01.07.09
Microsoft Keeps ‘Taking Over’ VMware
Penetration from the inside
WE FORESAW THIS a long time ago [1, 2, 3] only to see it becoming more of a reality over time [1, 2]. EMC deserves a lot of the blame and Ignition Partners may have done the same thing to XenSource.
Virtualisation is important to Microsoft because it can easily determine which operating systems or GNU/Linux distributions gain access to servers. That’s where Novell comes into play [1, 2, 3, 4].
Here is the news about VMware appointing yet another Softie as a leader.
Maybe it’s time for VMware to officially set up shop in Seattle. Today, the virtualization spin out from EMC announced that former Microsoft and Crossgain executive Tod Nielsen is joining the Palo Alto, Calif.-based company as chief operating officer.
He will report directly to former Microsoft vice president and Seattle resident Paul Maritz, who took over the CEO post at VMware in July. In fact, EMC — the majority shareholder of VMware — has been making some very interesting moves in the Seattle area recently.
So the CEO and the COO are both executives from Microsoft. It’s like a military COO [pun] (Coup d’état) to overthrow the previous leadership. XenSource too had had a Microsoft General Manager put in charge of such position [1, 2, 3, 4] before it sold out to Microsoft’s soul mate, Citrix. Surely they’ll become the technical equivalent of "Client States" to Microsoft. it’s a move against GNU/Linux and those who use it. █
“Every time you use Google, you’re using a machine running the Linux kernel.”
Roy Bixler said,
January 7, 2009 at 1:17 pm
There’s a blast from the past. I remember that Mr. Nielsen was a Microsoft spokesperson during the time of the US vs. Microsoft case. I believe he was “Manager of Developer Relations.” Of course, Maritz was also at Microsoft during that time and he testified in the trial.
It remains to be seen what happens at VMWare. Hopefully, they will try to broaden their base and remain OS-agnostic. If they start playing favourites with operating systems which align with Microsoft’s interests, then we know where to look.
Roy Schestowitz said,
January 7, 2009 at 1:23 pm
That’s the idea. Thanks for connecting Nielsen and Maritz. I did not know of a relation.
Roy Schestowitz said,
January 7, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Another one: Fitzgerald
http://blogs.zdnet.com/microsoft/?p=1793
“Maritz, Fitzgerald and Neilsen all figured (to varying degrees of public prominence) in Microsoft’s antitrust trial in the U.S. in the late 1990s.
“What do you see happening in the Microsoft vs. VMware virtualization contest in the coming year? Will a bunch of former Softies be the right crew to keep VMware ahead of Microsoft in the virtalization space?”
AlexH said,
January 7, 2009 at 4:06 pm
If they really are letting go of 15000 people you can expect “Softies” to turn up everywhere, frankly.
They’re not all going to be retraining as carpenters after all.
Roy Schestowitz said,
January 7, 2009 at 4:13 pm
The position of employment and company/segment matter.
AlexH said,
January 7, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Well, no matter how few actually go, if it’s more than a few thousand you can bet there will be tens if not hundreds of high-level managers.
Roy Schestowitz said,
January 8, 2009 at 12:49 pm
For future reference, there is more coverage here:
VMware names second ex-Microsoft exec to leadership role