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Microsoft Linux Move Puts Pressure on VMware |
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Written by Administrator @ LUG-JSR
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Wednesday, 22 July 2009 12:48 |
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Microsoft's embrace of Linux could have wide-reaching impacts on the virtualization market and VMware, say experts. By allowing the ability to run Linux on the Hyper-V virtualization platform, Microsoft is making a case that it could be the virtualization vendor of choice for consolidation of Windows and Linux applications, said George Weiss, Analyst, Gartner.
Microsoft still lags behind VMware in enterprise features. But once it proves itself, many customers will be intrigued by Hyper-V as a lower-cost alternative to VMware, Weiss added.
Gartner's research shows that VMware still holds 80 - 90 percent of the x86 hypervisor market, according to Weiss.
VMware also supports Linux, but Microsoft's move to submit code to the mainline Linux kernel could give it a leg up.
"The question becomes am I going to pick multiple versions of virtualization technology; one for each operating system or workload, and if I do that, will I get the benefit that I need?" said Sam Ramji, Director- OS Technology Strategy, Microsoft. "Or can I pick one virtualization technology, one management technology and have one set of skills to support that whole infrastructure regardless of whether it is Unix, Linux or Windows," he added.
VMware has not yet offered a response to the Microsoft Linux move. "I think VMware will try to downplay it as not significant. They have the most market share and the market share comprises not only Windows but also Linux," said Weiss.
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