Win4Lin

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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.[2] Win4Lin was based on Merge software, a product which changed owners several times until it was bought by TreLOS Inc.[3] Citing changes in the desktop virtualization industry, the software's publisher, Virtual Bridges, has discontinued Win4Lin Pro.[citation needed]

Quick Facts Developer(s), Initial release ...
Win4Lin
Developer(s)Virtual Bridges, Inc.
Initial release2000; 25 years ago (2000)[1]
Final release
5.5 / February 18, 2009; 16 years ago (2009-02-18)
Operating systemLinux
TypeHypervisor
LicenseProprietary
Websitehttp://win4lin.com/ (defunct)
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Products and technology

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Perspective

In 2006, Win4Lin came in three different versions, depending on the virtualization requirements of the user.[4]

  • Win4Lin 9x allowed the user to run a full copy of Windows 98 or Windows Me inside a virtual machine.[4]
  • Win4Lin Home allowed users to only emulate applications.[4]
  • Win4Lin Pro offered users the ability to install a fully virtualized Windows 2000 or Windows XP.[4]

The Win4Lin 9x/Pro (henceforth the only technology discussed in this section) operates by running Windows applications in a virtual machine.[2] Unlike Wine or CrossOver which are compatibility layers, 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.[5]

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.[2][5] 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.[5]

When the Win4Lin application starts it displays a window on the Linux desktop which contains the Windows desktop environment. Users can then install or run applications as they normally would from within Windows. Win4Lin supports Linux printers, internet connections, and Windows networking, but as of 2000, does not support DirectX and by extension most Windows games.[6]

They also offered Win4BSD for FreeBSD.[7]

History

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Perspective

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.[8][9] Later that year, they introduced Win4Lin Pro, which was based on a “tuned” version of QEMU and KQEMU, and it hosted Windows NT-versions of Windows.[10]

In June 2006, Win4Lin released Win4Lin Virtual Desktop Server,[11] later named Win4VDI based on the same code base. Win4VDI for Linux served Microsoft Windows desktops to thin clients from a Linux server.[12] It was integrated into VERDE on March 9, 2009.[13]

Win4Lin, Inc. discontinued Win4Lin 9x on May 30, 2006.[14] The Win4Lin Pro Desktop product ceased to be supported in March 2010.[citation needed]

More information Version, Product line ...
Win4Lin version history
VersionProduct lineRelease dateNotes
Win4Lin 1.0Win4Lin 9xMarch/April 2000Initial version. Support for Windows 95 and 98 installed directly to the Linux partition, file and printer sharing.[1][15]
Win4Lin Desktop 2.0Win4Lin 9xDecember 5, 2000SMP and audio support, European editions of Windows 95 and 98 installable.[16]
NeTraverse Server Standard Edition 1.0Win4Lin 9x Terminal ServerApril 17, 2001Client-server version of Win4Lin Desktop 2.0, allowing computers to use Windows applications running on a server.[17]
Win4Lin 3.0Win4Lin 9xMay 28, 2001Linux 2.4 and networking support, new graphical installer, built-in updater.[18]
NeTraverse Server Standard Edition 1.1Win4Lin 9x Terminal ServerJuly 11, 2001Update of NeTraverse Server to Win4Lin 3.0.[19]
Win4Lin Workstation 4.0Win4Lin 9xMay 20, 2002Support for English Windows Me, Asian versions of Windows 98 SE and mouse scroll wheel.[20]
Win4Lin Terminal Server 2.0Win4Lin 9x Terminal ServerJuly 23, 2002Update of NeTraverse Server to Win4Lin Workstation 4.0.[21]
Win4Lin Workstation Edition 5.0Win4Lin 9xMay 20, 2003Support for French, Italian, German and Spanish versions of Windows Me, basic 2D DirectX applications, Winsock 2, aRts multimedia system, as well as for being a Netware client.[22]
Win4Lin Terminal Server 2.5Win4Lin 9x Terminal ServerJuly 29, 2003Upgrade of Terminal Server to Win4Lin Workstation Edition 5.0, with improved VNC support.[23]
Win4Lin Workstation Edition 5.1Win4Lin 9xDecember 11, 2003Linux 2.6 support.[24]
Win4Lin Terminal Server 3.0Win4Lin 9x Terminal ServerJanuary 13, 2004Upgrade of Terminal Server to Win4Lin Workstation Edition 5.1.[25]
Win4Lin HomeWin4Lin 9xJanuary 29, 2005Cut-down version of Win4Lin 9x 5.1.[8] Discontinued on January 26, 2006.[26]
Win4Lin Pro 1.0Win4Lin ProFebruary 23, 2005QEMU-based solution. Supports Windows 2000 and experimentally XP. No kernel module required.[10]
Win4Lin Pro 1.1Win4Lin ProMay 2, 2005Full support for Windows XP, full integration between Linux and Windows filesystems.[27]
Win4Lin Pro 2.0Win4Lin ProSeptember 1, 2005Performance improvements, including 16-bit code, support for AMD64 CPUs.[28]
Win4Lin Pro Desktop 2.6Win4Lin ProFebruary 28, 2006Sound support, execution and networking performance improvements.[29]
Win4Lin Pro Desktop 3.0Win4Lin ProMay 30, 2006Unattended installation dubbed One-Click-2-Windows, copy-on-write snapshots.[14]
Win4Lin Virtual Desktop ServerWinVDIJune 13, 2006Successor to Win4Lin Terminal Server, supporting Windows 2000 and XP. Server can be accessed using multiple protocols, including Win4Lin's client, VNC or NoMachine. Clients can access either individual applications or desktops and print to printers connected to the client's computer. Windows installation can be reset while keeping the Documents and Settings directory.[11]
Win4Lin Pro Desktop 3.5Win4Lin ProNovember 30, 2006Support for variable-speed CPUs, pop-up menu for special key combinations, improved documentation.[30]
Win4Lin Pro Desktop 4.0Win4Lin ProMarch 19, 2007Shared clipboard between host and guest, enhanced graphics options for Windows XP guests, headless start, bridged networking support, better handling of non-English characters in filenames. A single license allows two concurrent user sessions at the same time.[31]
Win4Lin Virtual Desktop Server 4.5WinVDIOctober 25, 2007Update of VDS to Win4Lin Pro Desktop 4.5.[32]
Win4Lin Pro Desktop 4.5Win4Lin ProNovember 8, 2007Better audio support with ALSA and EsounD, remote audio playback. Seamless color printing, improved mouse handling. Support for Linux 2.6.22 and newer.[33]
Win4Lin Pro Desktop 5Win4Lin ProMay 15, 2008New user interface, KVM support, seamless guest windows.[34][35]
WinVDI 5.0WinVDIAugust 8, 2008Update of VDS to Win4Lin Pro Desktop 5.0. Remote printing support.[12]
Win4Lin Desktop 5.5Win4Lin ProOctober/November 2008Maintenance release.[36][37]
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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.[citation needed]

Nicholas Petereley praised Win4Lin in two of his columns in the year 2000, for its significantly faster performance than its competitor VMware.[6][38]

See also

References

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