Microsoft release their own Linux distro

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wendy-lebaron

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Apparently not an enthusiast's distro. Enterprise class, I guess. Let's see if they are willing to slowly abandon Windows and the "market" changes which could open ground for something else being matured at this moment. It could be the beginning of the end for Linux. "We are in trouble!"
 


Please don't tell me this. I'm trying to escape that monster as we speak. Please, please don't dash my hopes for freedom... Please don't tell me all this effort won't be worth it in the end....
 
I have been expecting this for a few years now, why? I will tell you.
Microsoft development [those who code windows] have been using their own Linux build for some time to code new windows versions. When i got my current machine, it came with a fresh W10 preinstall, so i thought i would try it, but It had installation problems. Not having used Windows for many years, I joined the MS forums for help [fatal mistake] I filled in the introduce yourself section of the form to join, stating I had not used windows for years but using solely Linux, anyway the result was I never got any usable advice on how to fix the audio problems, so in a huff, in my last post basically said they were unless, and I was going back to Linux. About 3 weeks later, I got a PM from a different department at Microsoft, asking me to become a Mentor [I thought strange, after my last post] well I declined the offer,[shortly after I joined this forum] and a couple of months later WSL was released.
So the signs have been there.

edit.. The worse probeable outcome, if the next generation of Windows it Linux based, it will then encourage the idiots of this world to develop more nasties aimed at Linux systems
 
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MS won't kill off Linux, or BSD, they aren't in control of the server market, although they have tried very hard to get a foot hold, unix is too deeply entrenched.

But, if my memory is correct, they released a Linux distro before, but didn't get the response they thought they would; basically, it got ignored, because they cause too many problems with constant changes to Windows, nobody but MS wants that!
 
I run several applications in Windows that do not run elsewhere, and I would rather not invest the effort to run them under Wine. Furthermore, I have old customers and friends still running Windows who need my help from time to time. (I am supposed to be retired, but it is hard to say no to long-established relationships.) I keep several Windows virtual machines updated and ready. I wrote code for Windows (and many other platforms) over the years and like to keep it around for development and testing, too.

It does not surprise me that Microsoft would want their own Linux distro that is optimized for their Azure cloud. I have been playing with Oracle Cloud, and they have their own Oracle Linux.

Cloud customer demand for Linux servers is strong. If they can't run Linux, they will go elsewhere. If they want to compete in the cloud computing space, it is hard to imagine that Microsoft would insist that Azure customers run only Windows Server. If Microsoft can reduce costs and improve the Azure customer experience, why not customize their own distro if it is cost effective?
 
Is M$'s Azure distro a fully functioning distro that supports a range of general use packages, or is it tailored to Microsoft's needs such that it's not very useful otherwise?

Using a Linux distro put out by Microsoft feels a little like ordering a ham sandwich from a kosher deli, but maybe it's worth playing with.
 
varxx said:
Is M$'s Azure distro a fully functioning distro
Click to expand...
Welcome to the forums,
no at the moment it is a server distribution for their own cloud operation, but it would only be a small step to upgrade it if they want to go after the desktop market they have lost,
 
Brickwizard said:
Welcome to the forums,
no at the moment it is a server distribution for their own cloud operation, but it would only be a small step to upgrade it if they want to go after the desktop market they have lost,
Click to expand...
OK, thank you for clarifying that. I hope they don't try to monetize it or push other distros aside. If they do try something like that, I hope the broader Linux community will not be seduced. I know Linux is supposed to be all about choice, but the playing field wouldn't seem so level if Microsoft entered the game.
 
varxx said:
I hope the broader Linux community will not be seduced.
Click to expand...
I doubt there is any danger to that, If M$ did release a Linux based fully windows[ the way it looks feels and gets full support from independent program suppliers] the only people they would be conning are the current Windows users
 
Is a downloadable .iso of Azure Linux available for others to run on their own systems, or is it only available as an instantiated instance in Microsoft Azure for Azure customers? If so, link please?
 
Ref - https://www.theregister.com/2023/05/26/microsoft_azure_linux_container/
The Microsoft-customized open-source distribution "allows us to have a very defined, very opinionated Azure focus and to tune the components of the distribution to be exactly what we need to support a container host and try to keep the dependencies, extraneously packages, things like that to a minimum," Perrin said during a Q&A session at Build 2023, where Redmond announced Azure Linux's general availability.


The "very opinionated" part of that means Azure Linux's primary role is as a container host for AKS. It's optimized for Microsoft's Windows Hyper-V hypervisor and runs in a virtual machine (VM), supporting both x86 and Arm, he said.
Click to expand...
 
wendy-lebaron said:

DistroWatch.com: Put the fun back into computing. Use Linux, BSD.

News and feature lists of Linux and BSD distributions.
distrowatch.com distrowatch.com

Apparently not an enthusiast's distro. Enterprise class, I guess. Let's see if they are willing to slowly abandon Windows and the "market" changes which could open ground for something else being matured at this moment. It could be the beginning of the end for Linux. "We are in trouble!"
Click to expand...
I understand your concerns about the current market changes and their potential impact on the future of Linux. While it's true that the technology landscape is constantly evolving, it's important to approach such discussions with a balanced perspective.

Linux has a long-standing history and has proven to be a reliable and robust operating system in various domains, from enterprise environments to personal computing and embedded systems. Its open-source nature fosters innovation, security, and customization, making it a popular choice among tech enthusiasts and professionals alike.

Although changes in the market can present challenges, they also create opportunities for growth and adaptation. Linux distributions have a dedicated community of developers, contributors, and users who continually work on improving the ecosystem. These efforts ensure that Linux remains competitive and relevant in a rapidly evolving tech industry.
It's also worth noting that Linux powers a significant portion of the internet infrastructure, servers, cloud platforms, and even mobile devices. Its versatility, scalability, and cost-effectiveness make it an attractive choice for many organizations and individuals.
 
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Considering Microsoft has been a corporate member of the Linux Foundation, and has used the Linux ecosystem for development of their own products, this is no surprise from them. Its not that much different than when Google, Valve, or LG created their own distros, and even though those companies have numerous skeletons in their closets, they deserve software freedom as well. To an extent, this is actually a good thing because its getting people to move towards Linux due to it's robustness and openness, and it means there's a growing profitable market for it and FOSS in general. The only problem is what these companies do to the end user by making their distros closed-source. Thankfully, if a situation happened where every software company had their own distro and they engaged in the same shady business practices they are now, a number of competing distros would spring up in protest. That happened when Muse Group attempted to put telemetry and age restrictions in Audacity.
 
Just looks like a convenient platform for their AKS/containers. Kinda niche.
 
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