Win4Lin: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
→‎External links: this is probably better than most sources used here, although it's pretty long and I have yet to read it.
 
(41 intermediate revisions by 20 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{multiple issues|
{{multiple issues|
{{refimprove|date=February 2014}}
{{more citations needed|date=February 2014}}
{{confusing|date=February 2014}}
{{confusing|date=February 2014}}
{{contradict|date=February 2014}}
}}
}}
{{Infobox Software
{{Infobox software
| name = Win4Lin
| name = Win4Lin
| discontinued = yes
| screenshot =
| screenshot =
| caption =
| caption =
| developer =
| developer =
| released = {{Start date and age|2006}}
| latest release version = 5.5
| latest release version = 5.5
| latest release date = {{release date and age|2008|6|04}}
| latest release date = {{start date and age|2008|6|04}}
| operating_system = [[Linux]]
| operating_system = [[Linux]]
| programming_language =
| programming_language =
| status = Discontinued
| discontinued = yes
| genre = [[Hypervisor]]
| genre = [[Hypervisor]]
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]
| license = [[Proprietary software|Proprietary]]
| website = <!--Nothing-->
| website = <!--Nothing-->
}}
}}
'''Win4Lin''' was a [[Proprietary software|proprietary]] [[software]] application for [[Linux]] which allowed users to run a copy of [[Windows 95]], [[Windows 98]], [[Windows Me]], [[Windows 2000]] or [[Windows XP]] applications on their [[Linux]] desktop.<ref name="sams"/> Win4Lin was based on [[Merge (software)|Merge]] software, a product which changed owners several times until it was bought by Win4Lin Inc. Citing changes in the desktop virtualization industry, the software's publisher, Virtual Bridges, has discontinued Win4Lin Pro.<ref name="w4l">{{Cite web|title=Win4Lin Pro|url=http://win4lin.com/wp/|publisher=Virtual Bridges|accessdate=Nov 14, 2012|archiveurl=http://www.webcitation.org/6CAhZoX9Q|archivedate=Nov 14, 2012|deadurl=no}}</ref>
'''Win4Lin''' is a discontinued [[proprietary software]] application for [[Linux]] which allowed users to run a copy of [[Windows 9x]], [[Windows 2000]] or [[Windows XP]] applications on their [[Linux]] desktop.<ref name="sams"/> Win4Lin was based on [[Merge (software)|Merge]] software, a product which changed owners several times until it was bought by Win4Lin Inc. Citing changes in the desktop virtualization industry, the software's publisher, Virtual Bridges, has discontinued Win4Lin Pro.<ref name="w4l">{{Cite web|title=Win4Lin Pro|url=http://win4lin.com/wp/|publisher=Virtual Bridges|access-date=Nov 14, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100208081242/http://win4lin.com/wp/|archive-date=February 8, 2010|url-status=live}}</ref>


== Products and technology ==
==Products and technology==
{{expand section|Win4VDI|date=February 2014}}
{{expand section|Win4VDI|date=February 2014}}
In 2006, Win4Lin came in three different versions, depending on the virtualization requirements of the user.<ref name="suse">{{cite book|last=McCallister|first=Michael|title=Suse Linux 10: Unleashed|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=P_mbgQfn3ZAC&pg=PA191|publisher=[[SAMS Publishing]]|accessdate=Nov 14, 2012|year=2006|pages=191–192}}</ref>
In 2006, Win4Lin came in three different versions, depending on the virtualization requirements of the user.<ref name="suse">{{cite book|last=McCallister|first=Michael|title=Suse Linux 10: Unleashed|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=P_mbgQfn3ZAC&pg=PA191|publisher=[[SAMS Publishing]]|access-date=Nov 14, 2012|year=2006|pages=191–192|isbn=9780672327261}}</ref>

* Win4Lin 9x allowed the user to run a full copy of [[Windows 98]] or [[Windows Me]] inside a virtual machine.<ref name="suse"/>
* Win4Lin 9x allowed the user to run a full copy of [[Windows 98]] or [[Windows Me]] inside a virtual machine.<ref name="suse"/>
* Win4Lin Home allowed users to only emulate applications.<ref name="suse"/>
* Win4Lin Home allowed users to only emulate applications.<ref name="suse"/>
* Win4Lin Pro offered users the ability to install a fully virtualized [[Windows 2000]] or [[Windows XP]].<ref name="suse"/>
* Win4Lin Pro offered users the ability to install a fully virtualized [[Windows 2000]] or [[Windows XP]].<ref name="suse"/>


⚫
The Win4Lin 9x/Pro (henceforth the only technology discussed in this section) operates by running Windows applications in a [[virtual machine]].<ref name="sams">{{cite book|last=Hsiao|first=Aron|title=Sams teach yourself Red Hat Fedora 4 Linux: all in one|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=aTDAfvuTZ4IC&pg=PA678|access-date=Nov 14, 2012|date=July 7, 2005|publisher=[[SAMS Publishing]]|page=678|isbn=9780672327070}}</ref> Unlike [[Wine (software)|Wine]] or [[CrossOver]] which are emulation-based, virtualization-based software such as [[VMware]] or Win4Lin require users to have a Windows license in order to run applications since they must install a full copy of Windows within the virtual machine.<ref name="bushong">{{cite news|title=Windows Emulators for Linux: VMware, Win4Lin Face Off|url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/69849/Windows_Emulators_for_Linux_VMware_Win4Lin_Face_Off|first=Charles|last=Bushong|work=[[Computerworld]]|date=April 4, 2002|access-date=Nov 14, 2012|pages=1–2}}</ref>
Win4Lin Pro used "full" virtualization, whereas Win4Lin 9x was an example of [[paravirtualization]].{{cn|date=February 2014}}

⚫
The Win4Lin 9x/Pro (henceforth the only technology discussed in this section) operates by running Windows applications in a [[virtual machine]].<ref name="sams">{{cite book|last=Hsiao|first=Aron|title=Sams teach yourself Red Hat Fedora 4 Linux: all in one|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=aTDAfvuTZ4IC&pg=PA678|accessdate=Nov 14, 2012|date=July 7, 2005|publisher=[[SAMS Publishing]]|page=678}}</ref> Unlike [[CrossOver Office]] or [[Wine (software)|Wine]] which are emulation-based, virtualization-based software such as [[VMware]] or Win4Lin require users to have a Windows license in order to run applications since they must install a full copy of Windows within the virtual machine.<ref name="bushong">{{cite news|title=Windows Emulators for Linux: VMware, Win4Lin Face Off|url=http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/69849/Windows_Emulators_for_Linux_VMware_Win4Lin_Face_Off|first=Charles|last=Bushong|work=[[Computerworld]]|date=April 4, 2002|accessdate=Nov 14, 2012|pages=1–2}}</ref>


Unlike [[VMware]], however, Win4Lin provides the virtual guest operating system with access to the native Linux filesystem, and allows the Linux host to access the guest's files even when the virtual machine is not running.<ref name="sams"/><ref name="bushong"/> In addition to the convenience this offers, [[Computerworld]] found in their 2002 review that Win4Lin gained significant performance over VMware by using the native Linux filesystem, but also noted that this approach (unlike VMware's) limited the installation of only one version of Windows on a Win4Lin machine.<ref name="bushong"/>
Unlike [[VMware]], however, Win4Lin provides the virtual guest operating system with access to the native Linux filesystem, and allows the Linux host to access the guest's files even when the virtual machine is not running.<ref name="sams"/><ref name="bushong"/> In addition to the convenience this offers, [[Computerworld]] found in their 2002 review that Win4Lin gained significant performance over VMware by using the native Linux filesystem, but also noted that this approach (unlike VMware's) limited the installation of only one version of Windows on a Win4Lin machine.<ref name="bushong"/>


When the Win4Lin application starts it displays a window on the Linux desktop which contains the Windows desktop environment.<ref name="infoworld">{{cite news|title=Get Win4Lin and Windows users won't feel disenfranchised under Linux|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=vDgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA66|first=Nicholas|last=Petreley|date=Nov 20, 2000|work=[[InfoWorld]]|accessdate=Nov 14, 2012}}</ref> Users can then install or run applications as they normally would from within Windows.<ref name="infoworld"/> Win4Lin supports Linux printers, internet connections, and Windows networking, but {{as of|2000|lc=yes}}, does not support DirectX and by extension most Windows games.<ref name="infoworld"/>
When the Win4Lin application starts it displays a window on the Linux desktop which contains the Windows desktop environment.<ref name="infoworld">{{cite news|title=Get Win4Lin and Windows users won't feel disenfranchised under Linux|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vDgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA66|first=Nicholas|last=Petreley|date=Nov 20, 2000|work=[[InfoWorld]]|access-date=Nov 14, 2012}}</ref> Users can then install or run applications as they normally would from within Windows.<ref name="infoworld"/> Win4Lin supports Linux printers, internet connections, and Windows networking, but {{as of|2000|lc=yes}}, does not support DirectX and by extension most Windows games.<ref name="infoworld"/>

They also offered Win4BSD for [[FreeBSD]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.freebsdsoftware.org/emulators/win4bsd.html |title=win4bsd FreeBSD |website=www.freebsdsoftware.org |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080204020112/http://www.freebsdsoftware.org/emulators/win4bsd.html |archive-date=2008-02-04}}</ref>


==History==
==History==
{{expand section|Win4Lin product/version history, rather than more ancient stuff|date=February 2014}}
Win4Lin was initially based on [[Merge (software)|Merge]] software originally developed at [[Locus Computing Corporation]], and which changed hands several times until it ended in the assets of NeTraverse, which were purchased in 2005 by Win4Lin Inc., which introduced Win4Lin Pro Desktop. This was based on a 'tuned' version of [[QEMU]] and KQEMU, and it hosted [Windows NT]-versions of Windows.
Win4Lin was initially based on [[Merge (software)|Merge]] software originally developed at [[Locus Computing Corporation]], and which changed hands several times until it ended in the assets of NeTraverse, which were purchased in 2005 by Win4Lin Inc., which introduced Win4Lin Pro Desktop.<ref>[http://opensource.sys-con.com/node/48377 So You Want To Run Windows 2000 and Windows XP Apps On Linux? Win4Lin Out From Under Windows 98 Bondage], 2005</ref> This was based on a 'tuned' version of [[QEMU]] and KQEMU, and it hosted [Windows NT]-versions of Windows.


In June 2006, Win4Lin released Win4VDI for Linux based on the same code base. Win4VDI for Linux served Microsoft Windows desktops to thin clients from a Linux server.
In June 2006, Win4Lin released Win4VDI for Linux based on the same code base. Win4VDI for Linux served Microsoft Windows desktops to thin clients from a Linux server.
Line 44: Line 45:


==Reception==
==Reception==
Many users reported that the 9x version ran windows software at near-native speed, even on quite low-powered machines, such as Pentium-IIs.{{cn|date=February 2014}}
{{expand section|reviews from the EL section|date=February 2014}}
Many users reported that the 9x version ran windows software at near-native speed, even on quite low-powered machines, such as Pentium-IIs.{{citation needed|date=February 2014}}


Nicholas Petereley, praised Win4Lin in two of his columns in the year 2000, for its significantly faster performance than its competitor [[VMware]].<ref name="infoworld"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Am I the only one who doesn't know why to use VMware?|url=http://books.google.com/books?id=vzgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA60|first=Nicholas|last=Petreley|work=[[InfoWorld]]|page=60|accessdate=2012-11-14}}</ref>
Nicholas Petereley praised Win4Lin in two of his columns in the year 2000, for its significantly faster performance than its competitor [[VMware]].<ref name="infoworld"/><ref>{{cite news|title=Am I the only one who doesn't know why to use VMware?|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vzgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA60|first=Nicholas|last=Petreley|work=[[InfoWorld]]|date = 11 December 2000|page=60|access-date=2012-11-14}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 54: Line 56:
{{Reflist}}
{{Reflist}}


== External links ==
==External links==
* [http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/run-windows-linux,1271.html Run Windows On Linux: Win4Lin Revisited], [[Tom's Hardware]], 2006
* [http://archive09.linux.com/feature/139471 Win4Lin 5.0 makes big improvements], [[Linux.com]], 2008
* [http://archive09.linux.com/articles/61606 Win4Lin Pro Desktop 4.0 lags behind free alternatives], [[Linux.com]], 2007
⚫
* [http://web.archive.org/web/20000823083438/http://www.trelos.com/trelos/Trelos/Products/Win4Lin_Whitepaper.htm TreLOS's Win4Lin] (2000)
* [http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/9358 Break the Hardware Upgrade Cycle with Win4Lin Windows Virtual Desktop Server], [[Linux Journal]], 2007
* [http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/run-windows-linux,1271.html Run Windows On Linux: Win4Lin Revisited] [Win4Lin Pro 3.0 review], [[Tom's Hardware]], 2006
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20090803143034/http://www.theinquirer.net/inquirer/review/1014879/inquirer-helps-debug-win4lin-pro INQUIRER helps debug Win4Lin Pro] [2.7], [[The Inquirer]], 2006
* [http://opensource.sys-con.com/node/219877 Product Review — Running Windows on Linux], Win4Lin 2.7 vs. VMware Workstation 5.5.1., ''Open Source Magazine'', 2006
* [http://archive09.linux.com/articles/49496 Review: Win4Lin Pro] [2.0], [[Linux.com]], 2005
* [http://www.osnews.com/story/6384 A Look at Win4Lin 5.1], [[OSNews]], 2004
* [http://www.osnews.com/story/1112 Review of Win4Lin 4.0], [[OSNews]], 2002
* [http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/4707 VMware Express 2.0 and Win4Lin 2.0: A Comparison Review], [[Linux Journal]], 2001
⚫
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20000823083438/http://www.trelos.com/trelos/Trelos/Products/Win4Lin_Whitepaper.htm TreLOS's Win4Lin] (2000)


{{Virtualization products}}
{{Virtualization products}}


[[Category:2006 software]]
[[Category:Virtualization software]]
[[Category:Virtualization software]]
[[Category:Linux emulation software]]
[[Category:Linux emulation software]]

Latest revision as of 18:41, 21 March 2024

Win4Lin
Initial release2006; 18 years ago (2006)
Final release
5.5 / June 4, 2008; 15 years ago (2008-06-04)
Operating systemLinux
TypeHypervisor
LicenseProprietary

Win4Lin is a discontinued proprietary software application for Linux which allowed users to run a copy of Windows 9x, Windows 2000 or Windows XP applications on their Linux desktop.[1] Win4Lin was based on Merge software, a product which changed owners several times until it was bought by Win4Lin Inc. Citing changes in the desktop virtualization industry, the software's publisher, Virtual Bridges, has discontinued Win4Lin Pro.[2]

Products and technology[edit]

In 2006, Win4Lin came in three different versions, depending on the virtualization requirements of the user.[3]

  • Win4Lin 9x allowed the user to run a full copy of Windows 98 or Windows Me inside a virtual machine.[3]
  • Win4Lin Home allowed users to only emulate applications.[3]
  • Win4Lin Pro offered users the ability to install a fully virtualized Windows 2000 or Windows XP.[3]

The Win4Lin 9x/Pro (henceforth the only technology discussed in this section) operates by running Windows applications in a virtual machine.[1] Unlike Wine or CrossOver which are emulation-based, virtualization-based software such as VMware or Win4Lin require users to have a Windows license in order to run applications since they must install a full copy of Windows within the virtual machine.[4]

Unlike VMware, however, Win4Lin provides the virtual guest operating system with access to the native Linux filesystem, and allows the Linux host to access the guest's files even when the virtual machine is not running.[1][4] In addition to the convenience this offers, Computerworld found in their 2002 review that Win4Lin gained significant performance over VMware by using the native Linux filesystem, but also noted that this approach (unlike VMware's) limited the installation of only one version of Windows on a Win4Lin machine.[4]

When the Win4Lin application starts it displays a window on the Linux desktop which contains the Windows desktop environment.[5] Users can then install or run applications as they normally would from within Windows.[5] Win4Lin supports Linux printers, internet connections, and Windows networking, but as of 2000, does not support DirectX and by extension most Windows games.[5]

They also offered Win4BSD for FreeBSD.[6]

History[edit]

Win4Lin was initially based on Merge software originally developed at Locus Computing Corporation, and which changed hands several times until it ended in the assets of NeTraverse, which were purchased in 2005 by Win4Lin Inc., which introduced Win4Lin Pro Desktop.[7] This was based on a 'tuned' version of QEMU and KQEMU, and it hosted [Windows NT]-versions of Windows.

In June 2006, Win4Lin released Win4VDI for Linux based on the same code base. Win4VDI for Linux served Microsoft Windows desktops to thin clients from a Linux server.

Virtual Bridges discontinued support for Win4Lin 9x in 2007. The Win4Lin Pro Desktop product ceased to be supported in March 2010.

Reception[edit]

Many users reported that the 9x version ran windows software at near-native speed, even on quite low-powered machines, such as Pentium-IIs.[citation needed]

Nicholas Petereley praised Win4Lin in two of his columns in the year 2000, for its significantly faster performance than its competitor VMware.[5][8]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c Hsiao, Aron (July 7, 2005). Sams teach yourself Red Hat Fedora 4 Linux: all in one. SAMS Publishing. p. 678. ISBN 9780672327070. Retrieved Nov 14, 2012.
  2. ^ "Win4Lin Pro". Virtual Bridges. Archived from the original on February 8, 2010. Retrieved Nov 14, 2012.
  3. ^ a b c d McCallister, Michael (2006). Suse Linux 10: Unleashed. SAMS Publishing. pp. 191–192. ISBN 9780672327261. Retrieved Nov 14, 2012.
  4. ^ a b c Bushong, Charles (April 4, 2002). "Windows Emulators for Linux: VMware, Win4Lin Face Off". Computerworld. pp. 1–2. Retrieved Nov 14, 2012.
  5. ^ a b c d Petreley, Nicholas (Nov 20, 2000). "Get Win4Lin and Windows users won't feel disenfranchised under Linux". InfoWorld. Retrieved Nov 14, 2012.
  6. ^ "win4bsd FreeBSD". www.freebsdsoftware.org. Archived from the original on 2008-02-04.
  7. ^ So You Want To Run Windows 2000 and Windows XP Apps On Linux? Win4Lin Out From Under Windows 98 Bondage, 2005
  8. ^ Petreley, Nicholas (11 December 2000). "Am I the only one who doesn't know why to use VMware?". InfoWorld. p. 60. Retrieved 2012-11-14.

External links[edit]

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Win4Lin&oldid=1214873271"