In a move that could be as profound as it is surprising
for two former rivals, Microsoft and Novell have announced a set of
broad business and technical collaboration agreements that affect
server-based computing.
The companies hope the arrangement will establish a market and
provide support for a series of solutions to make their products
work better together. Both companies will provide each other’s
customers with patent coverage for their respective products up to
at least 2012. Under this new model, the two firms say that
customers will realise new levels of choice and flexibility through
improved interoperability and manageability between Windows and
Linux.
Resolving the patent issues also enables a combined focus on
virtualisation and Web services management. Microsoft and Novell
will jointly develop a virtualisation offering for Linux and
Windows and will also undertake work to make it easier for
customers to manage
mixed Windows and SUSE Linux Enterprise environments. They hope to
make it easier for customers to federate Microsoft Active Directory
with Novell eDirectory.
Microsoft will officially recommend SUSE Linux Enterprise for
customers who want Windows and Linux solutions. Additionally,
Microsoft will distribute coupons for SUSE Linux Enterprise Server
maintenance and support, so that customers can use an interoperable
version of Linux with patent coverage as well as the collaborative
work between the two companies.