The next version of Windows Server – codenamed Longhorn
– will include virtualisation technology that is interoperable with
the open source Linux operating system.
The move follows a tie-up with XenSource, which makes
virtualisation products based on the open source Xen technology.
XenSource will work with Microsoft to provide interoperability
between Xen-enabled Linux and Windows Server virtualisation.
Microsoft's move to push into the virtualisation market stepped
up in April when it offered its Virtual Server 2005 R2 software
free of charge. But the company has also had to deal with
businesses' increasing interest in Linux.
The new development will support Longhorn users who want to run
Linux as well as Windows in virtual environments, allowing them to
increase hardware utilisation and consolidation across Windows,
Linux and Xen-enabled Linux environments.
Microsoft is expecting to issue a beta release of Windows Server
virtualisation by the end of the year, with the new software
becoming commercially available in mid-2007, six months after the
expected Longhorn release.
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