Virtualize Windows on Linux? Microsoft Says Servers First
Posted 08/08/07 at 11:34:12 PM by Mark Soper
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Microsoft's Sam Ramji slammed the door on virtualizing Microsoft's newest desktop operating systems (XP and Vista) on Linux yesterday.In a speech at LinuxWorld, the director of Microsoft's open-source software lab claimedstated that "we haven't seen significant demand for Linux applications on the desktop or for desktop virtualization on top of Linux."
Specifically, Ramji was referring to feedback from enterprise-level customers and its Interoperability Executive Customer Council. However, one has to wonder why Microsoft is blowing off the enthusiast community. Although server virtualization is "Job 1" for Microsoft right now, there's an increasing demand for Linux on the desktop.
There are plenty of Linux users reading Maximum PC in print and online, for example (just count the number of Diggs for any Linux article on this website), and Linux is getting a greater market share at the desktop level in both the enthusiast and corporate markets. Dell, for example, started bundling PCs with Ubuntu in late May, and Lenovo has just announced it will start preinstalling Novell's SUSE Linux Enterprise 10 on its T-series notebooks starting in the fourth quarter of this year.
I think the decision to refuse to support virtualized Vista and XP on Linux will hurt Microsoft in both the short and long term.As I discussed in a recent article on Virtual PC and other virtualization solutions, virtualization solves lots of problems for users: it enables a single PC to run two or more operating systems concurrently and enables users to run legacy programs in their native environment. If I need to use two or more operating systems, I'd much rather use virtualization than fiddle around with the boot-use-reboot-use-reboot cycle or PC merry-go-round approaches (change seats or wear out the KVM switch) that are otherwise necessary. .
While neither XP nor Vista qualify as legacy products, supporting virtualization would enables Microsoft to blunt the increasing drive to Linux by enabling users to run the operating system they need to support specific programs and tasks: use Windows for gaming or Outlook, and Linux for OpenOffice or Apache web server, for example.
I like Windows Vista (and XP), but I want to use Linux, too. And, I want to run the operating systems I prefer the way I want to. Virtualization makes it possible, and although Microsoft's working on the server side first, products such as VMWare are picking up the slack on the desktop side.Microsoft's decision to refuse to support virtualization on Linux makes it harder for me to do things the way I want - and I'm not happy. By refusing to support virtualization on Linux, Microsoft is basically telling users, "it's our way or the highway." Unfortunately, more and more users - not to mention two of the biggest PC vendors - are saying "I'm OK with that."
Somebody needs to remind Microsoft that it's no longer alone on the desktop - and it can't bully users like it used to. Somebody (namely me) just did. Is anybody in Redmond listening?
Note: This article has been updated to remove initial references to "blocking" virtualization. VMWare and other products can virtualize Windows on Linux, but Microsoft's basically saying "good luck!"
nnpbmyte
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Submitted by sramji on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 12:53pm
The reporter from eWeek clearly misunderstood the presentation, as discussed by a few posters here and many other reporters and analysts.
Ironically, I spent 60 minutes detailing the work my lab is doing to enable virtualization of Linux on Windows and Windows on Linux.
We do enable both through our licenses, including our desktop operating systems. My statement in my presentation was that my lab was working on server virtualization interoperability and not on the desktop at this time.
Sam Ramji
Director, Open Source Software Lab
Microsoft Corporation
Submitted by fackwindows on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 10:59am
There are more linux users reading these articles...........this happens because windows users are busy fixing their computers from crashing...........
Submitted by plindburg on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 10:57am
Paul J Lindburg
Just download VMware and you have both Linux and Microsoft on your PC.
Submitted by Budgetperson on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 8:43am
I have a VM of WinVista in linux through VirtualBox.
Submitted by sc123 on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 6:16am
Linux companies don't formally support their products running on Windows in virtual form, so why should we expect Microsoft to? The linux fanboy community expects everyone to bend over backwards for them, while never expecting the same from their own companies.
Submitted by dave23d on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 7:13pm
Because Microsoft supports OpenSource.
But the Linux fanboy says "Go away Microsoft, you have done far to much damage already. Fix your software, and thanks for comming!!"Love Linux and 3D Linux Games :)
Submitted by fackwindows on Fri, 08/10/2007 - 11:13am
Microsoft did things for open source.......it killed open source......did u read the news about microsoft making baseless claims that Open Source violates its patents.If open source does violate let them go to court not just running their mouths offs......... I can not think of one single move by microsoft which helped Open Source. The only thing which helped linux was the release of Vista...............
Submitted by XRolando on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 3:57am
Is it just me or is the only place where a clear "no virtualized Windows on Linux" is stated the title of the article? I find it hard to believe that their partnership with Novell and Xensource would end so fast (let alone their contract).
MS is confusing us
Submitted by Marcus_Soperus on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 4:12am
While MS is in partnership with Novell and Xensource, they're putting their emphasis on .NET and Java interoperability for now. As other commentors have pointed out, virtualization is already here - but MS is snubbing it for now. The article's been updated to reflect that reality.
==================================================
It's amazing how illogical a business built on binary logic can be.
Submitted by dave23d on Thu, 08/09/2007 - 5:07am
Yes its true. Microsoft have been confusing people for many years now. But Microsoft forgets that the IT world is in need on moving towards a better future. Not the same old bitter past.
Love Linux and 3D Linux Games :)
huh?
Submitted by alex911 on Wed, 08/08/2007 - 9:56pm
How are they blocking it? Or are they just not supporting it if there is problems? Vista and xp work fine in vmware. I think they are just feeling heat from vmware since their virtual pc blows ass.
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