Lucovsky. (Via TechCrunch)

VMware is starting to look a lot like the good old days at Microsoft, at least in terms of its executive ranks. The Palo Alto, Calif. virtualization company -- led by former Microsoft exec Paul Maritz -- recently recruited former Google and Microsoft big shot Mark Lucovsky to an unnamed position. Before serving as engineering director at Google, Lucovsky was a distinguished engineer at Microsoft.

In March, VMware tapped Richard McAniff -- a 21-year veteran of Microsoft -- as executive vice president and chief development officer. And in January, the spin out from EMC named Tod Nielsen -- also a Microsoft veteran -- as chief operating officer.

TechCrunch broke the news on Lucovsky's move from Google to VMware yesterday, with reporter MG Siegler pointing out the "meltdown" that Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer allegedly had over the engineer's decision to leave for the search giant in 2004. Court documents in a past lawsuit between Microsoft and Google quoted a profane outburst and said Ballmer tossed a chair across the room when he was informed of the news.

Whoa, when you have a CEO blow up like that, you know you're good. Damn good.

Ballmer and Microsoft have adamantly denied the account over the years.

Interestingly, Nielsen's departure from Microsoft to the Redmond startup, Crossgain, also resulted in a strong reaction from the software giant. At the time, Microsoft attempted to enforce non-compete agreements against many of Crossgain's workers who previously held jobs at the sofware giant.

Looks like the makings of an interesting rivalry.