Turn Your Head And Cough It Up, Microsoft

Microsoft has again extended its server system interoperability pact with Suse, almost five years after the original deal was struck between the software maker and Novell, the company behind Suse at the time.

The new extension, announced yesterday, will run until January 1, 2016. It again sees Microsoft commit to shelling out $100 million for Suse Linux Enterprise certificates, much as the last extension did in August 2008. The certificates will be used to buy support for Microsoft's enterprise customers who are running Suse Linux. It is not clear how much of the $100 million payment agreed upon in the 2008 extension actually changed hands.

Microsoft has tried to keep this as quiet as possible.  These advancements in the ability and popularity of Linux has forced them to cooperate or alienate a huge customer base.  As we can expect from Microsoft, they made the smart business decision here, but it had to be a bitter pill to swallow.

In addition, Microsoft will continue to refrain from suing Suse or its customers for using Linux, which Microsoft says violates its patents.

Well aint' that just downright nice of them.

Excuse me, I have to run out and do the Muahahahahahaha dance.  Enjoy the rest of your day.