14 DAY TRIAL // Steve Ballmer, one of the main decision factors within Microsoft, has promised that for the first time, Microsoft products will include Linux support, allowing users to administer mixed networks.
Endorsing Microsoft's number one rival will start once the Service Pack 1 for Virtual Server 2005 is published, at the end of this year.
According to Network World Fusion, Ballmer declared that ?Microsoft will offer support for the computers that don't have Windows on them, but are connected to one of the Virtual Server nodes of the company. Emulating is one of the key features desired by Microsoft, and in our vision, this is the way to improving compatibility and decreasing TCO (total cost of ownership)."
Ballmer added that Microsoft will use Dynamic Systems's initiative to become a distributor of enterprise management solutions and to provide tools that allow users to extract administering information directly from the networks nodes, regardless of the operating system.
The subject that got the most interest was Virtual Server 2005, launched at the end of last year. Ballmer announced the server that will support operating systems developed by third party producers, which will run over the Virtual Server once the Service Pack 1 is launched. Until now, users could run operating systems from within Virtual Server, but Microsoft didn't offer any configuration support.
Microsoft has also announced other emulating improvements, among which support for the 64 bit editions of Windows server 2003 and an administering kit (Microsoft Operations Manager) for Virtual Server, which provides a central administration console.