Microsoft recently revealed the release of 20,000 lines of Open Source Linux device driver code, including three device drivers to the Linux kernel community for inclusion in the Linux tree.

The code will be available to the Linux community and customers alike to enhance the performance of the Linux operating system when it is virtualized on the Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V operating system, including the R2 release.

Hyper-V is a technology made by Microsoft which provides "cost savings ... [of] server hardware ... by consolidating multiple server roles as separate virtual machines running on a single physical machine." This allows the user to "efficiently run multiple different operating systems in parallel, on a single server, and fully leverage the power of x64 computing." (Source: microsoft.com)

Microsoft's Open Source Technology Center (OSTC)

The historic occasion was made possible by Sam Ramji, Senior Director of Platform Strategy in Microsoft's Server and Tools organization, who was responsible for developing sustainable partnerships with open source communities. (Source: microsoft.com)

OSTC serves as a landing point for open source communities and companies who are interested in working with Microsoft and is also a resource for Microsoft product groups who are interested in open source technology.

OSTC Team to Manage Ongoing Driver Enhancement

Tom Hanrahan, director of the OSTC, also played a crucial role in Microsoft's day-to-day open source interoperability efforts. Hanrahan's team helped in developing the drivers and will manage their ongoing enhancement.

More information and the interviews of Ramji and Hanrahan by Microsoft PressPass can be found on Microsoft's web site.

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