Introducing LINA: A Linux Virtual Machine

Are you tired of missing some of your favorite open source, Linux-based applications on your Unix/Mac OS X/Windows-based system? Ever wished that they were ported to your current operating system? Then look no further. Coming this June is LINA, a Linux virtual machine that allows users to run applications with the native look of their host operating system. It also lets you install applications with a mouse-click, no need to compile software from source code.

LINA provides a major technological breakthrough in computer platform portability. With the advanced technology of LINA, Open Source Linux applications can be run simply and robustly on all flavor of Linux, as well as on UNIX, Windows, and Mac OS X platforms.

The challenge

Today, tens of thousands of Open Source applications written for Linux are available free of charge. Unfortunately, Windows and Mac users cannot run these applications on their operating systems. Furthermore, due to the multiple versions of Linux currently available, even users on the Linux platform have difficulty benefiting from existing Open Source applications. The challenge that Open Source faces is how to bring its enormous base of applications to the ninety-five percent of users who cannot use it today. LINA meets this challenge head on.

LINA provides solutions for users and developers

LINA allows users to run Open Source Linux applications on Windows and Mac operating systems. With LINA, users don’t sacrifice the familiar look and feel of their operating systems since each LINA application will run exactly as expected, with native look and feel, regardless of the underlying operating system.

When companies develop their key applications to run on LINA, operating system can be upgraded with minimal business interruption. Businesses with a variety of operating systems on their network can also now run the same applications on all machines. LINA decreases
operating system dependency by offering fully portable applications. At the same time, LINA expands the deployment of applications by enabling them to run on any operating system.

LINA in a nutshell

Native look and feel

With LINA, Open Source applications developed and compiled in a Linux environment can be run on Windows, Mac OS X, and UNIX operating systems, as well as any flavor of Linux. On the LINA platform, Linux applications adopt the appearance and interface characteristics of applications written for the underlying operating system, providing users the native look and feel of their familiar operating systems.

Fully portable

LINA runs invisibly wherever installed, offering a fully integrated solutionfor development and deployment of cross-platform executables.

Secure and stable

Once installed, LINA creates a secure and stable execution platform for LINA applications. Each application runs in a separate instance of LINA which is terminated upon completion of the application. The termination of the instance effectively insulates the underlying operating system from unplanned interference from the application, and protects the
user’s other programs and data from unexpected modification or operation.

From the application’s perspective, since each instance of LINA is identical, programs written for LINA are guaranteed to run regardless of changes made to the underlying operating system.

LINA and other cross-platform solutions

LINA makes it simple to harness the power of Open Source Linux by combining the best aspects of all previous solutions. LINA is thin and fast, using minimal system resources. Applications running on LINA are completely integrated with the user’s operating system, incorporating the look and feel of applications written for that operating system. LINA
is secure — these applications only interact with the core of the main operating system to the extent that the user allows them to. Perhaps most importantly, LINA runs code written for an existing, robust, well documented operating system — Linux.

LINA: Operating system independence

With LINA, users have easy, straightforward access to Open Source Linux applications without changing any aspect of their existing operating system. With no sacrifice of their existing software, the user experience of LINA is “All Gain, No Pain.” LINA applications are simple to install and guaranteed to run. Complex packages can be easily installed with no configuring, no compiling, and no chance of missing dependencies.

Linux executables, written and compiled for LINA, work on all machines without the need to recompile. Because they adopt the native look and feel of the host operating system, they function exactly as the user expects, and are fully integrated into the desktop.

For businesses, all machines on a corporate network comprised of diverse desktops and servers can now run the same software. And LINA protects enterprise software, since applications written for LINA continue to work regardless of changes made to the underlying operating system. Further, with LINA the decision to upgrade or migrate to a new operating system no longer causes incompatibility issues that have historically kept businesses locked in. Because applications written for LINA are distributed as fully compiled executables with all dependencies included, complex solutions that currently require detailed configuration efforts are instantly usable upon installation.

LINA running an Image Application on Linux, Mac OS X and Windows

LINA unleashes the reusability of Open Source code. Businesses and individuals can now reap the benefits that results from the global collaboration of the Open Source community.

LINA: For Users

LINA brings Open Source applications to everyone

LINA brings Open Source applications to all users. Portable LINA applications enable users at home and in the enterprise to use Open Source applications on their existing operating systems. The vast majority who currently use Windows and Mac OS X can fully benefit from the tens of thousands of available Open Source applications, thus becoming less dependent on proprietary software. LINA allows all users to choose Open Source software.

LINA encourages Linux migration

Applications written for LINA are distributed as Linux executables guaranteed to run on all machines, Linux and otherwise. LINA minimizes migration risks such as increased support costs and productivity losses because users can transition one application at a time. With LINA, users can take advantage of the low cost, high reliability, and robust security of Open Source, allowing them to gradually move to Linux, if they choose.

LINA software runs on ALL your operating systems

With LINA, Linux applications can easily run on corporate desktops as well as on servers. With fully portable enterprise software, systems administrators can turn their attention elsewhere.

LINA: For Developers

Bringing Open Source to all the users in the world

Developing to the LINA platform allows software developers to experience the benefits of developing Open Source applications while still reaching the huge user base associated with Windows and Mac OS X. With LINA, developers and independent software vendors writing for Windows, Mac OS X, and other platforms have the option to build on existing Open Source software to bring their products to market faster and more reliably. With LINA they have access to the global collaboration of the Open Source community and can benefit from the contributions of developers everywhere.

Develop it for Linux, run it everywhere

The LINA development platform is the Linux development platform– well-established, stable, and with plenty of support for new developers. The developer writing a LINA application creates easy-to-install executables packaged with all dependencies, guaranteed not to interfere with anything else installed on the user’s machine.

With LINA, developers bring Open Source everywhere.

For more information, screenshots and videos of LINA, head over to OpenLINA