Eric Traut
Distinguished Engineer
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Eric Traut is a Distinguished Engineer who oversees the development of core virtual machine technologies and products, including Virtual PC and Virtual Server. He joined Microsoft in 2003 to form the Core Virtual Machine Team, part of Microsoft’s Core OS Division. Since then Traut and his team have shipped multiple versions of Virtual PC and Virtual Server and have developed a new virtual machine architecture (codenamed “Viridian”) that will become part of the Windows platform. At the heart of this new architecture is a “hypervisor” – a microkernel that enables multiple operating system instances to run concurrently on a computer system. Traut splits his focus between people management (identifying and recruiting new talent, mentoring and growing employees, and developing efficient and effective engineering processes) and technical issues (developing and articulating a long-term technical vision, creating and reviewing designs, and exploring new technology directions).
Traut previously worked for Connectix, a small company acquired by Microsoft in February 2003. He was with Connectix for eight years, holding positions of chief technical officer and vice president of engineering. As CTO, he oversaw all software research, development and testing. While at Connectix, he co-developed Mac and Windows versions of Virtual PC and a Windows version of Virtual Server. He co-authored Mac and Windows versions of Virtual Game Station, a Sony PlayStation emulator.
From 1993 to 1995, Traut worked at Apple Computer, where he designed and implemented a 680x0 emulator for PowerPC-based Macintoshes.
His primary areas of expertise are in emulation, binary translation, and virtual machines. He holds numerous patents in these areas.
Traut holds a Bachelor of Science in Computer Systems Engineering from Stanford University. He has spent most of his career designing and writing code at the software/hardware boundary.
Outside of work, Traut enjoys traveling, reading, and skiing.
