When software is open, it means anyone can work on it and contribute to its codebase. When we say anyone, we really mean 'anyone', and that includes both individuals and corporations. The latest news is that Microsoft has announced a new operating system called Azure Cloud Switch, which is based on Linux. However, reports of a possible 'Microsoft distro' available to the general public have been severely exaggerated…
Why does this catch our attention? After all, the Top 10 contributors to the Linux project include high-profile names like Intel, Samsung, IBM, Google, and Texas Instruments. But the history between Microsoft and Linux has been full of surprises, disagreements, open criticism, and very sharp moments. With that in mind, any sign of 'cooperation' (or something resembling it, to be honest) is always viewed with a pinch of surprise, without changing the fact that it's good news.
What is Azure Cloud Switch?
Let's look: On the official Azure blog, Kamala Subramaniam, principal architect of Azure networking, presented information about ACS, acronym for Azure Cloud Switch. It is a cross-platform operating system whose main objective is to manage and control network hardware, such as switches in data centers. ACS was designed based on the Switch Abstraction Interface specification that Microsoft and other companies (including Dell and Broadcom) presented for the Open Compute Project in July. The operating system will be for internal use, so many wonder what's different. In essence, Microsoft did not use its own software base to develop ACS, but decided to choose Linux, which technically makes ACS a distro.
Azure Cloud Switch had an official demonstration in August during the SIGCOMM conference, where it was seen working alongside developments from other companies, confirming its cross-platform profile. Ten years ago it would have been crazy to think that the Redmond giant would use Linux code for a project. Today, with the deepening of the 'Nadella era' and greater openness in certain aspects, the formal announcement of an 'internal-use Microsoft distro' doesn't seem so far-fetched. As always, the best part is that everyone will benefit. If this can help better manage the large data centers and server farms we depend on daily, welcome.
