08.30.10
Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols Says VMware Takeover Would Suit Novell (Although Not Sidestep Microsoft)
Summary: SJVN adds his weight to speculators who reckon that Novell may negotiate a sale to VMware, which is run by Microsoft executives who left Microsoft
Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols (SJVN) believes that it’s reasonable for VMware to buy Novell right now, regardless of all the recent rumours that say so as well. Now that takeovers time is due for one Novell-sized company (HP buys 3PAR for Novell’s market value), he explains the logic as follows:
VMware and Novell have already partnered to bring SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) to VMware vSphere virtual machines. During Novell’s earnings call, Novell CEO Ron Hovsepian said that VMware sales staff has incentives to sell SUSE support and services to their customers. Hovsepian added that VMware and Novell would expand on what’s going on with their partnership at this coming week’s VMworld trade show.
Could the two companies announce a merger? There have been rumors for some time that VMware might buy Novell. I don’t know much about those rumors, but I do know that it’s a deal that makes a lot of sense for both companies.
The title of the above post is “VMware should buy Novell” and I asked the author: “should? You want lots of Microsoft execs to own Novell and UNIX??”
“…VMware has been no friend to MSFT, or vice-versa, for the last year or so.”
–Steven J. Vaughan-NicholsHe replies by saying “”Should” as in it makes biz sense. Also VMware has been no friend to MSFT, or vice-versa, for the last year or so. Check it out”
There has been some chatter in blogs recently about VMware as Novell’s escape route from Microsoft dependency, but it ought to be known that VMware is now run by former Microsoft executives, so the relationship with Microsoft would not evaporate completely.
Vaughan-Nichols also links to this post from a colleague of his, who helps promote SUSE Studio (SJVN does not oppose the Novell/Microsoft deal, he never did) and earlier today he promoted Novell for “peaceful co-existence” (which we don’t agree patent deals bring about):
Novell and Microsoft are more than happy to help you bridge the gap between Linux and Windows.
Once upon a time, bridging the gap between Windows and Linux in the server room or the office was… difficult. Today, while no one’s going to call it easy, Novell and Microsoft have worked hard on ensuring interoperability doesn’t require either a Linux wizard or a Windows expert.
The two technology giants have been at this since they formed their unlikely partnership in November, 2006. Almost five years later, besides the business benefits the two companies have found in working together, Novell and Microsoft have made considerable progress in getting Linux and Windows to get along both on the server and the desktop level.
It’s all just intended to sell more Windows and less GNU/Linux. We covered this before. █
