Microsoft and Sun expand alliance
ConvergenceAsia staff
14/09/2007

Microsoft and Sun Microsystems have announced that Sun has signed on as a Windows Server OEM. Additionally, Sun and Microsoft will collaborate to further enable deployment of Windows Server on Sun x64 systems.

"The announcement is another example of Microsoft's commitment to 64-bit computing," said Bob Muglia, senior vice president, Server and Tools Division at Microsoft. "The Sun hardware platform is an excellent foundation for Windows-based enterprise solutions, such as Microsoft Virtual Server, Microsoft SQL Server, Microsoft Exchange Server and Microsoft Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) Edition. Our customers will have an additional choice of Windows Server OEM partners with Sun."

Key components in the announcement include:

Windows Server OEM Agreement - Sun will offer Windows Server on its x64 hardware and will provide additional utilities and value-added software offerings to server systems carrying Windows Server. Windows Server 2003 will be available on Sun x64 systems within 90 days.

Sun x64 Systems and Storage - Microsoft and Sun will continue to work together to test and validate the Windows platform on these systems for scale-up enterprise computing.

Solaris and Windows Virtualisation - Sun and Microsoft will work together to ensure that Solaris runs well as a guest on Microsoft virtualisation technologies and that Windows Server runs well as a guest on Sun's virtualisation technologies.

Expanded IPTV partnership - Sun and Microsoft will continue to collaborate to advance the worldwide deployment of the Microsoft Mediaroom IPTV and multimedia platform on Sun servers and storage systems.

Expanded investment in interoperability - Microsoft and Sun will build an Interoperability Centre on Microsoft's Redmond campus. The Centre will include a demonstration area for Sun x64 systems, act as a working lab for Windows on Sun benchmarks and sales tools, and support customers running proofs-of-concept for projects focused on Windows on Sun x64 systems, including joint Sun/Microsoft solutions in areas such as: database, email and messaging, virtualisation and Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) support in Sun Ray thin clients.

advertisement