Tools for virtual computing in Linux Guest and Host

Once you could only choose one operating system. Then you could choose more, but you had to reboot. In today's world, users prefer their heterogeneity to come in a single package.

Why not run Windows applications in Linux? Why not implement a full version of Windows, or Mac OS X, or Linux, inside of a Linux host? Developers like virtual systems because an unfinished application can break the virtual PC without bringing down the host. System administrators use virtual systems to test kernel versions or to experiment with network configurations. Users just want to run their favorite application in their favorite operating system. In this month's Virtual Systems cover story, we'll help you get started with virtual computing in Linux

Our articles this month cover topics such as:

COVER STORY

Windows apps with Wine | 22 VMWare 4.5.2 | 28 User-Mode Linux | 32 Mac-on-Linux | 38

Windows Apps with Wine: Wine and the tools derived from it let you run Windows applications in Linux. We'll show you how you can support Windows programs with Wine, and we'll introduce you to a pair of Wine variants: CrossOver Office and Cedega.

VMWare 4.5.2: If you are looking for a stable and well tested tool that will help you run a full version of Windows inside a Linux system, try the venerable VMWare.

User-Mode Linux: The popular User-Mode Linux (UML) is a fast, sensible, and inexpensive tool for running Linux as a virtual system in Linux. We'll describe how to set up your own virtual system with UML, and we'll show you why users, developers, and admins have found a thousand uses for UML.

Mac-on-Linux: Mac-on-Linux is a free tool that lets you run Mac OS inside of Power PC-based Linux systems. We'll show you how you can get the best of both worlds without dual-booting.