Aberdeen Group

Analyst Bios : Bill Claybrook

Research Director,
Linux, Open Source Software, and Unix
claybrook@aberdeen.com

(617) 854-5256
Boston

Area of Focus

Bill Claybrook focuses on Linux, open source software, and Unix. His practice emphasizes Linux standards such as Linux Standard Base (LSB), Linux/Unix affinity, platforms for cluster technology, high performance computing, Grid computing, software management (Linux only), and open source business models. Moreover, his research helps marketing organizations plan for new product offerings and develop go-to-market strategies as well as develop marketing analysis content, such as total-cost-of-ownership (TCO) studies and survey data that can be used to help suppliers sell products. He also serves as a consultant to Linux and Unix suppliers for product positioning, messaging, and evaluating/clarifying marketing strategies, etc.

Current Research

Linux is the fastest growing operating system in the computer industry and is being developed faster than any modern operating system. Today, Linux is making inroads into the enterprise on the low-end - Web servers, file and print servers, e-mail servers, firewall servers, etc - replacing Unix and Windows. In several firms, such as in the financial and telecommunications segments, Linux is beginning to be used to host mission critical applications.

Claybrook's current research focuses on three primary areas: (1) the required business support and technology to move Linux into the enterprise (e.g., what is required to convince ISVs to port to Linux); (2) the affinity between Linux and Unix as Linux moves into areas currently dominated by Unix; and (3) the importance of standards such as the LSB. In the future, his research will include Linux-based video production applications and other Linux-based graphics applications for the entertainment industry.

Recent Activity

Claybrook has written Aberdeen White Papers for large systems vendors such as Hewlett-Packard (HP), IBM, and SGI. In addition, he has focused on software management solutions for Linux being developed and marketed by emerging Linux-based companies such as Caldera, Red Hat, and others, and has done Linux presentations for Computer Associates Webinars and CAWorld.

Experience

Claybrook has more than 30 years experience in the computer industry. His experience includes positions as software development director for various firms developing and marketing Unix-based OLTP (online transaction processing), RDBMS (relational database management system), voice mail, and multi-media products. In addition, he was Chief Architect and Director of Technology at UNIX International. Prior to entering the world of commercial computing, he was Associate Professor of Computer Science at Virginia Tech, the University of Connecticut, and professor of Software Engineering at the Wang Institute of Software Engineering.

Education

Claybrook has a BS in Mathematics from North East Missouri State, an MS in Mathematics from Kansas State University, and a Ph.D in Computer Science from Southern Methodist University.

Copyright 2002