Ubuntu Linux desktops grabbed headlines at LinuxWorld Expo. But The VAR Guy spotted another big trend involving Vyatta and open source networking VARs at the show. More than 100 solutions providers are now backing Vyatta’s networking gear. But that’s just the start of an open source networking tidal wave.

Vyatta expects its U.S. partner program to top 200 solutions providers by the close of 2008 or 2009, notes Tom McCafferty, director of marketing at the Belmont, Calif.-based company.

This is the latest example of open source spilling over into the networking market. Digium, which makes IP PBXes based on Asterisk, now has more than 250 partners and recently signed yet another distribution deal to bolster global sales. Not by coincidence, Digium and Vyatta have a networking partnership.

Meanwhile, VoiceRoute is building a sales channel strategy for its open source unified communications systems. And Unison Technologies has announced a unified communications platform for Canonical’s Ubuntu Linux Server.

Over the long haul, The VAR Guy believes, Cisco Systems could face heightened competition from Digium, Unison, Vyatta, VoiceRoute and other nimble open source companies.

But let’s not weep for Cisco just yet. The networking giant has roughly 46,000 channel partners, and Cisco just announced another strong financial quarter.