Microsoft backs Linux

PROPRIETARY software maker, Microsoft has told a flock of Linux users that it will provide Linux support plug-ins on Windows.

Not only that, it will make itsVirtual Server 2005 R2 available free. According to Forbe’s the sudden conversion will mean that leading Linux distributions including Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 and Novell SuSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 will run on Virtual Server 2005.

Windows server director of product marketing Zane Adam said that the move will help help customers safely consolidate their Linux-based applications on Virtual Server.

The no-charge download was designed to break down the barriers for customers who want to adopt server virtualization, he said.

The move is seen as one of Vole’s counters to the success of IBM, Sun Microsystems, and Hewlett-Packard in getting their Linux based products onto corporate servers.