This is what I love to hear: Sumitomo Electric is moving to Novell's SUSE Enterprise Linux. Apparently, a key driver for Sumitomo's investment is Novell's vision of virtualization, as Dan Kusnetzky recently captured:Novell thinks that virtualization is a useful tool but, should not be the single focus of an organization's IT department. A more important focus, in Novell's view, is creating a management environme This is what I love to hear: Sumitomo Electric is moving to Novell’s SUSE Enterprise Linux. Apparently, a key driver for Sumitomo’s investment is Novell’s vision of virtualization, as Dan Kusnetzky recently captured:Novell thinks that virtualization is a useful tool but, should not be the single focus of an organization’s IT department. A more important focus, in Novell’s view, is creating a management environment that allows organizations to select the best platform for a given task and know that platform will fit into the overall management framework. Virtualization is just a tool that enhances that environment.A very rational approach to virtualization, amidst a sea of hype. And one that plays well to Novell’s technology strengths. Why, specifically, do I like this Sumitomo news? Because there’s no mention of the !%!%!%% patent deal with Microsoft (Sumitomo is apparently buying into Novell because the technology works – this is what Novell should be focused on 100% of the time: selling value). And because Sumitomo Electric is seriously old guard when it comes to enterprises. If a company that is hundreds of years old (though the Sumitomo Electric subsidiary is “only” 100+ years old) buys into open source, open source is definitely mainstream. From the press release:Sumitomo Electric Industries is using SUSE(R) Linux Enterprise Server from Novell(R) with integrated Xen* virtualization software to extend the useful life of its platforms, minimize additional hardware investment through more efficient use of resources, and operate an effective disaster recovery site. By running SUSE Linux Enterprise Server and Xen on hardware containing Dual-Core Intel* Xeon* processors with Intel Virtualization Technology, Sumitomo Electric Industries is extending the life of valued applications on virtual servers, thus optimizing data center resources and running a more efficient business.This is seriously great news. It shows that Novell can still compete in terms of customer value/innovation, and really doesn’t need its Microsoft crutch. Open Source