Dell Partners with MS/Novell for Linux Servers

untouchableForce writes "Dell has announced that it will join forces with Microsoft and Novell to "make it easier for the Windows operating system and the [...] Linux [operating] system to work together." This is not overly surprising given Dell's good relationship with Microsoft, and since they already sell SUSE Linux on some of their servers, but it is likely to put a stop to the OSS community's celebration of them distributing Ubuntu. The debate over partnership between Microsoft and Novell has been drawn out since the deal was signed and for some this will add additional fuel to the fire but shouldn't the OSS community be reading this as an acceptance of Company's acknowledgment of Linux?"

Comments

Ideastorm topic added

[mhall119]

I have added this concern to Dell's Ideastorm.

http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/67008/Dont_i mply_Microsoft_IP_in_Linux

Anyone concerned about Dell's involvement in this MS/Novell pact should promote and comment on it.

This isn't for the home segment...

[jkrise]

From TFA:
On Sunday, Microsoft and Novell said Dell has agreed to buy Suse Linux Enterprise Server certificates from Microsoft and that the computer maker will set up a services and marketing program aimed at getting users of open-source platforms to switch to the new Suse Linux offering.

"Dell is the first major systems provider to align with Microsoft and Novell in this collaboration, and we intend to lead in this space," Rick Becker, a vice president in Dell's product group, said in a statement.

The pact between Microsoft and Novell is primarily aimed at the growing number of major companies and government agencies that rely on both Redmond, Wash.-based Microsoft's patent-protected Windows and Novell's open-source Linux platform to run their computers....

Home PCs will still likely run Ubuntu.
There's hardly any point running Enterprise Servers (which is nothing but marketing speak, anyway) in one's Home PC.
And nothing can prevent corporates from installing Dell's Ubuntu-based Home offerings in company networks.

Correction - why Novel sold (everyone) out

[btarval]

"I don't like Novell cozying up to M$ any more than anyone on /., but I understand why they're doing it - they're customers want compatibility guarantees and protection from IP disputes."

IMO, you are helping Novell out by repeating this myth. The main reason why Novell sold everyone out is because they were cash strapped. Novell was in serious debt, and that $350 Million from Microsoft offered them a way out.

Anything they said about customers was just at best secondary, and likely just a convenient excuse. If it was really an issue with customers, you'd see a lot more of these deals being signed.

And I also take issue with your reliance on legislators for a fix. It would be an uphill, long term battle. By which time Microsoft could rule the commercial world.

A better approach is to boycott Novell and to educate everyone WHY Novell should be boycotted. And combine this with Software Patent reform. But I won't hold my breath for the latter.

Re:This deal also.....

[Scarblac]

Exactly the opposite - if they're suggesting they need a patent deal like this to be allowed to distribute Linux, then they are not allowed to distribute it - see the GPL (For example, if a patent license would not permit royalty-free redistribution of the Program by all those who receive copies directly or indirectly through you, then the only way you could satisfy both it and this License would be to refrain entirely from distribution of the Program).

It would open them up to GPL violation law suits.

Re:This deal also.....

[IGnatius T Foobar]

OTOH, I sincerely hope this isn't going to become a pattern, where MSFT makes bank every time an OEM moved towards Linux.

In conventional terms, this is known as a "protection racket" and it is quite illegal. Not that the law ever stopped Microsoft before...

Re:This deal also.....

[Anonymous Coward]

I would like to point out that this Novell agreement is only in relation to Dell Enterprise (servers) in which Suse was already an option. To continue using Suse means it would make since to take part in this agreement. The Unbuntu systems are still being planned for summer and should not be effected. I say this as a Dell employee which can confirm this via internal communications. Posting as AC since I am stating my employer ;)

Re:No.

[Coryoth]

GNOME, sure, but KDE? Granted, I'm lazy and haven't done any research, but what's gone KDE's way while Novell pumps GNOME? Novell bought Ximian, and that has resulted in significant contributions to GNOME from Novell via the Ximian staff. Novell also bought SUSE, and that has resulted in significant contributions to KDE from Novell via the SUSE staff (since SUSE was one of the major contributors of KDE code). Think of it this way: Novell, unlike Redhat, has been quite seriously pursuing the corporate desktop (Redhat has been halfheartedly pursuing it at best, and instead focusing on servers); that has involved quite a bit of user testing and usability studies, the results of which can be applied to both desktops.

Re:This deal also.....

[Curtman]

The Mono team admits that their implementation of ADO.NET, ASP.NET and Windows.Forms is a "potential" problem.

I see:

• Jim Miller at Microsoft has made a statement on the patents covering ISO/ECMA, (he is one of the inventors listed in the patent). Basically a grant is given to anyone who want to implement those components for free and for any purpose

And as for the other stuff it says:

• Mono's strategy for dealing with any potential issues that might arise with ASP.NET, ADO.NET or Windows.Forms is: (1) work around the patent by using a different implementation technique that retains the API, but changes the mechanism; if that is not possible, we would (2) remove the pieces of code that were covered by those patents, and also (3) find prior art that would render the patent useless.

So that doesn't really sound like an admission of any potential problems at all.. It's a strategy to avoid those problems.

Wow this article isn't biased at all

[mgiuca]

"Novell's open-source Linux platform".

This article gives the reader the distinct impression (read: presents as fact) that Linux is a program created by Novell. In fact it distinctly hints at the fact that there are in fact two operating systems in existence: Microsoft Windows and Novell Linux.

It's a good thing those two are finally working together to make the world a better place. For great justice.

Re:So now what?

[Down_in_the_Park]

Oh, absolutely right. I don't recommend buying from Dell and pay MS for getting Linux on my PC (I guess I could do that easier myself). I was just referring to the statement that now Dell jumps in bed with MS. I would rather see Linux as an affair, where the partner has to do compromises in the partnership because of the affair... :-)