These Virtualization Links Matter to You. April 13, 2006 Here's a story about virtualization software, told mostly through links.

Xensource has licensed the Microsoft virtual machine format. Don't flip out. This doesn't mean that VHD, the Microsoft format will be the default format, just that some XenSource product, should it see the light of day, will be able to legally run the VHD format... once it's released. Probably in the summer. (that's me being snarky about how long Xen and XenSource are taking to go prime-time)

This has been referred to as a "deal" between the two companies, but I can't find any reference to any money actually changing hands.

I don't know if it was in direct response to this deal, but then VMware was all, "Fine, we'll give away our virtual machine format, vmdk, with no license restriction." That's cool and all, but when you go to the VMware vmdk format site, it says, "if you want a spec, email us." Just like Microsoft does.

Summary.
So the open source company will be able to run the licensed Microsoft format, the proprietary company is giving away their standard, the open source company's most meaningful products still aren't even really available for consumption, and the world's biggest, most aggressive software company is kind of following and struggling to co-exist with both of them in their space.

And I guess I'm officially admitting that maybe virtualization is going to be something I talk about all the time on this blog.

TECHNORATI TAGS: vmdk, VMware, virtualization, sysadmin, Xen, Xensource, standards, vhd, Microsoft  ¶ 11:19 PM