A while ago, VMware decided to open up their VMDK file format and make it usable by anyone who wished to. VMware reports that so far over 2000 Vendors and Developers have requested specifications on this format. This is a great step in the world of virtualization. I think this is going to do 3 things:

1. Make VM’s more portable. In the future, you should be able to migrate Virtual Machines from 1 product to the next with very little work.

2. It’s going allow ISV’s to optimize their products for virtualization by providing a better understanding of what VMware is doing with them.

3. This is going to greatly help the development of the Virtual Disk format. As more and more people work with VMDK’s, they will provide input and changes that will make VMDK’s even faster and more stable then they are today.

I am a long time supporter of open formats. I think that open formats are the key to allowing companies to leverage the power of the open source community while maintaining their proprietary applications.

I honestly think that there is a place for both open and closed source software. The industry just hast to find that right mix.

Speaking of closed source and the VMware opening the VMDK format… Microsoft is partially opening their VHD format. VHD is Microsoft’s Virtual Disk format. Problem is, Microsoft doesn’t really get it yet. They are limiting the use of VHD formated disks to use on Virtual Server ONLY. This means you couldn’t use it in VMware without breaking the license. Personally, I’m not sure how this is open, nor how it benefits anyone but Microsoft.