Starting today, Microsoft is adding support for its own ExFAT technology into the Linux kernel. Microsoft’s Distinguished Engineer and Linux Foundation Board Member John Gossman made the short announcement on the Open Source Blog. Microsoft’s exFAT file system is used extensively in Windows 10 and in other types of storage devices, including SD cards, microSD cards, and USB flash drives.
“It’s important to us that the Linux community can make use of exFAT included in the Linux kernel with confidence. To this end, we will be making Microsoft’s technical specification for exFAT publicly available to facilitate [the] development of conformant, interoperable implementations. We also support the eventual inclusion of a Linux kernel with exFAT support in a future revision of the Open Invention Network’s Linux System Definition, where, once accepted, the code will benefit from the defensive patent commitments of OIN’s 3040+ members and licensees.”
Microsoft provides plenty of information on its exFAT file system specification on the Windows Dev Center website. Microsoft continues to show its love and support for the Linux kernel. Stay tuned for what’s next to see why Microsoft loves Linux!
