So you want to run windows programs on Linux?

@tracyanne: You could use Xen for that. Xen needs nearly nothing as the host. Use a fully stripped, bare distro with Xen as the host on a modern platform that supports hardware virtualisation and you should be good. Try a base (not standard, just base) Debian Lenny with the Xen kernel and unload as many modules as you can get away with. You may want to add LVM so you can use LVM volumes instead of disk images for your guests.

I don't think Xen gives you the Desktop sessions you really want. You might get that for the host but not for the other instances (unless you use vnc or something). Also, does Xen support Windows? I don't think so...maybe I'm wrong.

Quoting:Also, does Xen support Windows? I don't think so...maybe I'm wrong.

Of course it does.

Quoting:Also, does Xen support Windows? I don't think so...maybe I'm wrong.

Of course it does. windoze running under xen is pretty snappy from what I hear.

Linux

where can I get shoo linux, looking forward to your speedy reply, thank you.

Shoo

>> Tracyanne: So, basically you want a hypervisor that's stripped to the bone, giving as much power as possible to the guest OSes?

> yes

Well, while I hate to push a proprietary product, for that purpose, VMware's ESX is probably the best available.

See http://www.vmware.com/technology/whyvmware/robust-foundation... for an admittedly biased comparison.

Apparently it's now a free download from VMware: https://www.vmware.com/tryvmware/?p=esxi

I have no idea what else may be required to actually get it working, or if it's actually a complete solution, but if it also requires VMware Infrastructure, you can get a 60 day trial of that too: https://www.vmware.com/tryvmware/index.php?p=vi3

If you should decide to try it out, I bet LXer would love a writeup and review. :)

> where can I get shoo linux

Shoo Linux, don't bother me. Shoo Linux, don't bother me....

Or do you mean Shoe Linux, the version intended to run on those new LED flashing shoes on the market (don't laugh, I bet someone is trying even now).

Shoe Linux powers the Smart Phone.

....can't believe my brain came up with that one......

Shoe Linux powers the Shoe Bomb! It is, literally, Da Bomb!

Shoe Linux SE (Security Enhanced) helps to protect you against Shoe Bombs!

I can't believe nobody has spotted my two-layer pun yet.

Nope. Can't see it. You may want to sketch it out :-)

A Mel Brooks comedy series...

>> A Mel Brooks comedy series...

Nah, couldn't be. His hardware was a Sun (beam Tiger.)

But not the Smart Phone.

> I can't believe nobody has spotted my two-layer pun yet.

Maxwell Smart and his shoe phone. Now all you need to do is tie in the cone of silence. :)

The cone of silence that constantly fails to live up to its touted purpose, yet was never decomissioned?

Remember, Bill Gates started young.

> The cone of silence that constantly fails to live up to its touted purpose...

Oh, the cone of silence worked perfectly. You couldn't hear a thing when you were in it. :)

> Bill Gates started young.

Hmm. I'd never considered that possibility. I'll have to do the math sometime and see if it's possible.