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Story: Why Microsoft/Novell is good for Linux
I remain to be conviced
In your position you obviously know your onions, so I was expecting a detailed and reasoned piece. However, you dealt with the subject matter in your first paragraph and your assertions were (1) that interoperability will be improved and (2) that Microsoft's "endorsement" will be good for Linux.
I have reservations about both.
(1) Microsoft and Novell have pledged to work together to improve integration. If we're talking about virtualisation, then I don't quite see the point - I've seen Linux and Windows working perfectly seamlessly under VMware more than two years ago. Xen will presumable get Windows running well under Linux real soon now; and that leaves running Linux under Windows server. Well that will be a neat trick, no doubt, but I'm not sure why commercially anyone would want to do it. Why pay out for a Windows licence in order to run Linux?
As to the integration work that might be done, how safe do you suppose it will be for Novell to make the integration code available under the GPL? And how many other distributions would take the risk of using it if they did?
Haven't we seen Microsoft pledging to work with competitors before? Where are they now?
(2) We have to be realistic and acknowledge that there are many, many Microsoft shops that will not be likely to take an interest in Linux without Microsoft's say-so. That said, business is not completely naive about the strengths and advantages of the Free and Open Source approaches and I'm sure there will be segments where Microsoft's endorsement will be met with strong scepticism or will even be the kiss of death.
And that's what I think Paul Allen is really banking on. You've no doubt read his comments made publicly immediately after the deal. Firstly he made it abundantly clear that his intention is to sell more Windows, not Linux. And secondly he made thinly-veiled threats against anyone using Linux without the blessing of the Novell/Microsoft pact. History shows what Microsoft has done to competitors in the past; I need some strong evidence before I'll believe that anything has changed. I don't fear for the future of Linux, but Novell - ah, that's different.
Peter Davey
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