Microsoft Releases Linux Device Drivers As GPL

Posted by timothy on Monday July 20, 2009 @05:10AM from the could-easily-be-world's-largest-open-source-distributor dept.

mjasay writes "Microsoft used to call the GPL 'anti-American.' Now, as Microsoft releases Hyper-V Linux Integration Components (LinuxIC) under the GPL (version 2), apparently Microsoft calls the GPL 'ally.' Of course, there was little chance the device drivers would be accepted into the Linux kernel base unless open source, but the news suggests a shift for Microsoft. It also reflects Microsoft's continued interest in undermining its virtualization competition through low prices, and may suggests concern that it must open up if it wants to fend off insurgent virtualization strategies from Red Hat (KVM), Novell (XEN), and others in the open-source camp. Microsoft said the move demonstrates its interest in using open source in three key areas: 1) Make its software development processes more efficient, 2) product evangelism, and 3) using open source to reduce marketing and sales costs or to try out new features that highlight parts of the platform customers haven't seen before."

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Good answer, Sam! by Medievalist · 2009-07-20 07:09 · Score: 0, Offtopic

BTW, is anyone at Microsoft working on a native port of Tridge & Makkeras's rsync?
Being able to rsync windows volumes to NTFS filesystems mounted on *ix boxes without destroying the file attributes that *ix does not directly support would be incredibly wonderful. SSH interoperability is already available - it's preserving the Windows file attributes that is the problem.
Thanks!