Microsoft unveils Azure Linux 4.0 server OS and reports record AI‑driven earnings

Microsoft announced Azure Linux 4.0, a general‑purpose server operating system built on Fedora and featuring a hardened Linux 6.18 kernel, SELinux security, Secure Boot, signed packages and a predictable servicing lifecycle. The distribution, formerly known as CBL‑Mariner, is now available as ISO images, virtual hard disks and container images for deployment on Azure, Hyper‑V and on‑premises servers.

In its fiscal fourth‑quarter results for 2026, Microsoft highlighted strong growth in its AI offerings, with Copilot usage rising to 30 million seats and Azure cloud revenue continuing to increase. The company posted $39.31 billion in Intelligent Cloud revenue, a 31.6% year‑over‑year rise, and $37.85 billion in Productivity and Business Processes sales, up 14.3%. Capital spending reached $145.3 billion, largely for CPU and GPU infrastructure, and the firm’s market capitalization stood at $3.44 trillion.