Microsoft, IBM Duel Over Migrations From Unix With New Tools, Programs
Microsoft, Redmond, Wash., will try to encourage Unix-to-Windows migrations with its Windows Services for Unix Version 3.5 upgrade, which was formally unveiled late last week, while IBM is trying to push Windows NT-to-Unix migrations though programs for its customers and partners.
Microsoft's retooled SFU will help Windows function in mixed environments, but the enhanced Interix services also feature significant improvements that aid in migrations, partners say.
The enhanced Interix subsystem and Software Development Kit in Windows Services For Unix 3.5, for instance, boosts performance and adds new support for running multithreaded applications. Those features, Microsoft said, will enable customers to run more Unix applications on the Windows platform.
Microsoft's SFU 3.5 is also designed to help customers integrate Windows and Unix in mixed environments. For example, the improved Network File System in the software makes it easier for users to seamlessly access files between systems running Windows and Unix.
The enhanced software also offers two-way password synchronization, user-name mapping and the Server for Network Information Service, which allows customers to centralize directory services across Unix and Windows, Microsoft said. It is due to ship shortly after LinuxWorld Expo, one Microsoft executive said.
One of Microsoft's key SFU partners said he is "booked solid" through the year on many large corporate sites migrating from Unix systems to Windows Server 2003, including an unnamed customer migrating 55,000 seats.
"With Interix 2.2, it was tough to do migrations. It was a tough job before, but now it's very easy," said Thomas Klinect, CEO of TPI, a San Diego-based service provider that has been working with the beta version of SFU 3.5 for several months. "This is much better than the previous version. SFU 3.0 was very good, but it didn't have POSIX threads support."
So while Microsoft is handing its partners tools such as SFU 3.5 to handle Unix-to-Windows migrations, IBM is handing its partners free education and new programs to push Windows NT-to-Linux conversions.
On Monday, the Armonk, N.Y. computer giant said it will offer free Windows-NT-to-Linux migration classes including education and training to its 90,000 business partners worldwide. The classes will be held at IBM Linux Centers globally and technical information will be available for download over the Web, IBM said.
In addition to classes, IBM unveiled an NT-to-Linux migration program for business partners. The program includes education and pretested workload solutions for customers looking to move from NT servers to Linux, IBM said. The solutions include existing IBM and Lotus collaboration, database, security, systems and network management and Web and application servers running on Linux.
IBM said DSG Linux Services Group, Sytek, Avnet and others have signed up for the program. IBM said it expects more NT migrations once Microsoft ceases all patching support for NT by the end of 2004. Microsoft has already phased out more technical support on NT.
IBM noted that it also supports Unix-to-Windows Server 2003 migrations.
One Microsoft executive yawned at IBM's aggressive Linux initiatives.
"IBM will always look for a way to drive Linux," said Martin Taylor, general manager for Platform Strategies at Microsoft, in a recent interview with CRN. "IBM will push Linux wherever they can. IGS gets paid on services and this is a services opportunity for them."