Microsoft Loves Linux - as Long as It's Not Red Hat

Just when you thought it couldn't top itself -- having contributed Linux kernel code under the GPL, broadly supported Linux alongside Windows with its systems management and other software, and spun off a new subsidiary dedicated to openness, Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT) showed yet more Linux and open source love recently, adding an impressive Linux lineup to supported software on its Azure cloud.

However, there's one major Linux player that's sort of getting left out of the lovefest. It's enterprise Linux leader Red Hat (NYSE: RHT) and its Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), which has to sit by while other distributions, including RHEL community clone CentOS and market competitors SUSE and Ubuntu, get first-class treatment in Microsoft's Azure cloud.

This wouldn't be the first time we've seen Microsoft look to the "other" Linux distributions as leverage against Red Hat. Though some may be critical of Microsoft for its apparent selective Linux approach, the bottom line is that Redmond is among the broadest supporters of Linux in the industry today. HP (NYSE: HPQ) has historically been among the most aggressive, backing unpaid Linux distributions such as CentOS, Debian and Ubuntu -- which is also a paid Linux option with support from Canonical...