Linux is typically seen in two- and four-processor servers and is often feared to be too unstable to handle big, critical computing chores.

FORBES: Fujitsu's Big Server Play

Torvalds, who keeps control of the Linux kernel, or core functionality, promised that the next version of Linux would run on servers with more than one processor, a big step up in computing power.

CNN: Celebrated freeware OS Linux grows up

Now it is up to customer demand to deliver those top-line numbers--in particular, demand for flash memory chips in advanced cell phones as well as strong sales of AMD's 64-bit Opteron processor for computer servers, due to launch on April 22.

FORBES: AMD Learns To Share