Microsoft and Red Hat have joined together to support Linux in Azure.
Customers can already run Linux on Azure, but the new partnership will expand support for running so-called “hybrid clouds,” in which applications may exist in both private data centers and on public cloud services. More significantly, Microsoft and Red Hat support teams will work together from the same facilities to support Red Hat customers using Azure. Microsoft vice president of cloud and enterprise Scott Guthrie said during a webcast today that this is the first time that he knows of that Microsoft has “co-located” support teams with another company.
The deal is the latest example of Microsoft playing nice with a former rival. “When we started [Red Hat Enterprise Linux] I never would have thought we’d do this,” Red Hat president of product and technology Paul Cormier said during the webcast.
Free speculation with no evidence: at some point, Microsoft will offer SQL Server on Linux. My guess is 3-5 years from now, but other co-speculators have suggested maybe even as soon as 18 months. Whatever the case, I’ll be a happy man when I can run SSMS in Linux.