the Linux kernel and his right to bring this action.  Second, VMware claims

  vmklinux is an “interoperability module” which communicates

  through a stable interface called VMK API.</dd>

  <dt>How did Christoph respond to VMware's statement of defense?</dt>

  <dd>Christoph's response discusses his extensive contributions to the Linux

  kernel and disputes the technical merits of VMware's assertions. The

  response points out that vmklinux is <strong>not</strong> an

  interoperability module, but rather an arbitrary separation of the Linux

  derived module from vmkernel.   Specifically, vmklinux is nonfunctional

  with any non-ESX OS, and vmklinux is tied intimately to a specific version

  of ESXi.  Vmklinux does not allow reuse of unmodified Linux drivers in

  binary or source form.  Christoph further points out that if the Court

  allows proprietarization of an arbitrary split portion of GPL'd computer

  programs, it could allow redistributors to trivially bypass the strong

  copyleft terms found in the GPL.  Finally, the response explains that

  vmkernel and vmklinux don't “communicate over an interface”,

  rather they run in the same process as a single computer program.  Thus,

  VMK API, as used by vmklinux, is not an “interface” as set

  forth in

  the <a href="http://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/HTML/?uri=CELEX:32009L0024&from=EN">EU

      Directive 2009/24/EC</a>.</dd>

  their kernel?</dt>

  <dd>

  <p id="diagram">

    Conservancy prepared this diagram to show the technical situation as we

    understand it.  The diagram compares the technical architecture of a full,

    running Linux kernel with a full, running VMware kernel:

    <p>

      <a href="/linux-compliance/linux-vs-vmkernel_en.png">

    <img class="inside-faq" alt="[Diagram of Linux and VMware running kernels]" src="/linux-compliance/linux-vs-vmkernel_en_scaled.png" /></a>

    </p>

    <p>If you want to download the diagram, it's available

    in <a href="/linux-compliance/linux-vs-vmkernel_en.svg">SVG

    (English)</a>, <a href="/linux-compliance/linux-vs-vmkernel_en.png">PNG

    (English)</a>, <a href="/linux-compliance/linux-vs-vmkernel_de.svg">SVG

    (German)</a>, and <a href="/linux-compliance/linux-vs-vmkernel_de.png">PNG

    (German)</a>.</p>

  </dd>

  <dt>Can you explain further in words (rather than a picture) about the central

  component in ESXi that the lawsuit alleges violates the GPL?</dt>

<dd>

    <p>The GPL violation at issue involves VMware's ESXi product.