Cooperative Linux

Cooperative Linux (short coLinux ) is a software that allows you to run Linux without additional virtualization software under Microsoft Windows.

Concept

CoLinux is based on the concept of a Cooperative Virtual Machine. While traditional virtualization solutions such as VMware, Virtual PC and Xen are unprivileged and, therefore, are under the complete control of the host system, the core processes of both operating systems are in coLinux to two big coroutines, have the full processor and address space control and decide independently when to them at their leave partners.

Advantage of this approach is a good power and relatively low development time. The disadvantage is that, if appropriate instabilities and vulnerabilities in the host system be transferred to the host system. Crashes with a traditional virtualization solution from the guest, it may be terminated on the host system and restarted. In a Cooperative Virtual Machine also the host system may crash. Because of its deep intervention in the host system must be running coLinux with administrator rights and, accordingly, malicious software in the guest has full access to the host system.

At the moment, coLinux is mainly developed for Windows and Linux, in principle, the code but should run with minor changes with all operating systems for the same hardware architecture that provide methods are available, which allow the coLinux driver in CPL0 mode ( ring 0) to run and to allocate memory. coLinux claimed no access to physical hardware, but works with a virtual hardware abstraction layer, the hardware access maps to the Windows API. Same concept, but with illustration on the Linux API is used at User Mode Linux to run a Linux kernel under Linux.

Installation

CoLinux is available as source code and as a Windows Installer package. This includes a virtual network card driver and a modified Linux kernel. To run a disk image file or a Linux partition on the hard drive are also required. To use the X Window System programs, an X - Server for Windows is required, such as Xming. coLinux provides an opportunity to work with Linux without having to repartition the hard drive while running the risk of data loss.

Distributions

AndLinux

AndLinux is an Ubuntu -based distribution for Windows CoLinux. The native graphical display provides as Xming X Window Server on Windows (2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 7, 32 bit) ready; PulseAudio sound output. The coLinux File System ( COFS ) or Samba realize the file access by the Midnight Commander or Thunar. The Linux version of Firefox allows secure internet access. Also, Xfce or KDE to run directly under Windows. AndLinux starts up by default with Windows and is ready to use.

Speed linux

Originally called freetzLinux, speed linux is a customized, targeted at developers CoLinux distribution for Windows. The native graphical display provides as Xming X Window Server on Windows (2000, XP, 2003, Vista, 7, 32 bit) ready; PulseAudio sound output. The actual Linux system is also offered to install from version 3001, it can also be a base.drv system image from a different distribution are used. To select to prepare Linux systems are currently Ubuntu 9.04 and Ubuntu 12:04 Develop in two versions. The functions may be similar to andLinux, but adapted for the use of Freetz and speed-to -fritz. It's like andLinux available. For problems with andLinux it is always worth a try, because they have different a few parts yet. Xming version and coLinux version are different. Network Bridge is enabled so that pings and FTP transfer function.