Think Linux Desktop Market Share Isn't Over 6%? This 15 Million-system Scan Says Otherwise

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ZDNET's cardinal takeaways

• Linux desktop stock tops 6% successful Lansweeper's 15 million-system analysis.
• Consumer PCs deed 6% Linux vs 1.9% connected AD-managed business systems.
• Europe outpaces North America successful Linux take by industry.

In an interview, Lansweeper, an IT plus find and inventory company, revealed to ZDNET that, successful its study of complete 15 cardinal identified user desktop operating systems, it recovered that Linux desktops presently relationship for conscionable complete 6% of PC marketplace share. 

Linux is gaining fame arsenic a desktop OS

This news comes aft respective different studies person shown nan Linux desktop is correct astir nan 6% mark. Indeed, according to nan US Federal Government Website and App Analytics count, nan Linux desktop marketplace stock complete nan past 90 days has reached 6.3%, a caller high. In July, according to StatCounter, nan Linux desktop besides group a grounds precocious by its metrics pinch 5.24%.

Also: 5 Linux distros I urge to thief businesses trim costs and boost security

Lansweeper's data, according to CTO Guido Patanella, comes from its agents and scanning of 15 cardinal user systems and 3.5 cardinal firm systems. The institution defines user PCs arsenic computers that are workgroup-based, standalone, aliases bring-your-own-device. Business computers are those managed by Windows Active Directory (AD). In different words, erstwhile you spot "consumer," don't deliberation of nan laptop successful your chamber that you usage for gaming but activity machines that aren't hooked into AD.

Interestingly, business Linux usage presently stands astatine 1.9%, which is importantly little than usage connected user PCs. Contrary to celebrated belief, Linux desktops tin beryllium managed by AD. For example, Ubuntu 24.04 pinch Ubuntu Pro includes an AD Group Policy client.

Linux usage connected AD-managed networks is showing gradual but accordant growth, expanding from astir 1.6% successful January 2025 to 1.9% successful June 2025. New devices, nevertheless -- defined arsenic assets that appeared for nan first clip aft March 1, 2025 -- person a greater inclination to tally Linux. The investigation suggests 2.5% of these newer machines tally Linux.

Also: 5 bid statement backup devices each Linux personification should usage for desktops and servers

Examining nan Linux desktop by business type revealed that industries specified arsenic business services, user and retail, and authorities show importantly higher Linux take successful Europe compared to North America. Given nan caller displacement by European governments from Windows to Linux, this inclination isn't surprising.

In North America, industries specified arsenic exertion and telecommunications and finance and security show importantly higher Linux take compared to Europe. To sum up, successful North America, exertion is nan apical manufacture adopter of Linux, while business services leads nan measurement successful Europe.

Also: These 6 Linux apps are nan concealed condiment to my imaginative process

When viewed done nan lens of institution size, Linux take is higher successful mini and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) successful North America than successful Europe. In contrast, Linux take is higher successful European SMBs.

How Lansweeper collects its data

The institution collects this information for its customers connected PCs utilizing a operation of agentless and agent-based techniques, positive progressive and passive web scanning. These methods are:

• Agentless Scanning: Lansweeper utilizes protocols specified arsenic Windows Management Instrumentation, Secure Shell, and Simple Network Management Protocol to remotely stitchery hardware, software, and configuration specifications from PCs and servers connected nan web without requiring package agents connected individual PCs.
• Agent-Based Scanning: For devices not ever connected to nan web (such arsenic roaming laptops aliases off-site devices), a lightweight agent, specified arsenic LsAgent, is installed. This supplier scans nan machine locally and past sends nan results backmost to nan Lansweeper server.
• Active Scanning: Direct probes are sent to targets utilizing an IP range, Active Directory, aliases circumstantial credential sets to observe devices and extract elaborate accusation specified arsenic hardware specs, installed software, OS versions, and web configuration.
• Passive Scanning (Asset Radar and Credential-Free Recognition): Lansweeper tin show web postulation to observe devices arsenic they connect. With this method, Lansweeper tin place PCs that deficiency valid credentials aliases are unmanaged aliases unknown. This method -- Credential-Free Device Recognition -- collects basal metadata, including MAC and IP addresses, instrumentality type, and circumstantial web characteristics.
• Hybrid Approach: Best practices urge combining passive find for sum and real-time discovery pinch credentialed progressive aliases agent-based scanning for enhanced accusation depth.

What's driving Linux's rise? 

There are respective reasons why Linux is finally gaining popularity. One I haven't looked astatine precocious but deserves mention is the emergence of AI programming. Linux has go nan default operating strategy for AI and instrumentality learning workloads owed to nan prevalence of starring AI open-source frameworks, specified arsenic TensorFlow, PyTorch, and Hugging Face Transformers, and OpenAI's caller open-weight models.

Also: How to cheque for bad blocks connected a Linux PC difficult thrust (and why you shouldn't hold to do it)

Will nan Linux desktop ever go arsenic mainstream as, say, MacOS? Probably not. Has it go a important desktop subordinate for powerfulness users and developers? The numbers opportunity yes.

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