Let's talk about how to run Windows under Linux without virtualization/emulation

Hello,

with this project I want to find alternative ways to run Windows under Linux without virtualization. I'm looking for new kinds of technologies that might be interesting to use as the basis for this project,for example :

Cooperative Linux is the first working free and open source method for optimally running Linux on Microsoft Windows natively. More generally, Cooperative Linux (short-named coLinux) is a port of the Linux kernel that allows it to run cooperatively alongside another operating system on a single machine. For instance, it allows one to freely run Linux on Windows 2000/XP, without using a commercial PC virtualization software such as VMware, in a way which is much more optimal than using any general purpose PC virtualization software.

it is a good idea,but I want to do something better. Why ?

For a lot of reasons :

a) Linux has a better file system than Windows.
b) Linux is safer than Windows
c) Wine is good,but it doesn't offer the best compatibility with Windows
d) Virtualization software is good for almost every kind of Windows software (except for games) but it takes too much resources on the computer
e) Linux needs to offer the maximum compatibility for Windows professional applications and for newbies
f) Linux lacks a lot of drivers

a

jaclaz

Let's restart from this Karyonix post :

To run Windows on Linux filesystem :

we will need a filesystem driver for it.

- Local filesystem if Windows is in a separate partition or disk image.
- Network filesystem if you want to share filesystem with host.

Can Windows run from network filesystem ? I don't know.

We may need much resource on the computer just like existing virtualization software.
It is difficult or almost impossible to adjust amount of guest Windows RAM while guest is running.
We have to pre-allocate guest RAM just like other virtualization software.
Display adapter+keyboard+mouse is another major component. We need guest drivers for them.
Or let Windows take control of the real display adapter+keyboard+mouse, user can still access Linux host by network.
Another possibility is let Windows have its own display adapter separated from host's display but that is what I call "too much resource".

Is this the winner for the "shortest topic title of the year" award?

Is this the winner for the "shortest topic title of the year" award?

Naah , it is far too obvious.

You need some fantasy, "a" is the first letter of the alphabet, a "q" is not good as well, as it is first char on a QWERTY keyboard, something apparently casual, but nonetheless significative, like a "h" could have been a submission worht of note.

@Marietto
I really don't know.

I accessed the board this morning to find a CLOSED topic with your post, which I will quote in it's entirety :

a

I guess it's you the one that has to tell us what's going on.

jaclaz

I find interesting Longene too :

"Longene aims to add all Windows kernel mechanisms, including system calls, Windows Registry, Windows Driver Model, Deferred Procedure Call, and others, into the Linux kernel to form a new kernel. The new kernel will allow both Linux and Windows applications and device drivers to work without virtualization or emulation".

Anyway,I don't think that's a good idea to port system calls,Windows registry,Windows driver model,etc into the Linux Kernel,for two reasons :

1) the structural problems of the Windows system will be reversed into the Linux Kernel

2) following this way will never achieve the maximum compatibility with the Windows executables.

I think that the best way could be to keep separate Kernels

Jaclaz,remove this thread,please.

You joking right?

I am usually against deleting post/threads, expecially for this reason :
http://www.boot-land...?...c=8587&st=7

...do you remember when you posted "a"....



jaclaz

Another interesting way to follow could be to create zones of abstraction for individual applications,without to run the whole Windows system under Linux. I found 4 kinds of solution that works following this philosophy :

http://www.installfree.com
http://www.wanova.com
http://tranxition.com
http://neocleus.com