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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