The News: Microsoft launched a Linux distribution at the annual Microsoft Build event recently. For the full details, please see Microsoft’s blog post here.
Microsoft Launches Linux Distribution
Analyst Take: For a company whose CEO once called Linux a “cancer” to offer a Linux distribution is big news, and indicative of how things have changed. Let us take a history lesson for a moment: back in the early 2000s, Linux was gaining popularity but Windows and for that matter UNIX in its various flavors were the prevalent operating systems in enterprise data centers. In an interview from June 2001, Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer made controversial statements about Linux, calling it a “cancer” due to his concern that the GNU GPL license requires all software to be open source if any open-source software is used. Ballmer’s assertion was based on a misinterpretation of the license terms. Ballmer argued that open source is detrimental to commercial software companies and government funding should not support it. In short, open source was the enemy, particularly to the business model of how Microsoft made money in the early 2000s. How things have changed.
Azure Linux is a container host operating system (OS) specifically created for the Azure Kubernetes Service (AKS). It is an open-source solution optimized for Azure, with the goal of simplifying the deployment and management of container workloads using Microsoft’s tools. Essentially, Azure Linux is designed to run multiple containers in the cloud. The development of Azure Linux originated from Microsoft’s CBL-Mariner project, which was initiated to establish an internal Linux distribution and provide a unified platform for the various workloads running on Azure, according to Jim Perrin, the principal program manager for Microsoft Azure Linux.
Azure Linux is an open-source distribution designed to address the need for an internal Linux distribution and a consistent platform for the diverse workloads running on Azure. This custom-built distribution is optimized to support container hosting for AKS, and it operates on Microsoft’s Windows Hyper-V hypervisor within a virtual machine (VM). Azure Linux offers reliability and consistency across various products and environments, including AKS, AKS-HCI, and Arc. It has a lightweight footprint with a core image of 400 MB and 300 MB packages, ensuring optimal performance and security.
Built-in Security and Reliability
Microsoft has made security and reliability a top priority for the Azure Linux container host, according to its launch announcement. The company implemented a comprehensive approach to achieve this goal. First, all updates undergo thorough validation testing within Azure; and second, these tests are updated as needed to accommodate new scenarios and ensure the highest level of quality.
Moreover, Microsoft maintains a vigilant watch over the entire software supply chain. By closely monitoring and curating the software components used in Azure Linux, there is a greater assurance of quality and resilience throughout the system. This approach enables the company to deliver a secure and reliable platform for running workloads, giving users peace of mind and confidence in the integrity of operations. This level of CI/CD pipeline attestation is becoming table stakes but is still good to see.
Another advantage, in my assessment, is that the Azure Linux container host has a minimal package footprint. By minimizing the number of packages included, Microsoft reduces the potential attack surface and consequently lowers the volume of security patching required. This enables the Azure distribution to promptly address any security issues that may arise, ensuring a timely and effective response.
Looking Ahead
As Kubernetes, Linux, and open source become the default developer approach for many enterprises, Microsoft, once a staunch enemy of Linux, has had to change its tune. 5+ years ago, Linux overtook Windows as the most widely deployed operating system on Azure, so this announcement should not be surprising, but it is still a jarring change for those of us old enough to remember back to the early 2000s.
I expect to see more from Microsoft when it comes to open source and Linux going forward, and I will have to try harder not to be shocked, as it makes perfect sense both technically and commercially.
Disclosure: The Futurum Group is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of The Futurum Group as a whole.
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Author Information
Regarded as a luminary at the intersection of technology and business transformation, Steven Dickens is the Vice President and Practice Leader for Hybrid Cloud, Infrastructure, and Operations at The Futurum Group. With a distinguished track record as a Forbes contributor and a ranking among the Top 10 Analysts by ARInsights, Steven's unique vantage point enables him to chart the nexus between emergent technologies and disruptive innovation, offering unparalleled insights for global enterprises.
Steven's expertise spans a broad spectrum of technologies that drive modern enterprises. Notable among these are open source, hybrid cloud, mission-critical infrastructure, cryptocurrencies, blockchain, and FinTech innovation. His work is foundational in aligning the strategic imperatives of C-suite executives with the practical needs of end users and technology practitioners, serving as a catalyst for optimizing the return on technology investments.
Over the years, Steven has been an integral part of industry behemoths including Broadcom, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE), and IBM. His exceptional ability to pioneer multi-hundred-million-dollar products and to lead global sales teams with revenues in the same echelon has consistently demonstrated his capability for high-impact leadership.
Steven serves as a thought leader in various technology consortiums. He was a founding board member and former Chairperson of the Open Mainframe Project, under the aegis of the Linux Foundation. His role as a Board Advisor continues to shape the advocacy for open source implementations of mainframe technologies.
