Linux-only mainframe computers are now popular in the market, thanks to International Business Machines Corporation IBM. The company has launched Linux-only mainframe called LinuxONE. For the large enterprise market, the company has launched LinuxONE Emperor while for mid-size businesses, it has come up with the Rockhopper server.

According to IBM, LinuxONE Emperor, which is based on its z13 mainframe computer can scale up to 8000 virtual machines. The company expects the LinuxONE system to work with an open source software such as Apache Spark, Maria, Posture or Chef. Further, the company has partnered with UK-based Canonical Ltd to market its Debian-based Linux operating system – Ubuntu.

Linux is an open-source operating system. Unlike Microsoft Corporation’s MSFT Windows and Apple Inc.’s AAPL iOS, Linux mainly caters to the enterprise market and has been a software language of choice for mainframe servers and super computers. The software gained recognition when IBM announced in Jan 2000 that it would adopt Linux for its servers, software and services. It had invested nearly $1 billion to back its Linux project and years later in 2011, Linux became the key component of IBM’s business model.

IBM’s investment was mainly focused on developing Linux for big data and cloud computing with modern systems built to handle the new wave of applications coming to the data center in the post-PC era. Some of the major initiatives by IBM included building a new client center in Europe and a Linux on Power development cloud, which helped the company to focus on rapidly expanding its ecosystem supporting Linux on Power Systems.

Currently, Linux ispopular as back-end technology, supporting mobile phones and video game consoles to high-tech applications such as mainframes and supercomputers. Linux remains a cost-effective operating system, which is flexible, stable and highly secure as an operating system as businesses, governments and people use it widely. IBM is likely to benefit delivering this supporting technology, which will add to its top line.

Currently, IBM has a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).  A better-ranked stock in the technology space is PetMed Express, Inc. PETS, with a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy).

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