Virtual Linux Desktop (Gentoo/XFCE) on Windows with CoLinux

[Beach]

I have been working on a Cooperative Linux disk image that contains Gentoo, GTK, XFCE4, FireFox, and SciTE with PureBasic syntax highlighting.

CoLinux is a Windows application similar to VMWare or VirtualPC but it is GPL'ed so there is no cost. Networking is provided by a virtual TAP network driver (installed with CoLinux) which you "bridge" with your existing NIC.

I have been using it all weekend with no crashes... I would be happy to share this image if anyone is interested (with the demo version of PureBasic installed). I can compress everything to about 275mb but you will need a little over 2Gb for the image to expand. Also, this setup assumes you have DHCP enabled.

There are a few downsides: No sound capabilities and USB devices are not supported (other than mouse and keyboard). The CoLinux site states they are working on this though.

More information:
Cooperative Linux: http://www.colinux.org/

Some screen shots of my pc running my virtual desktop
- CoLinux console after boot-up and logon (56K)
- FireFox open on XFCE (145K)
- XFCE filemanager (106K)
- SciTE version 1.61 with a PB example (98K)
- Compiled app using the F5 key in SciTE (97K)

-Beach

[MadMax]

Sounds interesting, How can I get it?

[Beach]

Great! I will get everything together and upload it to my server. I will post a link when I have it ready.

[Shannara]

I am interested as well Is there a way to install a reg version of Purebasic some how? Or even save/read from a disk for pb projects, etc? This version of linux might actually work on a 3 ghz HP laptop.

[Beach]

Is there a way to install a reg version of Purebasic some how?

I will create a small app to install the regular version of PB after a download.

This version of linux might actually work on a 3 ghz HP laptop.

The only thing I see speed issues with is when the PB app has moving sprites. Like the example 'sprite.pb' which moves a space ship accross the screen. It moves ok, but will stall slightly while moving accross the screen. Other than that, it works fine.

[Rings]

very interresting project. I have a PB-Ready linux already running (with 3d accelerator) but i like your idea to make and code more bi-lingual. The only problem i see is the size of the download.Hope you find some free bandwith.
We should also ask fred if there are any problems bundling the demo-software and how to upgrade it to a full version.

[Beach]

The only problem i see is the size of the download.Hope you find some free bandwith.

I wish, I have a server I use to host web sites on but it is not busy this time of the year. I will use this for now. If you would like the image, please send me a PM and I will send the link.

We should also ask fred if there are any problems bundling the demo-software and how to upgrade it to a full version.

I hope he does not mind. I thought since there was no registration to download on the main PureBasic site that it would be alright. I will certainly remove it if so.

Also, I created a small app that will upgrade the system to the full version after downloading from the "personal user area". Here is a screen cap:

[freak]

I am also very interested in this.

Including the PB demo is no problem. You may redistribute the demo freely, as long
as you do not modify it, and include all the files.
Ofcourse you can't include the full version, but this install tool sounds good.

I could host that download for you.. i'll send you a PM.

Timo

[Shannara]

I can host as well, as I have 1 TB of bandwidth a month laying around doing nothing... Sending PM

[fsw]

Downloaded the 2 MB file from sourceforge.
Get this error message:

• ---------------------------
  16 bit MS-DOS Subsystem
  ---------------------------
  COLINU~1.EXE
  The NTVDM CPU has encountered an illegal instruction.
  CS:05a0 IP:01a0 OP:63 6f 6c 69 6e Choose 'Close' to terminate the application.
  ---------------------------
  Close Ignore
  ---------------------------

If I choose ignore this comes up:

• ---------------------------
  16 bit MS-DOS Subsystem
  ---------------------------
  COLINU~1.EXE
  The NTVDM CPU has encountered an illegal instruction.
  CS:05a0 IP:01a8 OP:63 6f 4c 69 6e Choose 'Close' to terminate the application.
  ---------------------------
  Close Ignore
  ---------------------------

And then it quits.
My OS: Win2K sp4

Sent a personal pm anyway. Hope your version will work...
Thanks

[Beach]

@Shannara

I have been talking with Timo to upload the installation files, it would really be nice to have a site to mirror! Thanks!

@fsw

I have not tried to install everything on a Windows 2000 machine yet. I will do that later on today. I followed my small 'how-to' guide just now on my Dell 260 workstation, which is running WinXP, and it worked perfectly.

I will upload the compressed file (which includes all installation files and the Gentoo disk image) and post the how-to so you can see all the required steps before giving this a try.

[thefool]

sounds very interesting beach! I will for sure download it when it is uploaded.

[MadMax]

Just one thing, will it work with win98?

[Beach]

I am sorry, the answer is no. CoLinux works only on NT based versions. At the moment, I have it running on two XP PCs.

from the CoLinux FAQ:

* Q11. Is it possible to run coLinux under 98/ME?

A limited port to Windows 98/ME is possible, but that would require lots of work. NT supports asynchronus operations and security attributes in many interfaces. 98 & ME do not have such options available if otherwise limited. New code would have to be written to simulate the asynchronus operations. The code could not be considered as secure for kernel level execution because of the absent security options. For any detailed differences, reference the manuals at the......

I am going to load 2K on another PC later to see if how the network bridging works. It is a breeze to setup a bridge in XP.

[LarsG]

This sounds interresting... Keep us posted on this one Beach.. It looks like you've done some nice work there..