Microsoft Server 2005 on Linux

The Linux Blog reports on Microsoft’s announcement that the Microsoft Server 2005 will run on other operating systems besides Windows Server. This is huge news and I imagine it’s indicative of Microsoft feeling a change in the winds regarding their share of the server market.

Clete Blackwell of The Linux Blog writes:

…what Linux user would buy a Microsoft product to run on their Linux server machine? Sounds like another way to get more money. If they make a tiny profit off of it, they will keep it. It also makes them sound good. “Hey, I hear Microsoft is not so competetive anymore. They are making stuff for Linux too.”

The success of Open Office is partially due to it’s ability to run on Windows and not just on the open-source favorite Linux. I think MS is making an excellent move not to reclaim a monopoly but to avoid losing the market altogether.

Just today, actually my boss informed me that he’d like to use Microsoft Exchange Server to manage some parts of the business. All of our business hardware is running Linux so I had to tell him we’ll need to look for alternatives.

Well, Microsoft, it’s been a long time coming… but welcome to Linux.