[kwlug-disc] Microsoft Patches Linux; Linus Responds | Linux Magazine

[john at netdirect.ca]

kwlug-disc-bounces at kwlug.org wrote on 07/27/2009 08:05:31 AM:
> From: Raul Suarez <rarsa at yahoo.com>
> 
> Are there people really advocating not including the drivers provided?
> 
> Even Richard Stallman has repeatedly said that the GPL is there so 
> you cannot prevent anyone from using and expanding the code, even 
> people you don't like so I think that Linus cheap shot at the "Free 
> software" people was unnecessary and misleading.
> 
> For those that think that there is a hidden purpose other than 
> providing Hyper-v functionality, here is one possible one: Destroy 
> the GPLed community by infighting but I guess the community has been
> trying to do that for a long time.
> 
> I may be naive but I take this move at face value. There are good 
> people at MS that just want their products to work well.

We have all grown to suspect MS of misdoings and there actions have 
reinforced our suspicions. It has become such a common reaction that it's 
easy to jump on MS for doing this. I initially did.

MS developed the drivers to promote it's HyperV platform and, from 
reports, initially kept the code private until a kernel developer pushed 
to have it released. At best it's MS getting used to the GPL, at worst it 
MS trying to pull another fast one.

I'm still sceptical. It will take several more positive actions to show 
that this was truly well-intended from the start. Let's see how MS 
continues to integrate with open source. Hopefully it will continue until 
we have a greater level of interoperability.

I for one will likely never use this kernel module. It's really for the MS 
customers who continue to choose immature products (HyperV) over mature 
ones (Xen, VMWare).

John Van Ostrand
Net Direct Inc.
 
CTO, co-CEO
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john at netdirect.ca
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