It’s not a secret that VMware has a special attraction for Linux. Unfortunately the sentiment in these years didn’t seem reciprocal:
- it took two years before the company could slip its paravirtualization interface into the Linux kernel
- the community, including notable representatives, questioned VMware about its use of the open source code
- the company is still unable to offer a Linux version of its key product VirtualCenter, despite the users ask it aloud
With much irony, now that it’s guided by a former Microsoft general, this relationship is improving so much that VMware is even welcome as member of the Linux Foundation.
The company didn’t unveil its plans for Linux, but there’s a remote chance that VMware could open the source of one of its products, Server, now that its flagship hypervisor ESX is free.