4 ms·

Think how far we've come, today Microsoft is handing out its own Linux kernels.

by panki27 3y ago

INTPenis 3y ago
They had to. They wanted to get into cloud and their own OS was optimized for desktops.
- rmrfchik 3y ago
  "Optimized" what a strange choosing of word.
  - INTPenis 3y ago
    Haha I felt the same way after I hit reply. I guess "focused on desktop" would be more apt. Either way it's not at all suitable for cloud native stuff.
    - rmrfchik 3y ago
      Microsoft neither focus their OS on desktop nor user. They focus on selling users tool spies on users. Almost any progress on Windows is microsoft centric. Even their main weapon (API) now is holstered.
- pjmlp 3y ago
  You mean the Windows kernel that powers Azure, used to run those GNU/Linux instances? https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-os-platform-blog/azure-host-os-cloud-host/ba-p/3709528 https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-os-platform-b...
  - deleted 3y ago
    [deleted]
  - throw555chip 3y ago
    Ah, that explains the poorer performance when comparing to AWS or GCP, now it makes sense, thanks!
    - pjmlp 3y ago
      The financial performance looks quite alright to me, specially when looking at GCP 3rd place, and regular issues to stay relevant to big enterprises. When not AWS, it is Azure, so the performance isn't that bad to start with. Also AWS and GCP aren't running cloud instances of game consoles (which also use a variation of Windows), GCP one (Stadia) powered by Linux was a failure, nor are they running an AI service being used by millions of folks around the globe. Not bad.
    - steve1977 3y ago
      In my experience, Hyper-V is pretty much on par with ESX or Xen in this regard.
- Narishma 3y ago
  If it's optimized for anything it's probably telemetry collection and ad delivery.
jve 3y ago
I'm sometimes wondering whether Microsoft wants to tank their Windows Server or what? A great OS overall, but speaking as a service provider - the licensing makes so much effort on provider part to even offer a VM with Microsoft OS. Only recently (due to EU pressure?) provided License mobility where customer himself is responsible for software licences and can BYOL. Otherwise it was on service provider to collect whatever software the customer is using and charge for it. And if you don't, prepare for a hefty fine. Windows of course provides SIL infrastructure to do just that, but all that implies server has to be configured in some way. And then the price for the licence ofcourse... I really like Windows Server OS, but the effort it puts on part of service provider - no wonders everyone wants and offers to deploy Linux.
- smcl 3y ago
  I suspect that those working on Windows are a different department entirely from those who handle Azure stuff. So while they're maybe encouraged to use Windows, they tend to favour what works best for them - which in many cases is Linux.
  - pjmlp 3y ago
    Azure is powered by Windows, https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-os-platform-blog/azure-host-os-cloud-host/ba-p/3709528 https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-os-platform-b...
    - klaas- 3y ago
      And that windows is backed by Linux if performance is key: https://cfp.all-systems-go.io/media/all-systems-go-2023/submissions/7URRNC/resources/ASG_2023_Microsoft_Azure_Boost_i8m559R.pdf https://cfp.all-systems-go.io/media/all-systems-go-2023/subm...
      - pjmlp 3y ago
        > PCIe card running Linux hardened OS.... That is not a server OS. And I would assert it is Linux based instead of another firmware RTOS, because of licensing and yeah, if you want to be pedantic Windows was never designed to fit into the firmware of a network card.
sprash 3y ago
The current involvement of Microsoft with "Linux" is nothing more than good old EEE. Exactly as described in the Halloween Documents.
- Pixie_Dust 3y ago
  ‘to understand how to compete against OSS [open source software], we must target a process rather than a company’ https://www.uwestminsterpress.co.uk/site/chapters/10.16997/book39.c/download/4196/ https://www.uwestminsterpress.co.uk/site/chapters/10.16997/b...
- pjmlp 3y ago
  Hardly possible when Red-Hat, Oracle, Google, SuSE, IBM, are doing similar approaches to GNU/Linux.
gumballindie 3y ago
The scary thing about that is that folks actually use them and think they are good.
- mistrial9 3y ago
  "folks" are serfs in this system
  - gumballindie 3y ago
    They can just install Linux and be free. It's not that difficult.
trelane 3y ago
Which is why it's good that's it's GPL. Compare to, e.g. Chrome.

Think how far we've come, today Microsoft is handing out its own Linux kernels.

INTPenis 3y ago

They had to. They wanted to get into cloud and their own OS was optimized for desktops.

rmrfchik 3y ago
"Optimized" what a strange choosing of word.
- INTPenis 3y ago
  Haha I felt the same way after I hit reply. I guess "focused on desktop" would be more apt. Either way it's not at all suitable for cloud native stuff.
  - rmrfchik 3y ago
    Microsoft neither focus their OS on desktop nor user. They focus on selling users tool spies on users. Almost any progress on Windows is microsoft centric. Even their main weapon (API) now is holstered.
pjmlp 3y ago
You mean the Windows kernel that powers Azure, used to run those GNU/Linux instances? https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-os-platform-blog/azure-host-os-cloud-host/ba-p/3709528 https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-os-platform-b...
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
- throw555chip 3y ago
  Ah, that explains the poorer performance when comparing to AWS or GCP, now it makes sense, thanks!
  - pjmlp 3y ago
    The financial performance looks quite alright to me, specially when looking at GCP 3rd place, and regular issues to stay relevant to big enterprises. When not AWS, it is Azure, so the performance isn't that bad to start with. Also AWS and GCP aren't running cloud instances of game consoles (which also use a variation of Windows), GCP one (Stadia) powered by Linux was a failure, nor are they running an AI service being used by millions of folks around the globe. Not bad.
  - steve1977 3y ago
    In my experience, Hyper-V is pretty much on par with ESX or Xen in this regard.
Narishma 3y ago
If it's optimized for anything it's probably telemetry collection and ad delivery.

jve 3y ago

I'm sometimes wondering whether Microsoft wants to tank their Windows Server or what? A great OS overall, but speaking as a service provider - the licensing makes so much effort on provider part to even offer a VM with Microsoft OS. Only recently (due to EU pressure?) provided License mobility where customer himself is responsible for software licences and can BYOL. Otherwise it was on service provider to collect whatever software the customer is using and charge for it. And if you don't, prepare for a hefty fine. Windows of course provides SIL infrastructure to do just that, but all that implies server has to be configured in some way. And then the price for the licence ofcourse... I really like Windows Server OS, but the effort it puts on part of service provider - no wonders everyone wants and offers to deploy Linux.

smcl 3y ago
I suspect that those working on Windows are a different department entirely from those who handle Azure stuff. So while they're maybe encouraged to use Windows, they tend to favour what works best for them - which in many cases is Linux.
- pjmlp 3y ago
  Azure is powered by Windows, https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-os-platform-blog/azure-host-os-cloud-host/ba-p/3709528 https://techcommunity.microsoft.com/t5/windows-os-platform-b...
  - klaas- 3y ago
    And that windows is backed by Linux if performance is key: https://cfp.all-systems-go.io/media/all-systems-go-2023/submissions/7URRNC/resources/ASG_2023_Microsoft_Azure_Boost_i8m559R.pdf https://cfp.all-systems-go.io/media/all-systems-go-2023/subm...
    - pjmlp 3y ago
      > PCIe card running Linux hardened OS.... That is not a server OS. And I would assert it is Linux based instead of another firmware RTOS, because of licensing and yeah, if you want to be pedantic Windows was never designed to fit into the firmware of a network card.

sprash 3y ago

The current involvement of Microsoft with "Linux" is nothing more than good old EEE. Exactly as described in the Halloween Documents.

Pixie_Dust 3y ago
‘to understand how to compete against OSS [open source software], we must target a process rather than a company’ https://www.uwestminsterpress.co.uk/site/chapters/10.16997/book39.c/download/4196/ https://www.uwestminsterpress.co.uk/site/chapters/10.16997/b...
pjmlp 3y ago
Hardly possible when Red-Hat, Oracle, Google, SuSE, IBM, are doing similar approaches to GNU/Linux.

gumballindie 3y ago

The scary thing about that is that folks actually use them and think they are good.

mistrial9 3y ago
"folks" are serfs in this system
- gumballindie 3y ago
  They can just install Linux and be free. It's not that difficult.

trelane 3y ago

Which is why it's good that's it's GPL. Compare to, e.g. Chrome.