Evaluate the three windows simulators in Linux (I)

Article title: Evaluation of three windows simulators in Linux (I ). Linux is a technology channel of the IT lab in China. Includes basic categories such as desktop applications, Linux system management, kernel research, embedded systems, and open source.
The fact is that nothing can satisfy everyone's needs, even Linux. This is why Windows operating systems are a good choice even though the applications developed on Linux as the system platform are already in the market. We want to run Windows applications on Linux machines, but we don't want to worry about partition Partitioning. so we can find three Windows system solutions on Linux-VMware, Win4Lin, and Wine -- to demonstrate their power. With the help of a simulator (Wine is a Windows-compatible operating level), you can use Linux as the basic system platform, on the one hand, Windows applications can be called up as needed.
　　
It would be great to make Windows and Linux compatible on a Linux machine as simple as filling Windows into a blank computer. Although each of these software packages has a strange group, thanks to God, none of them have reached the level of terror, and most of them can make different levels of work to the extent you expect.
　　
Don't forget the most obvious fact: apart from Wine, you must back up a Windows CD-95 or 98, there is also a copy of all the application backup CDs you want to execute. Win4Lin, Wine, and VMware both provide only the system platform and do not provide software. In addition, although Linux only requires a moderate-level hardware environment to operate well, Windows never saves system resources. If Windows 95 is installed, you need 64 MB of memory, and Windows 98 requires at least MB.
　　
Our testing system is equipped with a 800 MHz Pentium III central processor, 6.4 gb ide hard drive, Diamond Viper V770 display card, and Nvidia TNT2 chip, using Linux Red Hat 6. 2. operating system. We have considered installing the Nvidia Linux driver, but it is still in beta, and the installation guide has a full 18 pages, so we dismissed this idea.
　　
Windows graphical user interfaces (GUIs) must depend on a quick display card, while Linux does not. if you want Windows to have peak performance, we recommend that you install it in an independent partition instead of a VM or simulator.
　　
Three products we tested:
　　
VMware Workstation 2.03
　　
NeTraverse Win4Lin 2.0
　　
Wine
　　
Our recommendations
　　
VMware Workstation 2.03
　　
CNET score: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 best
　　
Advantage: it provides an independent Windows job environment, so that its Linux parent host platform is almost not vulnerable to connection.
Disadvantage: it is too expensive.
Summary: VMware is an indispensable tool for cross-platform application management.
　　
Not everyone needs VMware, and its relatively high pricing reminds you to think about whether or not you need it. VMware is only a little higher than the simulated Windows system environment level. In fact, it is a host-like hosting tool that allows you to load various client operating systems at the same time in a Windows or Linux system environment. For network administrators who have to support multiple system platforms and do not want to spend a whole day on a bunch of hosts, VMware is the first step to come true.
　　
　　
Using the full screen mode to run VMware is more efficient.
　　
Software requirements and specifications:
Platform: Linux with glibc 2.x, kernel 2.0.32 (single processor) or 2.2.x (SMP)
Processor: Pentium-266 or compatible memory; AMD-K6-2
Memory: 96 MB (recommended for 128 MB)
Disk space: 10 MB plus 500 MB for the next operating system and application software (2 GB recommended)
CD-ROM demand: None
Download the full version: Yes
　　
　　
VMware Workstation 2.03
　　
Not everyone needs VMware, and its relatively high pricing reminds you to think about whether or not you need it. VMware is only a little higher than the simulated Windows system environment level. In fact, it is a host-like hosting tool that allows you to load various client operating systems at the same time in a Windows or Linux system environment. For network administrators who have to support multiple system platforms and do not want to spend a whole day on a bunch of hosts, VMware is the first step to come true.
　　
Huge System requirements
Consider how much VNware can do. Simply install a client Windows 98 operating system to simulate the standslone mode system environment, you must contribute at least 64 mb ram (preferably with MB) to it. Also, although the manual says that as long as 500 MB of hard disk space is enough, it is recommended to install the Genie software at least 2 GB. This small surprise forced us back to the first step, to Red Hat6.2 to reset the size of the hard disk partition. In addition, all of the above are just the system requirements for installing the "one" client OS. If your Linux host is running with the traditional minimum hardware, you must consider this.
　　
Install
You can log on to and install VMware as the OS user of the client in the future. you do not have to be root. You can choose to use RPM (the administrator file of the red hat company's dedicated package program) or Gzipped Tar compressed file for installation. Although the installation program is quite simple, to prevent you from being nervous, we recommend that you download a 98-page PDF file from the VMware website to start the installation guide.
　　
The first part of installation is to install VMware software on your system. Basically, you only need to accept the default value and agree to the authorization statement, create a sub-directory, and copy the authorization consent form. Next, you almost have to wait for the system setting wizard of VMware.
　　
System Settings
There are two things to do before performing and setting VMware. First, you must compile the real-time clock function into the kernel. second, you must create a parallel port (parallel port PC-style) that supports PC hardware and load it as the core module. Once you start to set the system, you may find a kernel problem. When we started System setup, a dialog box appeared, warning us that Red Hat 2.2.14-5.0 kernel may cause insufficient memory when the load is too heavy. (This is also a problem with kernel 2.2.16 .) VMware software directs us to the Red Hat website to download the upgraded version of the kernel, but it would be better if it could tell us a little earlier.
　　
Next, everything is automatically installed. Windows 98, as usual, has been installed for a long time. after we have installed 98, VMware will guide us to install the VMware tool program, including an optimized image driver, the overall performance is significantly different during installation. We reset the available memory from the preset 48 MB to 64 MB through the drop-down menu, which can make the operation smoother; restart Windows, next, load the application, including Microsoft Word, workbook Excel, and image processing software Paint Shop Pro.
　　
Run the application
There was almost no problem executing these applications, but we noticed a delay in image display, even when the color was only 16 bits. Under VMware, Windows runs in a window by default. We convert it to full screen mode, that is, place it on a Windows host. (The selection button is located above the system surface, and the full screen mode starts when you press it .) As soon as we make this change, the image will be displayed very differently. Not only does the screen look like a Windows window, but it also works like a Windows window interface. Although it supports Direct X, it is not suitable for playing games here, because... the speed is very slow. Similarly, we have no way for Windows to recognize a DVD disk. Let's take a look at the bright side of VMware: As VMware runs the Windows operating system in its exclusive Windows memory space, once Windows is ready, it will not drag down Linux together. These two systems are completely independent (although we try our best to destroy the CD driver across the two systems in some cases when inserting a DVD disk ).
　　
Summary
Although the price of VMware Workstation up to $299 may cause some buyers to remove it from the first few shopping lists, VMware's sister product VMware Express, it not only supports Windows 95, 98, and other operating systems, but the price is also more than $79. VMware Workstation isolates the client system environment and protects the core Linux system. it is a major advantage for managers who must manage multiple operating systems.
　　
　　
NeTraverse Win4Lin 2.0
　　
CNET score: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 best
　　
Advantages: The installation is simple, and the file is well written. The operation is as expected.
Disadvantage: DirectX and Windows network architecture are not supported.
Summary: If you only need the basic Windows simulation platform operating system, Win4Lin is an option you can consider.
　　
Win4Lin has now developed into a very friendly Windows simulation platform operating system after the beta testing phase. NeTraverse provides excellent documentation on the installation program. even in the face of a variety of Linux Kernel preferences, these instructions minimize the pain points you encounter during the installation process.
　　
　　
Win4Lin allows you to execute Windows in full screen or window mode
　　
Software requirements and specifications:
Platform: Linux kernel 2.2.x, X Window System
Processor: Intel Pentium or compatible processor
Memory: 32 MB
Disk space: 15 MB, 40-130 MB for Windows download, and 40-200 MB for each user
CD-ROM demand: None
Download the full version: Yes
　　
NeTraverse Win4Lin 2.0
　　
Win4Lin has now developed into a very friendly blue-collar Windows simulation platform operating system after the beta testing phase. NeTraverse provides excellent documentation on the installation program. even in the face of a variety of Linux Kernel preferences, these instructions minimize the pain points you encounter during the installation process.
　　
Install
The first step to install Win4Lin is to print out the 13-page installation guide. (You can also view electronic files on the screen, but you may jump between the guidance and instructions. I believe you will be dizzy after three or two times ). Next, go directly to the last three pages, including the "exceptions" list, appendix, and general answers. The reason for this orchestration is that they want you to install Win4Lin on a host running Linux, and the kernel must be the original one, that is, the kernel you have not modified. If this is not the case, you need to visit the NeTraverse FTP site to download the appropriate kernel.
　　
The basic installation of Win4Lin is quite simple, as long as you follow the instructions. Although security