It’s Official: Microsoft has Joined the Linux Community by Releasing Driver Code

In July this year, Microsoft announced that they were making available components of the Open Source Linux device driver code for use by the Linux kernel community.  Microsoft released 20,000 lines of code, along with 3 device drivers.  This is meant to be utilized with the Linux operating system with the Hyper-V Windows Server 2008 OS.

The integration components meant for Linux are low level components, meant to ensure a glitch-free integration with the Linux kernel.  The relevant components have been released under the GPL 2.0, avoiding any patent defense clause that are in place in GPL3.

Hyper-V, once named ‘Viridian’, utilizes a hypervisor.  This will provide abstraction services for the operating system environment and make partitioning and resource allocation that much easier.  It was designed by Microsoft to optimize the use of server hardware by allowing a single computer to run several server roles as if they were on multiple virtual machines.  Hyper-V is meant to make the use of several operating systems on just one server more efficient and cost-friendly.  The Hyper-V is also enterprise scalable.

Hyper-V is Microsoft’s answer to user’s clamor for a better way to standardize using a single virtualization platform.  With the Linux drivers now available, Linux users will find consolidation easier with servers that run on Windows and Linux servers.  The availability of the source code for Linux users is expected to raise the popularity of Hyper-V even more.

The release of the code was facilitated by Senior Director Sam Ramji, who heads the Platform Strategy in Microsoft’s Server and Tools organization.  Ramji was also key to Microsoft’s move to develop partnerships with Linux and other communities specializing in open source applications.  The move has also been facilitated by Microsoft’s OSTC or Open Source Technology Center.

OSTC is the company’s division handling relationships with open source companies and communities who want to collaborate with Microsoft.  It is also the main contact point for in-house product groups that want to be involved with open source applications and technologies.  The OSTC was opened a few years ago, manned by people with solid backgrounds in open source applications and technologies, including Linux and UNIX.

The OSTC director, Tom Hanrahan, is also one of the key players in Microsoft’s efforts to improve its interoperability with open source technology.  The team working under Hanrahan assisted in the development of the drivers and will be in charge of the ongoing driver enhancements.

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