MS contributing to Linux

[Smoot Carl-Mitchell]

On Thu, 2009-07-23 at 20:12 +0100, Liam Proven wrote:
> 2009/7/23 Smoot Carl-Mitchell <smoot at tic.com>:
> > >>
> >> Secondly, MS did not choose to give away the source, it had to,
> >> because it has been caught violating the GPL.
> >
> > Folks, MS did not have to GPL the source.
> 
> YES THEY DID. This is the entire point of this story.
> 
> MS linked its own code with GPL code in the drivers. This is in
> violation of the GPL, so they either had to withdraw the offending
> code or release the whole lot under the GPL.

I stand corrected.  I had thought they simply created loadable modules
for the drivers.  If they linked their code to GPLed code, then they are
required to release it under the GPL if they want to resell the drivers.
I find it amazing they botched it in this manner.  And good for the FOSS
community to catch them at this.

> There are multiple free hypervisors available to Windows users these
> days. Hyper-V is far from unique in this; indeed, by implying that
> Hyper-V is the only way to sample Linux inside a VM cheaply, you are
> doing a grave disservice to various open-source projects and MS
> rivals.

> Furthermore, as Hyper-V requires Windows 2008 Server running on a
> processor with hardware virtualisation instructions, by saying that
> Hyper-V plus these drivers aids Microsoft shops in trying out
> Linux-in-a-VM, you are promoting sales of an expensive MS product.

I am not promoting anything.  I am pointing out the realities of many
Microsoft server shops these days.  I hope the folks in charge of
virtualization in these shops will look at alternatives, but I am not
naive enough to think they all will. 
-- 
Smoot Carl-Mitchell
Computer Systems and
Network Consultant
smoot at tic.com
+1 480 922 7313
cell: +1 602 421 9005