Comments on: VMWare to start new OS war http://www.virtualizationdaily.com/archives/67_vmware-to-start-new-os-war.html Watching virtualization and virtual appliances with a focus on applications in small business and the Mac Thu, 28 Aug 2008 13:25:51 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.0 by: Ilya Baimetov http://www.virtualizationdaily.com/archives/67_vmware-to-start-new-os-war.html#comment-1039 Wed, 24 Jan 2007 07:11:10 +0000 http://www.virtualizationdaily.com/archives/67_vmware-to-start-new-os-war.html#comment-1039 Kimbro, If the new OS war was a "liberating event" only about "who controls the hardware", there would be no war at all. It would end with Microsoft, Redhat and Suse including hypervisor into their operating systems. The only way VMware can keep the dominant position is to create a lock-in. And the only way to lock users in is to create a proprietary API and/or data format. If there is no third-party software that uses this API, customers will be able to swap one hypervisor for another at any moment. Most of the users will undoubtedly prefer the one that is free and built into the OS. At the same time, VMware cannot give up on the hypervisor and become yet another system management vendor - it will never unseat Open View, Tivoli or Unicenter. Regards, Ilya Baimetov SWsoft – Director of Technology ibaimetovswsoft.com; +1 (703) 340-9505 http://blogvirtuozzocom Kimbro,
If the new OS war was a “liberating event” only about “who controls the hardware”, there would be no war at all. It would end with Microsoft, Redhat and Suse including hypervisor into their operating systems.
The only way VMware can keep the dominant position is to create a lock-in. And the only way to lock users in is to create a proprietary API and/or data format. If there is no third-party software that uses this API, customers will be able to swap one hypervisor for another at any moment. Most of the users will undoubtedly prefer the one that is free and built into the OS.
At the same time, VMware cannot give up on the hypervisor and become yet another system management vendor - it will never unseat Open View, Tivoli or Unicenter.

Regards,

Ilya Baimetov
SWsoft – Director of Technology
ibaimetovswsoft.com; +1 (703) 340-9505
http://blogvirtuozzocom

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