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Merge with Virtual Bridges, Inc.
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{{Mergefrom|Virtual Bridges|date=October 2009}}


⚫
'''Win4Lin''' is a [[Proprietary software|proprietary]] [[software]] application for [[Linux]] which allows users to run a copy of [[Microsoft Windows]] [[Windows 95|95]], [[Windows 98|98]], [[Windows Me|Me]], [[Windows 2000|2000]] or [[Windows XP|XP]] applications on their desktop.

'''Virtual Bridges''', Inc. is the software company successor to NeTraverse and Win4Lin Inc., developers of Win4Lin software.
In addition to Linux, Virtual Bridges develops fully supported products similar to Win4Lin for [[Solaris]] and [[BSD]].


{{Infobox_Software
{{Infobox_Software
| name = Win4Lin
| name = Win4Lin
Line 4: Line 13:
| screenshot =
| screenshot =
| caption =
| caption =
| developer = [[Virtual Bridges]]
| developer = [[Virtual Bridges]], Inc (since December 2008)
| latest release date = {{release date and age|2008|6|04}}
| latest release date = {{release date and age|2008|6|04}}
| operating_system = [[Linux]]
| operating_system = [[Unix]], [[Linux]], [[BSD]], [[Solaris]]
| programming_language =
| programming_language =
| genre = [[Full virtualization]]
| genre = [[Full virtualization]]
Line 12: Line 21:
| website = [http://win4lin.com win4lin.com]
| website = [http://win4lin.com win4lin.com]
}}
}}
==Overview==
⚫
'''Win4Lin''' is a [[Proprietary software|proprietary]] [[software]] application for [[Linux]] which allows users to run a copy of [[Microsoft Windows]] [[Windows 95|95]], [[Windows 98|98]], [[Windows Me|Me]], [[Windows 2000|2000]] or [[Windows XP|XP]] applications on their desktop. The system works by acting in a similar way to a [[virtual machine]], in that it provides an environment for the Windows operating system to run, and as such one must still have a copy of Windows to use with it.
The system works by acting in a similar way to a [[virtual machine]], in that it provides an environment for the Windows operating system to run, and as such one must still have a copy of Windows to use with it.


The Win4Lin application in essence displays a window on a Linux desktop which contains the Windows desktop environment. As an alternative, the Windows environment can be run full screen, outside of the desktop environment to save on desktop real estate.
The Win4Lin application in essence displays a window on a Linux desktop which contains the Windows desktop environment. As an alternative, the Windows environment can be run full screen, outside of the desktop environment to save on desktop real estate.
Line 18: Line 28:
Win4Lin is designed with business users in mind, and as such, does not support features such as [[MIDI]], in favor of support for [[Microsoft Office]]-style application compatibility.
Win4Lin is designed with business users in mind, and as such, does not support features such as [[MIDI]], in favor of support for [[Microsoft Office]]-style application compatibility.


==History==
Win4Lin was based on [[Merge_(software)|Merge]] which was originally developed to run [[DOS]]/[[Windows 3.1]] under UNIX System V Release 2 on an AT&T 6300+ personal computer. That machine contained an [[Intel 80286]] processor, and AT&T announced availability on October 9, 1985, referring to the bundled Merge software as [[SimulTask]]. Later Merge was enhanced to make use of the [[virtual 8086 mode|VM86 mode]] provided by the [[Intel 80386]] processor; that version was offered with [[Microport]] SVR3 starting in 1987, and subsequently with [[SCO Group|SCO Unix]].
Win4Lin was based on [[Merge_(software)|Merge]] software developed by engineers at [[Locus Computing Corporation]], founded by [[Gerald J. Popek]] and others in 1982, which was later taken over by a company called [[Platinum Technology]]. 'Merge' was originally developed to run [[DOS]]/[[Windows 3.1]] under UNIX System V Release 2 on an AT&T 6300+ personal computer that contained an [[Intel 80286]] processor. AT&T announced availability on October 9, 1985, referring to the bundled Merge software as [[SimulTask]]. Later Merge was enhanced to make use of the [[virtual 8086 mode|VM86 mode]] provided by the [[Intel 80386]] processor; that version was offered with [[Microport]] SVR3 starting in 1987, and subsequently with [[SCO Group|SCO Unix]].

⚫
The Merge technology was then bought by a company called DASCOM which was in turn bought by [[IBM]]. A company called TreLOS was then spun off that continued the development of the virtual machine software and created Win4Lin. TreLOS and LastFoot.com merged in [[2000]] to form '''NeTraverse''', Inc.


⚫
In early 2005 the assets of NeTraverse were purchased to form '''Win4Lin Inc.''' which introduced '''Win4Lin Pro Desktop''' - this is based on a 'tuned' version of [[QEMU]], and '''KQEMU''' and it hosts [Windows NT]-versions of Windows. In June 2006, Win4Lin released '''Win4VDI for Linux''' based on the same code base. Win4VDI for Linux serves Microsoft Windows desktops to thin clients from a Linux server.
⚫
Merge was developed by engineers at [[Locus Computing Corporation]], founded by [[Gerald J. Popek]] and others in 1982, which was later taken over by a company called [[Platinum Technology]]. The Merge technology was then bought by a company called DASCOM which was in turn bought by [[IBM]]. A company called TreLOS was then spun off that continued the development of the virtual machine software and created Win4Lin. TreLOS and LastFoot.com merged in [[2000]] to form NeTraverse, Inc.


In September 2006, Win4Lin announced a change of the company name to [[Virtual Bridges]] with the release of '''Win4BSD Pro Desktop''', a port of the product to [[FreeBSD]] and [[PC-BSD]]. '''Win4BSD''' is now offered at no charge to non-commercial customers.<br /> [[Solaris (operating system)|Solaris]] support followed in May 2007 with the release of '''Win4Solaris Pro Desktop''' and '''Win4VDI for Solaris'''.
⚫
In early 2005 the assets of NeTraverse were purchased to form Win4Lin Inc. which introduced '''Win4Lin Pro Desktop''' - this is based on a 'tuned' version of [[QEMU]], and '''KQEMU''' and it hosts NT-versions of Windows. In June 2006, Win4Lin released '''Win4VDI for Linux''' based on the same code base. Win4VDI for Linux serves Microsoft Windows desktops to thin clients from a Linux server.


In September 2006, Win4Lin announced a change of the company name to [[Virtual Bridges]] with the release of '''Win4BSD Pro Desktop''', a port of the product to [[FreeBSD]] and [[PC-BSD]]. '''Win4BSD''' is now offered at no charge to non-commercial customers.<br /> [[Solaris (operating system)|Solaris]] support followed in May 2007 with the release of '''Win4Solaris Pro Desktop''' and '''Win4VDI for Solaris'''. In December 2008, Virtual Bridges announced the VERDE product which serves Linux Desktops from Linux servers. Win4VDI and VERDE are Virtual Bridges' products for [[Desktop Virtualization]].
In December 2008, Virtual Bridges announced the VERDE product (based from same code base as Win4VDI) which serves Linux Desktops from Linux servers. Win4VDI and VERDE are now Virtual Bridges' products for [[Desktop Virtualization]].


Win4Lin Pro and Win4VDI use "full" virtualization, whereas Win4Lin 9x was an example of [[paravirtualization]]. Many users reported that the 9x version ran windows software at near-native speed, even on quite low-powered machines, such as Pentium-IIs.
Win4Lin Pro and Win4VDI use "full" virtualization, whereas Win4Lin 9x was an example of [[paravirtualization]]. Many users reported that the 9x version ran windows software at near-native speed, even on quite low-powered machines, such as Pentium-IIs.
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* [http://win4lin.com/ Win4Lin]
* [http://win4lin.com/ Win4Lin]
* [http://win4bsd.com/ Win4BSD]
* [http://win4bsd.com/ Win4BSD]
* [http://vbridges.com/ Virtual Bridges and VERDE]
* [http://vbridges.com/ Virtual Bridges and VERDE web site]


[[Category:Virtualization software]]
[[Category:Virtualization software]]
[[Category:Linux emulation software]]
[[Category:Linux emulation software]]
[[Category:Software companies of the United States]]


[[fi:Win4Lin]]
[[fi:Win4Lin]]

Revision as of 08:31, 14 October 2009


Win4Lin is a proprietary software application for Linux which allows users to run a copy of Microsoft Windows 95, 98, Me, 2000 or XP applications on their desktop.

Virtual Bridges, Inc. is the software company successor to NeTraverse and Win4Lin Inc., developers of Win4Lin software. In addition to Linux, Virtual Bridges develops fully supported products similar to Win4Lin for Solaris and BSD.


Win4Lin
Developer(s)Virtual Bridges, Inc (since December 2008)
Operating systemUnix, Linux, BSD, Solaris
TypeFull virtualization
LicenseProprietary
Websitewin4lin.com

Overview

The system works by acting in a similar way to a virtual machine, in that it provides an environment for the Windows operating system to run, and as such one must still have a copy of Windows to use with it.

The Win4Lin application in essence displays a window on a Linux desktop which contains the Windows desktop environment. As an alternative, the Windows environment can be run full screen, outside of the desktop environment to save on desktop real estate.

Win4Lin is designed with business users in mind, and as such, does not support features such as MIDI, in favor of support for Microsoft Office-style application compatibility.

History

Win4Lin was based on Merge software developed by engineers at Locus Computing Corporation, founded by Gerald J. Popek and others in 1982, which was later taken over by a company called Platinum Technology. 'Merge' was originally developed to run DOS/Windows 3.1 under UNIX System V Release 2 on an AT&T 6300+ personal computer that contained an Intel 80286 processor. AT&T announced availability on October 9, 1985, referring to the bundled Merge software as SimulTask. Later Merge was enhanced to make use of the VM86 mode provided by the Intel 80386 processor; that version was offered with Microport SVR3 starting in 1987, and subsequently with SCO Unix.

The Merge technology was then bought by a company called DASCOM which was in turn bought by IBM. A company called TreLOS was then spun off that continued the development of the virtual machine software and created Win4Lin. TreLOS and LastFoot.com merged in 2000 to form NeTraverse, Inc.

In early 2005 the assets of NeTraverse were purchased to form Win4Lin Inc. which introduced Win4Lin Pro Desktop - this is based on a 'tuned' version of QEMU, and KQEMU and it hosts [Windows NT]-versions of Windows. In June 2006, Win4Lin released Win4VDI for Linux based on the same code base. Win4VDI for Linux serves Microsoft Windows desktops to thin clients from a Linux server.

In September 2006, Win4Lin announced a change of the company name to Virtual Bridges with the release of Win4BSD Pro Desktop, a port of the product to FreeBSD and PC-BSD. Win4BSD is now offered at no charge to non-commercial customers.
Solaris support followed in May 2007 with the release of Win4Solaris Pro Desktop and Win4VDI for Solaris.

In December 2008, Virtual Bridges announced the VERDE product (based from same code base as Win4VDI) which serves Linux Desktops from Linux servers. Win4VDI and VERDE are now Virtual Bridges' products for Desktop Virtualization.

Win4Lin Pro and Win4VDI use "full" virtualization, whereas Win4Lin 9x was an example of paravirtualization. Many users reported that the 9x version ran windows software at near-native speed, even on quite low-powered machines, such as Pentium-IIs.

Virtual Bridges discontinued support for Win4Lin 9x, but provides the latest version 5.1 and its supporting files as is in their ftp archive. The latest kernel support files archived are for kernels 2.4.29 and 2.6.14.3. [1]

See also

References

  1. ^ ftp://vbridges.com/pub/archive/9x/kernel-patches/

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Win4Lin&oldid=319777167"