01.24.08

Gemini version available ♊︎

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

Posted in Free/Libre Software, GNU/Linux, Microsoft, Novell, Red Hat, Virtualisation, Windows, Xen at 11:08 pm by Dr. Roy Schestowitz

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.

Share in other sites/networks: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can share and discover new web pages.
  • Reddit
  • email

Decor ᶃ Gemini Space

Below is a Web proxy. We recommend getting a Gemini client/browser.

Black/white/grey bullet button This post is also available in Gemini over at this address (requires a Gemini client/browser to open).

Decor ✐ Cross-references

Black/white/grey bullet button Pages that cross-reference this one, if any exist, are listed below or will be listed below over time.

Decor ▢ Respond and Discuss

Black/white/grey bullet button If you liked this post, consider subscribing to the RSS feed or join us now at the IRC channels.

DecorWhat Else is New


  1. Links 30/05/2023: LibreOffice 7.6 in Review and More Digital Restrictions (DRM) From HP

    Links for the day



  2. Gemini Links 30/05/2023: Curl Still Missing the Point?

    Links for the day



  3. IRC Proceedings: Monday, May 29, 2023

    IRC logs for Monday, May 29, 2023



  4. MS (Mark Shuttleworth) as a Microsoft Salesperson

    Canonical isn’t working for GNU/Linux or for Ubuntu; it’s working for “business partners” (WSL was all along about promoting Windows)



  5. First Speaker in Event for GNU at 40 Called for Resignation/Removal of GNU's Founder

    It’s good that the FSF prepares an event to celebrate GNU’s 40th anniversary, but readers told us that the speakers list is unsavoury, especially the first one (a key participant in the relentless campaign of defamation against the person who started both GNU and the FSF; the "FSFE" isn't even permitted to use that name)



  6. When Jokes Became 'Rude' (or Disingenuously Misinterpreted by the 'Cancel Mob')

    A new and more detailed explanation of what the wordplay around "pleasure card" actually meant



  7. Site Updates and Plans Ahead

    A quick look at or a roundup of what we've been up to, what we plan to publish in the future, what topics we shall focus on very soon, and progress moving to Alpine Linux



  8. Links 29/05/2023: Snap and PipeWire Plans as Vendor Lock-in

    Links for the day



  9. Gemini Links 29/05/2023: GNU/Linux Pains and More

    Links for the day



  10. Links 29/05/2023: Election in Fedora, Unifont 15.0.04

    Links for the day



  11. Gemini Links 29/05/2023: Rosy Crow 1.1.1 and Smolver 1.2.1 Released

    Links for the day



  12. IRC Proceedings: Sunday, May 28, 2023

    IRC logs for Sunday, May 28, 2023



  13. Daniel Stenberg Knows Almost Nothing About Gemini and He's Likely Just Protecting His Turf (HTTP/S)

    The man behind Curl, Daniel Stenberg, criticises Gemini; but it's not clear if he even bothered trying it (except very briefly) or just read some inaccurate, one-sided blurbs about it



  14. Links 29/05/2023: Videos Catchup and Gemini FUD

    Links for the day



  15. Links 28/05/2023: Linux 6.4 RC4 and MX Linux 23 Beta

    Links for the day



  16. Gemini Links 28/05/2023: Itanium Day, GNUnet DHT, and More

    Links for the day



  17. Links 28/05/2023: eGates System Collapses, More High TCO Stories (Microsoft Windows)

    Links for the day



  18. IRC Proceedings: Saturday, May 27, 2023

    IRC logs for Saturday, May 27, 2023



  19. No More Twitter, Mastodon, and Diaspora for Tux Machines (Goodbye to Social Control Media)

    People would benefit from mass abandonment of such pseudo-social pseudo-media.



  20. Links 28/05/2023: New Wine and More

    Links for the day



  21. Links 27/05/2023: Plans Made for GNU's 40th Anniversary

    Links for the day



  22. Social Control Media Needs to be Purged and We Need to Convince Others to Quit It Too (to Protect Ourselves as Individuals and as a Society)

    With the Tux Machines anniversary (19 years) just days away we seriously consider abandoning all social control media accounts of that site, including Mastodon and Diaspora; social control networks do far more harm than good and they’ve gotten a lot worse over time



  23. Anonymously Travelling: Still Feasible?

    The short story is that in the UK it's still possible to travel anonymously by bus, tram, and train (even with shades, hat and mask/s on), but how long for? Or how much longer have we got before this too gets banned under the false guise of "protecting us" (or "smart"/"modern")?



  24. With EUIPO in Focus, and Even an EU Kangaroo Tribunal, EPO Corruption (and Cross-Pollination With This EU Agency) Becomes a Major Liability/Risk to the EU

    With the UPC days away (an illegal and unconstitutional kangaroo court system, tied to the European Union in spite of critical deficiencies) it’s curious to see EPO scandals of corruption spilling over to the European Union already



  25. European Patent Office (EPO) Management Not Supported by the EPO's Applicants, So Why Is It Still There?

    This third translation in the batch is an article similar to the prior one, but the text is a bit different (“Patente ohne Wert”)



  26. EPO Applicants Complain That Patent Quality Sank and EPO Management Isn't Listening (Nor Caring)

    SUEPO has just released 3 translations of new articles in German (here is the first of the batch); the following is the second of the three (“Kritik am Europäischen Patentamt – Patente ohne Wert?”)



  27. German Media About Industry Patent Quality Charter (IPQC) and the European Patent Office (EPO)

    SUEPO has just released 3 translations of new articles in German; this is the first of the three (“Industrie kritisiert Europäisches Patentamt”)



  28. Geminispace Continues to Grow Even If (or When) Stéphane Bortzmeyer Stops Measuring Its Growth

    A Gemini crawler called Lupa (Free/libre software) has been used for years by Stéphane Bortzmeyer to study Gemini and report on how the community was evolving, especially from a technical perspective; but his own instance of Lupa has produced no up-to-date results for several weeks



  29. Links 27/05/2023: Goodbyes to Tina Turner

    Links for the day



  30. HMRC: You Can Click and Type to Report Crime, But No Feedback or Reference Number Given

    The crimes of Sirius ‘Open Source’ were reported 7 days ago to HMRC (equivalent to the IRS in the US, more or less); but there has been no visible progress and no tracking reference is given to identify the report


RSS 64x64RSS Feed: subscribe to the RSS feed for regular updates

Home iconSite Wiki: You can improve this site by helping the extension of the site's content

Home iconSite Home: Background about the site and some key features in the front page

Chat iconIRC Channel: Come and chat with us in real time

Recent Posts