Open Source Blog

While there are plenty of Linux server distributions on the market, the market is undoubtedly dominated by Red Hat, Novell's SUSE Linux a distant second. In order to find a gap in the market with Xandros Server, due May 1, the company will have to differentiate it from the pack.

The is something the company is claiming to have done in a number of areas:

First off, it’s a Debian-based server operating system, which immediately sets it out as different from the RPM-based Red Hat and SUSE. Xandros claims that it is "the first Linux platform to provide a Debian Enterprise end-to-end Desktop-and-Server Platform," although China's Sun Wah Linux would probably disagree with that, having released its Debian-based Rays ES Server Edition in August 2005.

Second, it features a "Managed Community" approach to server management designed to automate management and administration tasks. "Traditional departmental server products, even from leading vendors, act as though accounts receivable operates in a vacuum from marketing and engineering," explains Xandros CEO Andreas Typaldos. "The Xandros Server platform was designed to map that vision of how modern businesses really work. Our platform connects communities of users, services, and IT architectures, whether they are local or dispersed. It offers a new, user-centric operating philosophy that has enabled the design of powerful features and protocols such as community management, task workflow automation, and centralized remote administration."

Third, it also features the xMC, Xandros Management Console, which is designed to deliver Windows-like administration in a Linux server environment with a similar look and feel to the Microsoft Management Console.

Fourth, it includes RealNetworks' Helix Server and RealProducer software, enabling the operating system to act as a streaming audio and video server, thanks to a deal struck between the two companies.

Firth, it is being specifically targeted at small-to-medium businesses, and will be brought to market channel solutions providers. While the likes of Red Hat Enterprise Linux and Novell SLES are obviously suitable for the SMB market, neither vendor has specifically targeted this market until recently.

Sixth, it has been well tested, to say the least, having entered the first stage of beta testing in April 2005 and the second phase in January 2006.

Will these be enough to enable Xandros to carve a niche for itself in the server market? As usual it will come down to application availability. As previously noted about the potential for Mandriva and the now renamed DCC Alliance the trick will be to convince hardware and software partners that it is worth their while certifying their hardware and porting their software to Xandros Server.

From that regard, being a member of the DCC Alliance, which was formed in August 2005 to promote the enterprise use of the Debian GNU/Linux package, should help Xandros, while its focus on the SMB sector also gives it an opportunity to target a whole set of IHVs and ISVs that have been overlooked by Red Hat and Novell as they chase the largest vendors.

Xandros Server is late to the party, and the company has a lot of work to do, but it seems to have something different to offer at least. That could stand it in good stead.