Microsoft Inches Closer to Open Source

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Microsoft wants more open source software to run on Windows. Microsoft also
wants its own Open Source Initiative (OSI) approved license. Perhaps they
really can get along.

On the software side, Microsoft Thursday announced a partnership with
open
source solution vendor SpikeSource to eventually certify all of SpikeSource’s
SpikeIgnited solutions on the Microsoft Windows platform.

The move could make dozens of popular open source solutions available to
Windows users in a fully supported manner. SpikeSource solutions include the
gambit of content management, CRM and collaboration solutions. The first
SpikeIgnited solution being made Windows-certified is the Drupal
content management solution. Throughout the second half of 2007, SpikeSource
plans on rolling out additional offerings.

SpikeSource noted that there are many challenges associated with
getting solutions originally running on Linux to run and be supported on
Windows.

“Some challenges are specific to the OS; for example, management and
monitoring functionality needed to change to take advantage of Windows
Services, WMI and other Windows administrative features,” Dominic Sartorio
director of product management of SpikeSource, told internetnews.com.

“There are also interoperability issues, such as single sign-on. We needed to
make adjustments to work well with ActiveDirectory instead of OpenLDAP, for
example.”

The partnership with Microsoft will help, though, in making it all work.
Sartorio added thatMicrosoft’s interoperability lab has been very
supportive, freeing up resources as needed to provide guidance and point
SpikeSource to the right tools.

The new partnership with SpikeSource does not, however, include any Microsoft
indemnification component to this collaborative effort. Microsoft has
alleged that open source software infringes more than 235 Microsoft patents.

A Microsoft spokesperson explained that SpikeSource is overseeing the certification. Customers of Windows-certified
products from SpikeSource receive support, updates and maintenance for the
SpikeIgnited solution, including middleware and application software.
SpikeSource partners receive training on SpikeIgnited solutions while the
Windows operating system is sold and supported by Microsoft.

This article was first published on InternetNews.com. To read the full article, click here.