Canonical, the company behind Ubuntu, and the analysts at RedMonk presented the results of a recent survey conducted on Ubuntu's use in server deployments. Nearly 7,000 people (representing the same number of organizations) participated in the survey, which was promoted on Ubuntu's web site and several Linux server-specific forums.

Canonical's marketing head, Gerry Carr, says that the survey is "essential reading" for any organization using (or considering using) Ubuntu's Server Edition. After taking a closer look at the survey, I'd recommend it to anyone interested in current server technologies, or where the server market is headed -- even if Ubuntu Server isn't part of the equation.

Ever tried to explain to your boss why bringing open source software into the company won't mean the end of the world? Or even better, has your boss ever asked for a plan to take something open source?

If you find yourself in either of these situations, check out a trifecta of white papers recently published by open-source analyst firm RedMonk.