In a press release from Microsoft Corp., the Redmond Company has announced a partnership with XenSource that aims at developing interoperability for Windows Server Longhorn Virtualization. The result of this collaboration will offer customers the possibility to virtualize Xen-Enabled Linux on Windows Server.

Future Microsoft customers implementing the Longhorn version of Windows Server will benefit from the virtualization solution in regard to the consolidation of Windows, Linux and Xen-enabled Linux distributions across the hardware and operating systems infrastructure. The technology will enable interoperability between Linux adapted for Xen and the Windows Server virtualization based on hypervisor technology.

"Microsoft's commitment to customers is to build bridges across the industry with solutions that are interoperable by design," said Bob Muglia, senior vice president of the Server and Tools Business at Microsoft. "Our work with XenSource, a recognized leader in open source virtualization technology, reflects that commitment and Microsoft's ongoing efforts to bring virtualization solutions to the mainstream and help customers progress toward self-managing dynamic systems."

"We are pleased to collaborate with Microsoft as a development partner and to deliver interoperable virtualization solutions," said Peter Levine, president and CEO of XenSource. "Xen-enabled guests will run seamlessly on XenEnterprise now, and, as a result of this agreement, Xen-enabled Linux guests will also run on Windows Server virtualization. XenSource will also deliver additional products based on the collaboratively developed technology, further expanding the value of the relationship."