Those selling Linux-based solutions, however, can expect to spread plenty of holiday cheer, according to a new report from IDC, “The Opportunity for Linux in a New Economy.”

Even as Red Hat recently talked up its impressive quarterly results, it’s important to recognize that not all of Linux’s success can be seen in corporate financial results. Much of the benefits of Linux comes from unpaid deployments, which continue to account for a healthy margin of total deployments

IDC: Linux spending set to boom by 21 percent in 2009 | The Open Road – CNET News

Well, that hasn’t happened. In fact it seems as if the two operating systems are determined to coexist in the IT world.

With that in mind, I thought it would be a good idea to list the ways in which Microsoft could help Linux solidify itself as a viable enterprise and end user solution.

10 ways Microsoft could help Linux – Program – Linux – Builder AU

OIN members include important players like IBM, Philips and Sony. On the other hand they also include Novell, whose original patent cross-license with Microsoft drives the controversy over Big Greens claims to own the Linux operating system.

TomTom tells Ballmer tear down this wall | Open Source | ZDNet.com

In a survey of 330 organizations with 100 or more employees, IDC found that 53 percent were planning to increase adoption of Linux on servers, while 48 percent were planning to increase Linux on clients, as a direct result of the economic climate. The survey was conducted in February, and the white paper published on Monday.

IDC: Downturn to drive Linux adoption : News : Software – ZDNet Asia

Laurent Lachal, open source research director at the U.K.-based analyst firm, said in a research note, Linux is not doing as well in terms of market share, compared to when it made its debut on the netbook market.

Linux losing netbook ground : News : Software – ZDNet Asia

“Red Hat has a a long track record of supporting FOSS generally, and it has worked hard to address the shortcomings of the patent system. We intend to continue that support and those efforts.”

Lora Bentley: Red Hat Clarifies Patent Stance, Emphasizes Commitment to Open Source

Cisco Systems’ much-publicized push into the server business counts Red Hat among its supporters – a move that could offer another path for Red Hat’s software into corporate data centers.

Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO), the San Jose tech giant, said Monday that plans to sell servers for data centers, the locations that house big companies’ computer systems. Cisco’s move into servers is in contrast with the company’s traditional business of selling the routers and switches that direct Internet traffic.

Red Hat joins Cisco’s server push – Triangle Business Journal:

Oracle (NSDQ: ORCL)’s chief Linux technologist, Wim Coekaerts, said Oracle is making an important contribution to Linux reliability by extensively testing the Oracle database system on the open source operating system. And he has some free advice for competitor Red Hat (NYSE: RHT).

Oracle reports all bugs it finds and bug fixes that it makes to Red Hat’s Bugzilla database. The Red Hat Bugzilla listing is public and Oracle believes putting its findings in Red Hat’s Bugzilla “puts pressure on the company” to fix bugs in its Enterprise distribution that affect database and enterprise operations.

Oracle Urges Red Hat To Give Away Its Product — linux — InformationWeek

* More than half plan to “accelerate” Linux adoption “this year.”
* That’s 72% are looking at this on the server.
* And 68% looking at this on the desktop.

Novell finds big promises for open source in 2009 | Open Source | ZDNet.com

Sixty-five percent of the 330 respondents said they plan to increase Linux server workloads by 10% or more this year. Sixty-three percent said they will increase their use of Linux on the desktop by more than 10% this year, although such an increase would still probably represent a miniscule share of all desktops. Forty-nine percent said they expect Linux will be their primary server platform within five years.

Linux Gaining Strength In Downturn