The VAR Guy

The VAR Guy spends considerable time watching Amazon Web Services and Microsoft’s emerging Windows Azure cloud strategy. But in recent days our resident blogger has noticed a pattern: RightScale, a Santa Barbara, Calif.-based cloud management company with considerable buzz, seems to be connecting with the open source crowd. Here’s the scoop.

Sure, Microsoft SharePoint remains a lucrative opportunity for solutions providers. But even SharePoint — one of Microsoft’s fastest-growing products — is under attack from open source. This time, the aggressor is Alfresco Software Inc. Here’s the scoop.

In an effort to rally solutions providers around Ubuntu Linux, Canonical is telling resellers that 11 percent of U.S. businesses already run Ubuntu. That’s impressive, but when will VARs truly jump on the Ubuntu bandwagon? Here are some clues from The VAR Guy.

In a bid to speed and simplify server application installations, Canonical is developing so-called virtual Ubuntu Linux Server appliances, The VAR Guy learned at LinuxWorld Expo.

Openbravo — the open source ERP and point of sale (POS) specialist — is discussing a partnership with MySQL and exploring the virtual applications market, The VAR Guy learned while walking the aisles at LinuxWorld Expo. Here’s why solutions providers should take notice.

Ubuntu Linux desktops grabbed headlines at LinuxWorld Expo. But The VAR Guy spotted another big trend involving Vyatta and open source networking VARs at the show. More than 100 solutions providers are now backing Vyatta’s networking gear. But that’s just the start of an open source networking tidal wave.

Untangle is scheduled to host an Ubuntu Linux Installfest from Aug. 4 to 7 at LinuxWorld Expo in San Francisco. This latest Installfest, coupled with recent moves by Canonical and Intel made The VAR Guy wonder: Can Ubuntu Linux close the digital divide?

The VAR Guy has been on the road non-stop in recent weeks. He’s blogging live from F5 Networks’ partner summit this week, before heading to CompTIA Breakaway (Aug. 5-7, Orlando) and LinuxWorld (Aug. 4-7, San Francisco). What does The VAR Guy expect to see? And does our resident blogger ever stop working long enough to go home? Here are some answers.

When LinuxWorld Expo kicks off August 4 in San Francisco, The VAR Guy will be watching the event closely. In fact, he expects four key trends — related to Canonical and Ubuntu Linux — to emerge at the conference. Here’s the scoop.