coLinux

Hi all,

Perhaps an interesting project for all of you:

"Cooperative Linux is the first working free and open source method for 
optimally running Linux on Microsoft Windows natively. More generally, 
Cooperative Linux (short-named coLinux) is a port of the Linux kernel 
that allows it to run cooperatively alongside another operating system 
on a single machine. For instance, it allows one to freely run Linux on 
Windows 2000/XP, without using a commercial PC virtualization software 
such as VMware, in a way which is much more optimal than using any 
general purpose PC virtualization software. In its current condition, it 
allows us to run the KNOPPIX Japanese Edition on Windows"

It already runs KNOPPIX, so it is basically, eh, Debian for win32. 
Haven't installed it yet, but the screenshots look very promising.


home:     http://www.colinux.org
download: http://sourceforge.net/project/showfiles.php?group_id=98788


It can even boot a multi-boot partition (from the FAQ, 
http://www.colinux.org/?section=faq ):

Q3. I have a dual boot system. Is it possible to run coLinux from the 
Linux partition when I'm in Windows?
A3.
Yes. Under Windows it is possible to read and write partitions like 
regular files when accessing them using this patchname 
\Device\HarddiskVolumeX, where 'X' needs to be replaced with a number. 
Basically, you can change coLinux's XML configuration to use 
\Device\HarddiskVolumeX as block device instead of a regular file

Don't know about accessing the win32 file system from Linux, but it 
should at least support smbfs, since it has a virtual network.


Regards,

-- Arend --