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Microsoft to Work with Xen on Virtualization

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the new-experiences dept.

suso writes "Microsoft has released a statement to the press, saying that they are to work with Xensource on making Windows Server work with Xen through Microsoft's own hypervisor technology." Coverage available from Reuters as well. From that article: " As a result of the collaboration, the next version of Windows Server, code-named 'Longhorn,' will provide customers with a virtualisation system that promises to help run both Windows and Linux on the same machine more cost-effectively. Microsoft said it expects to conduct a public trial of Windows Server virtualisation by the end of this year and to release a commercial version of the software within 180 days of the date when Windows Server 'Longhorn' is released. Microsoft aims to release 'Longhorn' by the end of 2007, it said."

3 of 151 comments (clear)

  1. But, what about the opposite. by CaptnMArk · · Score: 5, Interesting

    Will Windows run nicely under Xen (and also VMware)

    That's what I want.

  2. Re:And why not? by TheRaven64 · · Score: 5, Interesting
    This is not the first time Microsoft has collaborated with Xen. Xen was developed at Cambridge, which has strong ties with Microsoft. The Xen team was granted access to the Windows XP (I think, possibly 2K) source code, and ported the kernel to run on a previous version of Xen. They were not, of course, allowed to distribute these changes.

    It's all a bit academic now, since Xen can (or will soon be able to; I haven't checked the status of Xen for a while) run Windows on any chip with virtualisation extensions anyway. This is just Microsoft trying to ensure that Windows can run as Domain 0, ensuring that you need one more Windows license for something that NetBSD would do better.

    --
    I am TheRaven on Soylent News
  3. Re:Well, this seems pretty obvious. by blogchan · · Score: 5, Interesting
    What does XenSource get out of this deal ? One of the following:
    • Cash
    • Publicity (which helps an ailing company that recently fired all its executives and has struggled to make a dent on the market even after a full year)
    • Leverage when pushing their VMI interface into linux kernels, over VMwares interface
    • More importantly, behind the scenes deal to add a VMI interface into Windows, along with the licensing agreement. Someone else qutoed from the Xen website that "A port of Windows XP was developed for an earlier version of Xen, but is not available for release due to licence restrictions". To get around antitrust issues, MS will make the interface public eventually, but this wont give VMware enough time to hook into this.