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2. Diskless Computer for Microsoft Windows 95/NT !!

Since Microsoft Windows 95/NT DOES NOT support diskless nodes, there is an intelligent work-around to overcome this short coming. Microsoft corporation will be surprised !!

2.1 VMWare package

Use the VMWare BIOS software with Linux which can host the Windows 95/98/NT. Linux will be the "host" OS and Windows 95/NT will be the "guest" OS. VMWare is NOT a emulator but has BIOS which allows you to install Windows 95/98/NT as the guest OS to linux. Install the VMWare on Linux server and than install Windows 95/NT on VMWare.

You can use the 'xhost' command and DISPLAY environment from any diskless node. See 'man xhost' on linux. At diskless node give -


        export DISPLAY=server_hostname:0.0
where server_hostname is the name of the server machine. And start X-terminal with
        xterm

Using VMWare, Diskless linux computers can run both Linux and MS Windows 95 programs. VMWare is at http://www.vmware.com.

2.2 Plex86 package

There are other tools similar to vmware:

2.3 VNC package from AT and T

You can also use the VNC (Virtual Network Computing) Technology from the telecom giant AT & T. VNC is GPLed and is a free software. Using VNC you can run Windows 95/NT programs on diskless linux computer but actually running on remote Windows95/NT server. VNC is at http://www.uk.research.att.com/vnc


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