Microsoft To Announce Linux Partnership

Carl Bialik from WSJ writes "Microsoft is entering into an unusual partnership with Novell that gives a boost to Linux, people familiar with the companies tell WSJ.com. From the article: 'Under the pact, which isn't final, Microsoft will offer sales support of Suse Linux, a version of the operating system sold by Novell. The two companies have also agreed to develop technologies to make it easier for users to run both Suse Linux and Microsoft's Windows on their computers. The two companies are expected to announce details of their plan today at a press conference in San Francisco. In addition, Microsoft won't assert rights over patents over software technology that may be incorporated into Suse Linux, the people said. Businesses that use Linux have long worried that Microsoft would one day file patent infringement suits against sellers of the rival software.'"

Comments

Hell called.

[Anonymous Coward]

They want their ice back.

Re:Hell called.

[morgan_greywolf]

And in other news...

• Duke Nukem Forever was released today.
• Hell froze over.
• SCO v. IBM trial over.
• Apple uses Intel Processors.

oh wait, that last one is true...

Re:Hell called.

[rocjoe71]

...And in yet more news:

Four horsemen arrived in Seattle today. When approached one horseman was quoted:

Sorry guys, we could have arrived sooner to put a stop to this but we couldn't find a flight in time that would take the horses-- not even Southwestern. Besides, Horseman Tim is afraid of snakes.

So, to wrap it up:

• Dogs and cats are sleeping together
• Pat Robertson simultaneously converts to Judaism and Islam.
• Osama gets laid, changes his mind about destroying world.
• Scientists discover smoking is good for you.
• Microsoft is supporting Suse Linux.

Hey Novell!

[snuf23]

Ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?

Whats in it for Microsoft?

[Billly Gates]

I dont understand why Microsoft has been so friendly to OSS sofwtare on windows, but this is well strange.

Microsoft has been nicer since Bill Gates left the CEO position to Steve Balmer but Microsoft must have an incentive. Why would Microsoft help a competitor? Especially one that is very entrenched in the server market which MS wished it owned like the desktop market.

I wonder if there are clauses in that agreement for MS to pull a SCO if they feel to threatened? This is the same microsoft that screwed IBM twice with DOS and OS/2 and Netscape so I am skeptical.

Re:Whats in it for Microsoft?

[yurik]

I suspect Microsoft needs a common programming platform, and its Mono they are after.

The adaption of .NET in the enterprise was very slow, mostly because most backends have been exclusively Unix/Linux based. Having two infrastructures at the same time is fairly expensive to maintain - an enterprise basically needs two groups of admins.

Mono solves the problem of running .net on Unix, but its legal status makes many people worried, thus Java is much heavier present in the enterprise, thus eventually it will get to the point of having as nice UI as WinForms from both visual and developer's perspective. The moment it happens, being a cross-platform Java will run on both Unix & Windows - not good for MS.

This partnership sends a clear message to all enterprise architects: Mono is OK, we won't sue you. The extent of this is unclear... Will wait and see :)

Re:Whats in it for Microsoft?

[ZoneGray]

Pretty simple, really. It's a defensive move. They NEED to be involved in Linux, especially overseas, where they can't get away with charging US prices (and can barely enforce the licenses anyway).

And don't expect MS to try and make SuSe proprietary; they're doing this precisely because they need an alternative product line, to gain an entry with customers who won't use Windows.

Expect to see a LOT of SuSe in China.

The lesson from this and the Oracle move is that it makes more economic sense for huge software companies to handle the distribution, and to benefit from the various synergies and good will that it creates, rather than to start a company that does nothing but Linux (and trying to figure out how to monetize free software). MS will eventually profit more from Linux than Red Hat ever did, but not by charging for the software.

Linux has "won", in a sense.... it's reached enough critical mass that there's a mad rush to be the one who gives it away. It may never outnumber Windows, but it will ALWAYS be a factor from here on out. The only question remaining is who will eventually buy Red Hat (sure, they may try to restructure, but they'll never be able to make a go of it with MS and Oracle trying to outdo each other at giving it away). SAP and HP are the first names that come to mind. Maybe Sun, but they couldn't afford it. Intel would have antitrust problems. Not sure if IBM would still be interested.

Re:Just Call It Microsoft SuSe WinLinux Already!

[FerretFrottage]

I doubt it. My Suse system is rock solid and I'm doing an update via Yast right now. Wait, what the hell is KWGA/LGA and why is it a kernel patch?

MS wants consolidation in the Linux market

[Infonaut]

Fewer players in the Linux world, and preferably one dominant vendor, means one opponent for Microsoft. Would you rather fight a distributed and decentralized enemy, or a centrally-controlled one with a well-defined center of gravity?

The more standardized and less fragmented Linux is, the more Linux is like the traditional competitors Microsoft is used to crushing. My guess is that Microsoft's current attitude toward Linux is based on this assumption. Will Microsoft's attempts to manipulate the Linux market succeed? Probably not. But that won't stop them from trying.