CRN: Microsoft said it will support Linux guest operating systems on Virtual Server 2005 R2 and that it will give away that platform, like Xen, free of charge. But will Microsoft support Windows guest operating systems running on Xen?

HILF: It's such a good question and one most people haven't thought through. It gets sticky for the customer. There can't be some gray line. When we think about how we'll support it, we'll make a commercial best effort to resolve a customer problem. But if [the user] can't replicate the error in a nonvirtualized environment, then it's something with the virtualization engine. If it is a Red Hat operating system problem, that'll be a Red Hat support issue.

CRN: Has Microsoft engaged in any discussions with Red Hat or Novell about how to support guest operating systems on each other's virtualization platforms?

HILF: We've talked with both of them and invited them to our virtualization events, but we haven’t established a hand-off policy.

CRN: How do you think customers should deal with the issue of getting support for guest operating systems on Xen?

HILF: It's going to be a gray area. If I were a partner, I'd think there's opportunity out there for someone to figure out what to do about this problem.