The sky is falling! Few days ago Microsoft released press that they will be contributing 20,000 lines into the Linux Kernel. Pretty shocking…. but why?

Quote from the source below:

The code, which includes three Linux device drivers, has been submitted to the Linux kernel community for inclusion in the Linux tree. The drivers will be available to the Linux community and customers alike, and will enhance the performance of the Linux operating system when virtualized on Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V or Windows Server 2008 R2 Hyper-V.

Oh okay, now it makes sense, for their benefit of course. Also a strategic move to keep users that are virtualizing Linux on Windows to keep them from completely switching over.

Full article at the official source:

http://www.microsoft.com/presspass/features/2009/Jul09/07-20LinuxQA.mspx

And others:

http://www.linux-mag.com/cache/7439/1.html