Windows Server on ARM will flop like RT, says Intel

Intel doesn't view ARM as a challenger in the server market despite reports Microsoft could make Windows Server commercially available on its hardware.

Dave Hill, senior systems engineer at Intel, claimed that even if Microsoft launches Windows Server on ARM, it will be an unsuccessful experiment.

"In reality Microsoft is trying to [create] a common code base. Obviously they have multiple fragmented code bases and they're trying to put them together," he told IT Pro during a Q&A.

Windows Server on ARM is a non-starter.

"I think it [Windows Server on ARM] would have similar lines of success as when Windows RT came out on tablets."

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Hill claimed that enterprises including Intel have thousands of mission critical applications that rely on x86 hardware.

"Is there a risk? Even if hypothetically Microsoft did announce a Windows Server that supports ARM, where is the Windows market in the server centre? It's generally towards enterprises. You very rarely see Windows Servers being deployed on any cloud service provider [or] in the HPC market," he continued.

"So if you introduce a server platform that doesn't run your existing applications and you're trying to [create] a virtualised environment it's kind of a non-starter in my opinion.

"IT environments are more about trying to simplify and throwing in a different architecture that doesn't run any of the applications just adds so much complexity and overhead that I don't think they would see the benefit of it."

Khidr Suleman was the Technical Editor at IT Pro and during his time with the site was responsible for the reviews section. Prior to joining IT Pro, Khidr worked as a reporter at Incisive Media. He studied law at the University of Reading and completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Magazine Journalism and Online Writing at PMA Training.