“When it comes to Linux servers, a few months can make a whole
lot of difference. Earlier this year, Red Hat, Novell, and most
major Linux vendors were doing their best to fend off Windows
Virtualized Server by getting their own virtualization offerings
out the door first. But now, as part of a multifaceted deal
unveiled in November, Novell and its former competitor Microsoft
each plan to “optimize” their servers to work best on one another’s
VM (virtual machine) platforms.“Of all the features being introduced into Linux server
technology, virtualization stands out as one of the most
significant, due to its growing pervasiveness as well as the
opportunity it provides Linux for becoming a more dominant player
in the data center.“Depending on how it’s implemented, virtualization can allow
multiplatform applications to be run off of a single, underlying
operating environment. Beyond Windows, Sun’s Solaris also presents
competition to Linux as an underlying environment…”