News

IDC: Unix and Windows Server Market Revenues Equal for First Time

Factory revenues for Unix servers and Windows servers were equal for the first time ever in the first quarter of 2005, according to market researchers at IDC.

The value of new server systems shipping with Windows during the quarter hit $4.2 billion, equal to the value of new server systems shipping with Unix, IDC found in research published this month. Each platform accounted for 34.4 percent of overall factory revenue. Across all platforms, worldwide factory revenue reached $12.1 billion, up by 5.3 percent from the year-ago quarter.

The development caps a long trend of increasing Windows platform revenues against falling or nearly flat Unix sales. In the previous quarter, IDC called the two markets "essentially equal," with Unix sales good for $4.0 billion while Windows-based server sales amounted to $3.9 billion.

As they draw even, Windows is clearly in the passing lane. Windows-based server systems closed the quarter with 12.3 percent growth in revenues over the year-ago quarter. Unix sales were up 2.8 percent compared to the first quarter of 2004.

Windows servers are riding a larger trend for increasing sales of volume servers, according to IDC. The volume server segment is up 15.6 percent for the first three months of 2005 compared to the same period in 2004. IDC calls the segment the primary growth engine for the server market overall.

Linux continues to ride that volume server surge even faster than Windows. While overall revenues of Linux-based server systems, at $1.2 billion, lag well behind Windows and Unix systems, the pace of growth is much quicker. Linux server sales grew 35.2 percent compared to the year-ago quarter. That accounts for 10.3 percent of the market.

The go-go period for volume server revenues may be winding down, however. "Year-over-year unit shipment growth of 13.5 percent -- the lowest unit growth in two years -- reflects moderating unit growth in the volume server segment and more difficult annual comparisons," IDC notes.

About the Author

Scott Bekker is editor in chief of Redmond Channel Partner magazine.

Featured

  • Microsoft Offers Support Extensions for Exchange 2016 and 2019

    Microsoft has introduced a paid Extended Security Update (ESU) program for on-premises Exchange Server 2016 and 2019, offering a crucial safety cushion as both versions near their Oct. 14, 2025 end-of-support date.

  • An image of planes flying around a globe

    2025 Microsoft Conference Calendar: For Partners, IT Pros and Developers

    Here's your guide to all the IT training sessions, partner meet-ups and annual Microsoft conferences you won't want to miss.

  • Notebook

    Microsoft Centers AI, Security and Partner Dogfooding at MCAPS

    Microsoft's second annual MCAPS for Partners event took place Tuesday, delivering a volley of updates and directives for its partners for fiscal 2026.

  • Microsoft Layoffs: AI Is the Obvious Elephant in the Room

    As Microsoft doubles down on an $80 billion bet on AI this fiscal year, its workforce reductions are drawing scrutiny over whether AI's ascent is quietly reshaping its human capital strategy, even as official messaging avoids drawing a direct line.

Most   Popular