09.11.07
More Compelling Evidence of a Proxy Strategy
Our Novell apologists insisted that Microsoft had not really ‘hijacked’ XenSource (see comments), despite the overwhelming amounts of evidence which suggests otherwise. We can finally present yet more evidence, just in case it’s unclear what Microsoft was up to from the start. Fresh from the newsdesk:
Microsoft, Citrix To Extend Virtualization Alliance
Today at VMworld 2007, Microsoft Corp. and Citrix Systems Inc. announced that they have strengthened their longtime integration alliance in the desktop and application delivery market by standardizing on the Microsoft Virtual Hard Disk (VHD) format as a common runtime environment for both virtualized operating systems and applications.
Citrix and Microsoft make nice at VMWorld
For those wondering how Microsoft partner Citrix’s purchase of open-source vendor XenSource would affect Citrix’s relationship with Microsoft, the September 11 announcement involving the two does little to answer that question.
Novell, like XenSource, came under Microsoft’s control. The proxy strategy is illustrated diagrammatically in this mindmap, which has become more complex and extensive since it was put together (it requires updating). There is also the strong suspicion that Microsoft has recently pulled an SCO/Baystar in its fight against Blu-ray. Watch the proxies and always follow the money. Novell received over $300 million for what you ought to expect Novell to pay for. It’s no mistake. There was a strategy there, and Novell sold out.
Related articles:
Highlight: Novell was the first to acknowledge that Microsoft FUD tactics had substance. Novell then used anti-Linux FUD to market itself. 
Highlight: Xandros let Microsoft make patent claims and brag about (paid-for) OOXML support. 
Highlight: Linspire's CEO not only fell into Microsoft arms, but he also assisted the company's attack on GNU/Linux. 
Highlight: Microsoft craves pseudo (proprietary) standards and gets its way using proxies and influence which it buys. 
Highlight: The invasion into the open source world is intended to leave Linux companies neglected, due to financial incentives from Microsoft. 
Analysis: Xen, an open source hypervisor, possibly fell victim to Microsoft's aggressive (and stealthy) acquisition-by-proxy strategy.