Migrating to Linux: the basis of digital transformation

SAP is moving HANA exclusively to Linux - Sabine Soellheim explains why

Big players like SAP are declaring Linux the "operating system of the future". They realise that open standards and robust open source projects form the basis of software-defined infrastructure - and therefore digital transformation.

In February, the open source community celebrated an important anniversary: 20 years since the term "open source" was coined. At that time, the community of thousands of developers and dozens of companies were working towards a distant vision. Those pioneers could never have dreamed of what would become a reality today. The vanguard of this movement, Linux, has long-since established itself as a mainstream system for the enterprise. And, indeed, it was followed by other successful open source projects such as OpenStack, containers and application delivery.

So what does open source and Linux have to do with digital transformation? The answer lies in software-defined infrastructure, or SDI. This is necessary to connect the core system of a company to the furthest reaches of the Internet of Things. Whereas in the past it was enough simply to focus on internal infrastructure, today's businesses either require external data or the ability to send data externally as part of their digitised processes.

SDI: the backbone of the future

To ensure a flexible and open infrastructure that interacts with all these systems, data and processes, companies need open standards - a key characteristic of open source solutions. This is why global players like SAP rely on Linux and open source. On the one hand, they are modernising their core systems, and on the other, they are working to raise their infrastructure to the level of a SDI.

For SAP, this process involves encouraging all of its customers to switch to HANA by migrating to the cloud with S4/HANA. In fact, SAP has chosen Linux as the sole operating system for HANA, announcing that as of 2025, it will no longer support alternative database types like Oracle, DB2 or MS SQL Server.

For many SAP customers, this will involve a double migration. First, they will need to switch their database - typically a core component of their IT landscape - to HANA. Secondly, because a large number of SAP customers still use UNIX or Windows, their operating system will have to be switched to Linux.

Linux success stories

"Why Linux?" is a question that many companies ask themselves. Put simply, Linux is the fastest-growing operating system on the market for workloads of all varieties. According to IDC, 31 per cent of global server revenue is generated by servers that come with Linux pre-installed.

In the early days, Linux was mostly used for infrastructure workloads. However, today it has a well-known reputation for quality and uptime. It can now be found in all areas including big data, analytics and High Performance Computing.

SAP's decision to run HANA, and therefore S/4HANA, exclusively on Linux has provided a further boost to innovation within the operating system - particularly due to co-developments with SAP solution providers. By benefiting the entire Linux community, these developments deliver enhancements to the entire operating system.

Digitisation requires open source

Recently, the Cloud Industry Forum reported that out of the 88 per cent of businesses already using cloud, over half (58 per cent) have taken a hybrid approach. These figures are not surprising given that combining on-premises, public and private cloud approaches provide a significant economic benefit. In fact, two-thirds of companies globally say that they are ahead of their competitors thanks to the hybrid cloud.

However, the challenges of the hybrid cloud approach stem from the complexity of a system that is made up of diverse on-premises and off-premises components, as well as different architectures. Linux offers the advantage of supporting virtually all technical combinations. For example, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) runs on POWER or x86, HPC, HEC, Azure, Google or AWS, either on-premises or in the cloud.

It's clear, then, that open source projects - particularly those that are now mainstream - are an important and powerful vehicle for companies looking to overcome the trials of digital transformation. Similarly, OpenStack and Cloud Foundry are crucial open source projects indispensable to smart infrastructures. Again, the key to success involves a mixture of open standards, a future-proof developer community and standing the test of time in the enterprise environment.

The removal vans have been called in

SAP customers, digital natives and traditional companies are continuously developing their infrastructures. Whether this involves a fundamental change such as switching from UNIX to modern operating systems or "simply" upgrading storage, moving to Linux is a convincing option. The operating system forms the foundation of an open, smart infrastructure that, in future, companies will need to succeed. I am certain that we will call in the removal vans in one form or another this year.

Sabine Soellheim is manager of SAP Alliances at SUSE