I want to thank the writers here for having a really awsome and useful site about ubuntu.
Nick: Thanks for the comment. No need to thank us for this site… we’re just getting started. More content — a lot more — coming in February.
Joe Panettieri
Editorial Director
WorksWithU
Ubuntu comes out of South Africa. Shuttleworth is based in England. Ubuntu is used all round the world. Workswithu probably has some readers outside of the US. So could you drop the American habit of referring to things happening in “spring” and “fall” .( I believe fall refers to Autumn, is that right?) And of course summer and winter. I know it’s hard for Americans to realise there is a world outside of the borders of the US but if you try hard you might succeed.
Pedro: You’ve opened our eyes (and ears) to our error. Going forward we will mention dates by month rather than by season. We strive to make sure our coverage is global. But you’ve point out an area where we’ve failed. We apologize and we’ll be sure to keep your feedback in mind.
-jp
Joe Panettieri
Editorial Director
WorksWithU