A while back, I pointed out that Microsoft had quietly created their own Linux distribution (as an offered VM image in Azure). Although I’m a little late noticing this, it seems Microsoft has doubled down and truly created their own distribution which El Reg rightly calls Microsoft Sonic Debian.

This Linux system is basically a special setup to control switches and network technicalities in their Azure cloud service. It is apparently not available to the public but it is used by Microsoft internally.

I’ve always pointed out the irony of my employer not using the popular and capable operating system it developed. I think Microsoft choosing to not use a Microsoft operating system for its needs goes beyond mere irony. It’s more like the pope using a rhetorical point of Richard Dawkins.

If Microsoft doesn’t automatically think that Windows is the right OS, you probably shouldn’t either.