For server vendors, things are looking up. The latest market snapshot from research firm IDC indicates that the IT equipment refresh, which many firms put on hiatus amid the depths of the recession, is now well underway.
IDC reported that global server revenues were up 15.3 percent in the fourth quarter, the biggest jump in three years. For the year, revenues increased 11.4 percent.
Fourth quarter unit shipments were up 6.1 percent over the previous year, but up 15.3 percent annually for all of 2010.
On the leader board, IBM held onto the top spot, followed by HP, Dell, Sun and Fujitsu.
IDC noted that IBM really made hay with its System z line, with fourth-quarter sales up nearly 70 percent from the year-earlier period.
Server Watch has a complete rundown of the numbers on the rejuvenated server market.