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Microsoft, Novell shake hands on virtualization

You got SUSE in my Server 2008

Odd couple Microsoft and Novell are reaffirming vows to let their products play nice together with an announcement of full joint support of SUSE Linux run as a guest operating system on Window's virtualization hypervisor, Hyper-V.

The deal spins from Microsoft anointing Novell as its pet Linux distribution back in 2006, while the software giant was attempting to cool off other distros with (apparently idle) threats of IP infringement.

The product is the first commercial code to come from a Microsoft and Novell jointly controlled "Interoperability Lab," opened September 2007 in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

"For customers standardizing on Microsoft's hypervisor who also have a mixed-source IT environment, this virtualization solution give that choice," said Bob Kelly, veep of server marketing at Microsoft. "For channel partners who need a cross-platform hypervisor offering, our work with Novell gives them an easy starting point."

Speaking of channel partners, the companies said Dell is the only major systems vendor to be participating. It's presently testing and validating software on PowerEdge server blades and rack-mounted systems at the Microsoft/Novell love nest. Others signed on include Insight, Computer Integrated Services Company of New York, Continentel Resource, Total Tech Systems, and 21Vianet.

While running SUSE in a VM under Server 2008 may not be ideal for everybody, it's certainly a good thing to have someone definite to cry to when things go pear-shaped. ®

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