Microsoft has made a very interesting virtualization play this week by submitting source code for the Linux kernel. This will allow Linux guests to run on the maturing Windows 2008 hypervisor, Microsoft Hyper-V. This is an unexpected move from Microsoft to publicly release source code and an indicator of their appetite to compete with VMware’s dominate market share.

Microsoft stuns Linux world, submits source code for kernel

In an historic move, Microsoft Monday submitted driver source code for inclusion in the Linux kernel under a GPLv2 license. The code consists of four drivers that are part of a technology called Linux Device Driver for Virtualization.

Microsoft Linux Move Puts Pressure on VMware

Microsoft’s historic embrace of Linux technology could have wide-reaching impacts on the virtualization market and Microsoft’s rival VMware.

By allowing greater ability to run Linux on the Hyper-V virtualization platform, Microsoft is making a compelling case that it could be the virtualization vendor of choice for consolidation of Windows and Linux applications, says Gartner analyst George Weiss.