The Register does not specify which version this was, likely a recent but highly modified version, but Microsoft has demonstrated their Server OS running on ARM hardware. This will give them another inroad to low cost server builds which don't necessarily have Intel or AMD inside, as well as hedging their bets against Linux. Linux is already happily running on just about any hardware you could want, or will be soon and Microsoft is likely worried about losing share to the open source OS. It will be interesting to see what Microsoft can offer the price conscious shopper to convince them to spend the money on an OS license when Linux is free. The days when the older generations of techs who have grown up with large UNIX servers and through Microsoft replacing it are numbered and they have always been one of the obstacles for the growth of upstart young Linux. The Register also points to the possibility of it being an in house solution to keep the costs of maintaining Microsoft's Cloud applications.
"That's not a stunning feat: having developed Windows RT – a version of Windows 8 running on ARM chippery – Microsoft clearly has the know-how to get the job done. And it's not an indication that Microsoft intends to make Windows Server on ARM a product. It's just a test."
Here is some more Tech News from around the web:
- Windows 10 Gets a Package Manager For the Command Line @ Slashdot
- Microsoft shows off spanking Win 10 PCs, compute-tastic Azure @ The Register
- Microsoft Office for Android tipped to arrive in November @ The Inquirer
- Universal Translator @ MAKE:Blog
- Best travel gadgets 2014 @ The Inquirer
- Win an ASUS ROG Swift 144Hz G-Sync monitor @ KitGuru
Windows Server ARM-T?
Windows Server ARM-T?
Yes but how much does the
Yes but how much does the Azure license cost? If It is less than the cost of porting applications to Linux then maybe, but only for migration purposes, or to run the legacy code on. The critical mass has already been reached for Linux on the server, for quite some time, and maybe M$ should be thinking about offering a bare minimum NT kernel, without all the usual unnecessary for anything cruft. Recently M$ has begun to tout a command line/shell Package Manager Type of solution, but that is only for adding to the M$ overhead, with no ability to not include, or strip out, that which is unnecessary to get business done. The Linux server distros, being Linux, have the ability to remove all but what is Absolutely necessary from atop the Linux kernel.
Enterprises want the minimum of OS functionality to get the job done, and no more, with the ability to add any extra an optional in house IT department’s decision, for the enterprise’s needs. Even the enterprises PC/Laptop/other devices, need to have maximum configurability, and many are turning to Desktop/PC Linux distros, that their IT departments running server Linux distros are more than capable of configuring as lightweight as possible. M$ better start reading the tea leaves, and getting as much unnecessary code/services out of the base windows SKUs, and that includes PCs and Laptops.