[KLUG Members] another box to linux?

[Bruce Smith]

> I have an opportunity to recommend that a client change their Windows 
> box to a Linux box.  Lots of good reasons (mostly the incessant 
> Microsoft vulnerabilities), of course, but one gotcha.
> 
> They have an old DOS-based (!) app that they have to be able to run on 
> this machine.  They actually run it as a shortcut over the network. 
> That is, they have a link on their desktop that refers to this program 
> on another Win machine.  The program will not run correctly on Windows 
> if I copy the program to this box because the data is still on the other 
> machine, where it has to stay.  So, this box just maps the network drive 
> and uses a shortcut to the program on it.
> 
> Long story short, is there any chance I could make this box Linux and 
> still make that program run?  I have a Linux box on the network already 
> I can use for testing.  Any advice, recommendations?

If it's DOS based, it's unlikely it'll run in wine.

There is a free DOS emulator for Linux, DOSEMU, but I haven't used it in
a VERY LONG time, and I don't know it's status these days, or even if
it's currently being maintained or not.

VMware will most likely run it.  VMware is commercial software, so there
is a cost involved going this route.

There has been talk about some "VMware-like" free software, but I don't
know it's current status either.  Last I looked it wasn't ready.

 - BS