Microsoft Adds Debian Linux to the Azure Marketplace -- Redmondmag.com

Microsoft Adds Debian Linux to the Azure Marketplace

By Kurt Mackie
12/02/2015

Microsoft has added the open source Debian GNU/Linux operating system as an "endorsed distribution" to its Azure Marketplace.

Microsoft will maintain updated versions of Debian Linux distributions in the Azure Marketplace, which is a repository for various solutions that run on Azure virtual machines. In addition, the company will get involved with some support issues associated with those distros.

Microsoft's announcement on Wednesday explained that endorsed Linux distributions in the Azure Marketplace get support from Microsoft's Linux and open source developer teams per a policy outlined back in July. Microsoft's support policy is mostly centered providing help with Linux installation and configuration issues. For other problems, Microsoft directs organizations to the Linux vendor concerned.

The Azure Marketplace already houses endorsed distributions of other Linux-based operating systems. Those distros include CentOS, CoreOS, OpenSUSE, Oracle Linux, Ubuntu and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. The latter distro gets added enterprise support from Microsoft as a "premium" image.

In bringing Debian Linux to the Azure Marketplace, Microsoft worked with credativ, a consulting company that provides services and technical support for open source software. Credativ built the Debian 7 and Debian 8 distros that Microsoft added to the marketplace. The two companies plan to collaborate on future Debian distro updates.

Microsoft's announcement also indicated that Debian is currently supported on Hyper-V in Windows Server 2012 R2. The company is committed to supporting Debian across "on-premises and public cloud platforms, including the System Center suite, PowerShell Desired State Configuration (DSC), Azure Site Recovery and the Operations Management Suite."

About the Author

Kurt Mackie is senior news producer for 1105 Media's Converge360 group.

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