Microsoft Publishes Linux GPU Frame-Buffer Driver

[uid313]

It only supports up to 1920x1080?
Not 1920x1200?
Sucks!

It only works on Windows Server?
Not on Windows 7 and 8?

[DeepDayze]

Uhm, the user is required to have a Windows license just to use Windows that can run Hyper-V in the first place.

Of course you need a license for each Windows 2008 R2 Hyper-V server, natch

It appears their current EULA doesn't say what kinds of guests are permitted to run under Hyper-V, but that might change. If they require a CAL for each Linux guest I'll be outraged.

[GreatEmerald]

It may hurt far more than you think or imagine. What does the Hyper-V EULA say about guests? Would the user be required to have a windows license to use the Linux environment under Hyper-V? After all, the Linux guest does "connect" to the Windows Hyper-V system. I would not be surprised to find out that payment is due to Microsoft for each use of Linux in that environment. Maybe this is why they are trying to look like good guys by providing free drivers?

Uhm, the user is required to have a Windows license just to use Windows that can run Hyper-V in the first place.

[zman58]

virtio drivers for windows running virtual below Linux virtualization

Sounds more like an ideal situation to me as having virtualized Windows servers running under Linux would be more stable. If the Windows host crashed or had an issue it could take the Linux instances with it..not ideal. Of course running Linux VM's on top of a Linux host is great too

There are very fast virtio drivers available from RedHat for Windows guests running virtualized in KVM/QEMU. The drivers are free to obtain and use.

[zman58]

Have you read the Hyper-V and Windows server EULAs?

Its useful for those who want to use Linux under Hyper-V environments. And from what ive heard Hyper-V is actually fairly nice, besides it doesnt hurt anyone but including the driver. I say let them do whatever they want

It may hurt far more than you think or imagine. What does the Hyper-V EULA say about guests? Would the user be required to have a windows license to use the Linux environment under Hyper-V? After all, the Linux guest does "connect" to the Windows Hyper-V system. I would not be surprised to find out that payment is due to Microsoft for each use of Linux in that environment. Maybe this is why they are trying to look like good guys by providing free drivers?

I would never agree to a Windows EULA of any kind. Most of them grant the vendor the rights to totally mess with your business if they see fit. You are taking on far too serious risk when you choose "I agree".

[DeepDayze]

Indeed. If someone needs to virtualise Linux on Windows, well, they might as well decide to swap places and go for virtualised Windows under Linux later on. Better than not having support in the first place.

Sounds more like an ideal situation to me as having virtualized Windows servers running under Linux would be more stable. If the Windows host crashed or had an issue it could take the Linux instances with it..not ideal. Of course running Linux VM's on top of a Linux host is great too

[GreatEmerald]

Yep...it's not all win for MS, since it makes it easier to run Linux in an otherwise Windows-based environment.

Indeed. If someone needs to virtualise Linux on Windows, well, they might as well decide to swap places and go for virtualised Windows under Linux later on. Better than not having support in the first place.

[Delgarde]

Its useful for those who want to use Linux under Hyper-V environments. And from what ive heard Hyper-V is actually fairly nice, besides it doesnt hurt anyone but including the driver. I say let them do whatever they want

Yep...it's not all win for MS, since it makes it easier to run Linux in an otherwise Windows-based environment.

[Ericg]

Microsoft has never contributed any code to enhance or improve linux per se - their only contributions have been to enable captive linux instances under microsoft control. That is the only form in which they wish to see linux survive.

Its useful for those who want to use Linux under Hyper-V environments. And from what ive heard Hyper-V is actually fairly nice, besides it doesnt hurt anyone but including the driver. I say let them do whatever they want

[david_lynch]

Move along, nothing to see here.

Phoronix: Microsoft Publishes Linux GPU Frame-Buffer Driver

Microsoft's Linux kernel contributions continue... This time around they have published a synthetic frame-buffer driver...

http://www.phoronix.com/vr.php?view=MTMwMzg

Microsoft has never contributed any code to enhance or improve linux per se - their only contributions have been to enable captive linux instances under microsoft control. That is the only form in which they wish to see linux survive.