LINA brings Linux apps over to Windows, Mac users

Linux & Open Source This newsletter is sponsored by Novell From servers to storage: Virtualization saves It's touted as one of the fastest and easiest ways to better manage and control your infrastructure. Download this guide today and see how network IT execs are making virtualization pay off in the real world; discover the 8 virtualization gotchas you need to know; and much more. Network World's Linux & Open Source Newsletter, 06/04/07 LINA brings Linux apps over to Windows, Mac users By Phil Hochmuth Fans of cross-platform computing and the "write-once-run-anywhere" concept of applications and software will want to take a look at Lina. The open source software company plans to debut its eponymous (but note the capitalization) LINA platform this month. The product is an operating system shim for non-Linux machines, and software development environments, which allows Windows, Mac OS X and Unix machines to run software written specifically for Linux-based desktops and servers. Lina says its software allows Linux apps to run with a "native look and feel" on non-Linux machines. All flavors of Linux are supported by the software. The concept is similar to WINE, or offerings by CodeWeavers (which allow Windows apps to run on Linux) but in reverse. The software does not use an emulation window or virtual machine environment; Linux apps launched on a Microsoft, Mac or Unix workstation run as if installed on a Linux desktop, the company says. From servers to storage: Virtualization saves It's touted as one of the fastest and easiest ways to better manage and control your infrastructure. Download this guide today and see how network IT execs are making virtualization pay off in the real world; discover the 8 virtualization gotchas you need to know; and much more. Click here to download. According to the company, it does this with its library of LINA APIs, and "Linux binaries packaged in a zip file that contains configuration files and a small executable with operating-system-specific instructions to start the application appropriately on each platform." The LINA environment also seals off Linux-based software from changing or affecting configuration files or other settings on the non-Linux hosts on which the software is running. Linux-based command line applications and Web-based applications can run freely in the LINA environment; GUI-based Linux apps must use the LINA library. The company says that in its initial release, Linux CLI and Web applications will run twice as slowly on non-Linux platforms, as opposed to running natively. GUI-based apps will run even slower. However, the company says it is working to make LINA run faster in future releases. LINA will be licensed under the GNU Public License version 2 (GPLv2), and the company plans to release source code for the software when the product launches this month.   What do you think? Post a comment on this newsletter

Contact the author: Phil Hochmuth is a Network World Senior Editor and a former systems integrator. You can reach him at phochmut@nww.com. This newsletter is sponsored by Novell From servers to storage: Virtualization saves It's touted as one of the fastest and easiest ways to better manage and control your infrastructure. Download this guide today and see how network IT execs are making virtualization pay off in the real world; discover the 8 virtualization gotchas you need to know; and much more. ARCHIVE Archive of the Linux & Open Source Newsletter. BONUS FEATURE IT PRODUCT RESEARCH AT YOUR FINGERTIPS Get detailed information on thousands of products, conduct side-by-side comparisons and read product test and review results with Network World’s IT Buyer’s Guides. Find the best solution faster than ever with over 100 distinct categories across the security, storage, management, wireless, infrastructure and convergence markets. Click here for details. PRINT SUBSCRIPTIONS AVAILABLE You've got the technology snapshot of your choice delivered to your inbox each day. Extend your knowledge with a print subscription to the Network World newsweekly, Apply here today. International subscribers, click here. SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES To subscribe or unsubscribe to any Network World newsletter, change your e-mail address or contact us, click here. This message was sent to: security.world@gmail.com. Please use this address when modifying your subscription. Advertising information: Write to Associate Publisher Online Susan Cardoza Network World, Inc., 118 Turnpike Road, Southborough, MA 01772 Copyright Network World, Inc., 2007