Linux server shipments rocketed 166 percent in the fourth quarter in 1999 compared with the same period in 1998, according to a survey from International Data Corp.
IDC said 72,422 Linux servers were shipped, "representing the fastest-growing operating environment in the server market." Linux will continue to grow as more big-name vendors enter the market and as customers pick these products for reliability, availability, performance and cost, IDC predicted.
Linux represented about 6 percent of the overall "entry server market" measured in unit shipments, IDC said, but should become an important area of growth in that market.
Compaq Computer led the pack for shipping Linux servers. According to the study, Compaq sent the bulk of units - 18,088 - during 1999's fourth quarter, representing 25 percent of the market. Linux server shipments tallied $84 million in factory sales for Compaq, IDC said.
IBM followed with 7,001 units shipped, tallying $33 million in sales. Hewlett-Packard finished in third place with 5,429 units shipped, for $23 million in sales. Dell Computer shipped 5,158 units totaling $24 million, while Fujitsu Siemens sent 2,286 units posting $13 million in sales.