Bonum Certa Men Certa

Xen is Citrix and Cirtix is Microsoft (Open Source Hijack)

How Microsoft used its close partner to fight Red Hat and VMWare

A couple of days ago we explained how Microsoft grabs 'pieces' of its competition through acquisitions. We also alluded to the fact that Microsoft will try 'pulling a Netscape' on VMWare. It is all part of continued coverage of what seems like a Microsoft acquisition-by-proxy of XenSource, which several GNU/Linux distributions depend on. We have presented more than enough evidence over the past few months (be sure to read it if you remain unconvinced). There is some more recent news coverage that backs this assertion as well.

Remember that Citrix virtualisation is all about Xen and mind new bits of information such as the following:

Microsoft Corp. and Citrix Systems said they have expanded their alliance to deliver and market joint virtualization products with Windows Server 2008.


It is rather amazing how Microsoft can simply buy its threats and do so by proxy. The Federal Trade Commission cannot stop this or conduct a probe. Money talks.

“...a Microsoft General Manager took a high role at XenSource, so it was almost a case of Microsoft occupying the internals (including decision-making roles) in a company that used to be its threat.”XenSource has actually been in Microsoft's pocket for quite some time. This began materialising since they signed a deal and shortly afterwards Xen came over to reside in the vicinity of the Microsoft campus (Redmond, WA). To say more, a Microsoft General Manager took a high role at XenSource, so it was almost a case of Microsoft occupying the internals (including decision-making roles) in a company that used to be its threat. Remember the "keep your enemy close" mantra? That's what it's all about. Now watch how close the companies have become. Here is another new headline:

Microsoft, Citrix to Deliver Virtualization

As you can see, they have become a pair and they are united against Microsoft's threats. Citrix depends on Microsoft and on Windows, so it will defend the very same territories. As the following article from TheStreet.com puts it, there is a symbiotic relationship there.

Citrix completed the acquisition of open source virtualization developer XenSource about halfway through the quarter. It added $2 million to Citrix revenue. XenSource is expected to generate $50 million in revenue for 2008 and about $50 million to $60 million in expenses.

For 2009, XenSource is expected to contribute $200 million to the top line. The bulk of that will come from its server products, CEO Mark Templeton said. XenSource desktop virtualization products will initially be used in corporate pilot programs.

"We think we can build in the server virtualization market the same kind of symbiotic relationship with Microsoft that we had with [the Citrix] Presentation Server," which works atop Windows Server, Templeton said. "We'll be the third player in server virtualization" after VMware and partner Microsoft.


The main point for bringing this up is not only the Novell deal. Remember that some of Novell's legacy programs rely on Windows. Also remember that Novell depends on Xen to a great degree, but XenSource is now Citrix, which works to serve Microsoft's interests. But the main point to make here is that Microsoft has explicitly mentioned plans to acquire many companies, including open source software. These plans are already becoming a reality, yet sometimes it is hard to see. It is a case of "if you can't beat them, buy them." If done under the radar of critics, then all the better.

Recent Techrights' Posts

Writing and Coding Isn't Always Enough
Last year we had to assume a role we didn't have before: litigants
Autumn Has Come
Autumn should be exciting in all sorts of ways; it'll also mark our anniversary
IBM Has Taken Control of GNOME
Don't expect a successor to be found any time soon
 
Links 01/09/2025: Fresh Backlash Against Slop and "Norway’s Electricity Crisis is About to Hit Britain"
Links for the day
Links 01/09/2025: Catching Up (Mostly via Deutsche Welle), "Windows TCO" Effect in UK
Links for the day
Gemini Links 01/09/2025: Linguistic Barriers and "Web 1.0 Hosting"
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Sunday, August 31, 2025
IRC logs for Sunday, August 31, 2025
The UEFI 9/11 - Part IV - External Interference
They all seem to be playing a role in crushing Software Freedom and self-determination for users
Links 31/08/2025: Baggage Claim Scams, an Insurrectionist’s War on Culture, and a Sudden Robotics Hype
Links for the day
Gemini Links 31/08/2025: Reviewing Netsurf and Slightly Less Historic Ada Design
Links for the day
Links 31/08/2025: Google Gmail Data Breach and LF Puff Pieces for Pay
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Saturday, August 30, 2025
IRC logs for Saturday, August 30, 2025
This is What Google News Has Become
Moments ago
The Slopfarm WebProNews Has Turned Google News Into a Laughing Stock Full of Plagiarism by Slop
If Google News dies of neglect, that's one thing. It's starting to seem like active neglect by Google is a form of participation.
Do What is Moral, as What's Legal Isn't Always Moral
Do what's objectively moral, no matter the costs and the risks
Slopwatch: Google News Assisting Plagiarism and Anti-Linux FUD, Serial Slopper Rips Off Linux-Centric Journalists
This makes the Web a much worse place and lessens the incentive to do journalism
Links 30/08/2025: NVIDIA Fakes Results to Hide a Bubble Already in Implosion Phase, Data Breaches Galore, Important Win for Workers' Union in Canada
Links for the day
Representing and Speaking for Animals
If I ever choose to take this matter to tribunal with animals-centric NGOs on my side, it'll get some press coverage for sure
The UEFI 9/11 - Part II - Campaign of Censorship and Defamation Against Critics
In dictatorships, humour serves an important role. It's tragic.
In Kazakhstan, Yandex Estimated to be 20 Times Bigger Than Microsoft
Bing is measured as down this month
Shutterstock Not Enough? The Register MS Uses Slop Images in Articles (Seemingly More and More Over Time)
Cost-saving trajectory amid office shutdown?
Gemini Links 30/08/2025: Games, PostmarketOS, and Slop
Links for the day
Links 30/08/2025: Imgur Uproar and Many Ukraine Updates (Mediazona Reports Over 200,000 Russians Died for Putin)
Links for the day
How Not to Build Software
code forges that need a Web browser perhaps fill some 'niche' demand
GAFAM and "MATA"
The use of dark humour there hopefully helps illuminate what a lot of "modern" technology became like and how it interacts with human civilisation (to what ends and whose gain)
Birds Are Not "Pests and Vermin", Privacy is Not a Crime, and GNU/Linux is Not 'Hacking Platform'
I could not help but think of Free software analogies
The Sites Should Be Very Fast Again
That issue is now resolved
Flying in 2025
worse than ever before
Activists, Including Technical Activists, Need Not Pursue Affirmation
Techrights doesn't play or participate in a "popularity contest"
The UEFI 9/11 - Part III - Chaos is Scheduled to Happen Second Thursday of September (No Matter What the Microsofters Tell You)
The clock is ticking
Downplaying the Impact of "UEFI 9/11" is a Losing Strategy
we won't publish much whilst on holiday
Government Sites Should Run Free Software
Not proprietary bloatware with buzzwords
LLM Slopfarms Take No Breaks
When people run sites by bots they don't need to worry about "breaks"
GNOME Having a Meltdown Again
Thanks and farewell to Steven Deobald
Gemini Links 30/08/2025: Low Tech and Hunchbin 1.0.6
Links for the day
Over at Tux Machines...
GNU/Linux news for the past day
IRC Proceedings: Friday, August 29, 2025
IRC logs for Friday, August 29, 2025