Microsoft and XenSource to Develop Interoperability for Windows Server “Longhorn” Virtualization


Microsoft announced on Monday that they will work with XenSource to develop interoperability for Windows Server “Longhorn” Virtualization.

But why would Microsoft be interested in Xen and what does this mean for the virtualization market?

VMWare is currently the proven leader by leaps and bounds, but has designed a virtualized environment that uses technology known as “native virtualization“. While native virtualization allows for easy support of any operating system, it loses in a performance comparison to “paravirtualization“, which is the technology implemented by Xen.

It is a smart move on Microsoft’s part to collaborate with XenSource in their development of Microsoft Virtual Server because they can leverage Xen’s Linux performance advantages while being hosted on a Windows server. This will allow former Xen users to easily migrate their virtualized Linux servers to a Windows based solution. Unfortunately for the Linux camp, it looks like Microsoft will not be returning the favor by helping to improve Windows running under Xen (which is possible, if you have the right hardware).

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July 19th, 2006
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Comment Number:
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Written by:
Ben Chodroff
Posted on:
July 21, 2006 at 8:03 am

And from the “I-told-you-so” department, VMWare is now complaining that the Microsoft XenSource deal is a “one way street” favoring Microsoft.