Skip to main content

Microsoft and Novell Enter Broad Linux Pact

Microsoft and Novell has announced a broad, multi-year agreement to improve interoperability between Microsoft’s Windows operating systems and Novell’s SUSE Linux. Under the deal, the companies will pay each other to cross-license patented technologies and work together to ensure and improve the interoperability of Windows and SUSE Linux—and Microsoft will officially recommend SUSE Linux Enterprise for customers who want both Linux and Windows solutions. The deal will be in place through at least the year 2012, and the companies will create a joint research facility to design and implement new software solutions.

The agreement covers three broad areas: virtualization, tools for managing mixed environments, and document format compatibility. Virtualization work will focus on both running virtual Linux servers under Windows and running virtual Windows installations under Linux, offering customers flexibility in setting up and consolidating servers. The companies will also create tools to simplify management o both Windows and SUSE Linux in a networked environment, including tools for integrating Microsoft’s Active Directory with Novell’s eDirectory. The companies will also work on document sharing between Microsoft Office and Open Office applications and improving interoperability between Open XML and OpenDocument formats.

Recommended Videos

"They said it couldn’t be done. This is a new model and a true evolution of our relationship that we think customers will immediately find compelling because it delivers practical value by bringing two of their most important platform investments closer together," said Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer.

In addition, the two companies have agreed not to assert patent rights against each others customers; although no figures have bee disclosed, each company will pay the other up-front for release from possible patent liability, which means Microsoft—with its far greater sales—will pay more money to Novell than Novell will pay to Microsoft. Novell will make ongoing payments on a percentage of its revenues from open source products. Under a co-marketing arrangement, Microsoft will offer 70,000 coupons a year to its customers good for a year’s worth of maintenance and updates to SUSE Linux.

The announcement marks Microsoft’s second major deal with the open source marketplace in a week; Tuesday, the company announced a deal with open source developer Zend to improve the performance of PHP on Windows platforms.

The deal with Novell comes just two years after Microsoft paid the company $536 million to settle portions of antitrust claims brought against the software giant.

Geoff Duncan
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Geoff Duncan writes, programs, edits, plays music, and delights in making software misbehave. He's probably the only member…
What is Linux? It’s a free operating system you may already use without knowing
What is Linux

MacOS and Windows are the two most popular desktop and laptop operating systems. They’re the two central OS choices dominating the desktop and laptop markets today. But have you heard of the alternative to both of these options? It's called Linux and it's entirely free, and very powerful.

What is Linux? It could be your next OS of choice.
A quick Linux history lesson
In 1991, when Terminator 2: Judgement Day was a massive hit in theaters, and Intel’s first 32-bit processor, the 80386, had become a widely-used chip in PCs, the Windows OS was still an infant. Unix was the most-used operating system at the time, both commercially and in academic institutions.

Read more
Save 20% on this gaming PC with RTX 4060 for Black Friday
The iBuyPower Slate 8 Mesh gaming PC on a white background.

The arrival of Black Friday deals means gamers can finally get huge discounts when buying a new gaming desktop. Now's your chance to get your hands on a powerful machine like the iBuyPower Slate 8 Mesh gaming PC for a more affordable price than usual, with Best Buy slashing its price from $1,150 to $930 for a savings of $220. There's no assurance that stocks will last until the final minute of the shopping event, though, so if you want to take advantage of this 20% discount, we highly recommend that you add it to your cart right now.

Why you should buy the iBuyPower Slate 8 Mesh gaming PC
For a relatively affordable gaming desktop that won't have trouble running today's best PC games, you can't go wrong with the iBuyPower Slate 8 Mesh. Inside it is the 14th-generation Intel Core i7 processor, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060 graphics card, and 32GB of RAM -- specifications that you'll find in some of the best gaming PCs. With this machine, you'll be prepared for the upcoming PC games of the next few years, giving you time to save up for the next round of component upgrades.

Read more
Save up to $700 on these Dell Canada Black Friday limited-quantity deals
Woman on laptop bought during Dell Canada Black Friday deals event edited

As you'd expect, the Dell Canada Black Friday deals are now live and these are some of the lowest prices of the year. But there's a twist or two in store. First, many of the deals available are limited-quantity deals which means once they sell out, that's it, they're sold out. Second, there are a wide variety of products on sale, from AI-ready PCs to laptops, monitors, accessories, and more. And finally,  Dell Members can earn double the rewards on purchases up until November 27. Dell Rewards, if you're not familiar with it, allows you to earn 3% back on purchases, normally, and get free expedited delivery. Either way, now's your chance to save up to $700 on AI-ready PCs and more, don't miss out.

 
What to shop in these Dell Canada Black Friday deals
You get easily distracted by huge sales like this if you're anything like me. There are just so many great prices, so many different options, and too many choices. I believe they call that choice paralysis. At any rate, it helps to have someone else pick out a few interesting or top deals, so that's precisely what I'm going to do.

Read more