Live Blog: Oracle, Microsoft Windows Azure, Hyper-V Partnership
Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer and Oracle President Mark Hurd discuss a new hybrid cloud partnership that includes Oracle on Windows Server, Azure cloud and Hyper-V hypervisor deployments.
Microsoft (MSFT) and Oracle (ORCL), as expected, are announcing a cloud computing and software partnership today. Oracle is extending beyond Windows Serve to support Windows Azure (the cloud) and Hyper-V (the hypervisor). This live blog captures minute-by-minute thoughts from Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer, President Satya Nadella and Oracle President Mark Hurd.
Here's the minute-by-minute recap:
- Ballmer: "I know I speak for all the folks at Microsoft and Oracle that it's about time we're working together in this constructive way" for hybrid cloud solutions.
- The common ground is the need for infrastructure platforms that support the diverse needs of enterprises, he added.
- "For most enterprise customers, the solution isn't just a public or private cloud."
- Rather, it's about hybrid clouds with a broad ecosystem of interconnected, mission-critical applications, Ballmer said.
- Mark Hurd: "We see the IT industry as very dynamic."
- "With this partnership Oracle will certify its [software portfolio] on Azure, effective immediately."
- Oracle Linux and Java will also come to Windows Azure customers.
- "We're delivering a truly open platform with Azure," said Nadella. "Our commitment to openness on Windows Azure is on overdrive."
- "I think customers are committed to a lot of Microsoft technology and Oracle technology," said Hurd.
- "There are lots of customers already running Oracle workloads on Windows Server," said Nadella. "Today's announcement extends that to the cloud. We think customers will be able to burst out to the [Azure] publioc cloud."
The nuts and bolts of the extended Microsoft-Oracle partnership.
- Oracle already supported its database on Windows Server.
- Customers will now be able tio run Oracle software on Windows Server Hyper-V and in Windows Azure.
- Customers will be able to deploy Oracle software — including Java, Oracle Database and Oracle WebLogic Server — on Windows Server Hyper-V or in Windows Azure and receive full support from Oracle.
- Oracle will certify and support Oracle software — including Java, Oracle Database and Oracle WebLogic Server — on Windows Server Hyper-V and in Windows Azure.
- Microsoft will also offer Java, Oracle Database and Oracle WebLogic Server to Windows Azure customers, and Oracle will make Oracle Linux available to Windows Azure customers.
The VAR Guy will be back with more analysis soon.
Okay. Okay. What I see,
Okay. Okay. What I see, skeptically, is two, aging giants, who were forced to play nice together, as they are getting their lunches eaten from nearly every direction they play in.
Both running from the onslaught of SaaS offerings that are outfoxing them, and from open source based solutions in operating systems, database, middleware, and the new data and big-data wave. The open source stuff is eating them in multiple directions, both on-premise and in cloud computing.
And in Microsoft’s case, hurting from the explosion in mobile devices and pad computing, with a bit role so far, and one that encroaches on their core Windows client and Office cash-cows.
I am trying to figure out who was more desperate to get a deal like this done, and best I can tell it was “equal mutual desperation”, almost a 50/50 split. Though I doubt it will help either one of them over the long haul a whole bunch.
It actually reminds me a lot of the Sun and Microsoft 10 year partnership announced awhile back with Ballmer and McNealy trading hockey jerseys. That one did not even dent an upside for Sun, and I doubt this one will do anything for Oracle here.
But it is kinda fun to see two old guard guys – Hurd and Ballmer up there yabbing about how great this is.