Instantly switching between Windows and Linux

[Marcos Reyes]

I would like to know if it would be possible, now or in the future, to
instantly switch between two running operating systems on one machine.  For
example by dividing the RAM on the machine to be dedicated to each OS, and
having a buffer for device states.
It would be really cool, for example, to launch a shortcut from within
windows that launches a program in Linux.  Though some multitasking would be
lost, as processes in Windows would be suspended.  Or maybe not, with
multi-processor systems?  I don't know anything about this... just a dream.
Would be great to migrate people to Linux.         M

[Tarl Neustaedter]

Marcos Reyes wrote:
> I would like to know if it would be possible, now or in the future, to
> instantly switch between two running operating systems on one machine.  For
> example by dividing the RAM on the machine to be dedicated to each OS, and
> having a buffer for device states.

Look at:

http://www.xensource.com/Pages/default.aspx
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xen

[Marcos Reyes]

> > I would like to know if it would be possible, now or in the future, to
> > instantly switch between two running operating systems on one machine.

For
> > example by dividing the RAM on the machine to be dedicated to each OS,

and
> > having a buffer for device states.
>
> Look at:
>
> http://www.xensource.com/Pages/default.aspx
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xen

Damn!  They got bought out by a company that has agreements with Microsoft!

[Torsten Duwe]

On Wednesday 10 October 2007, Marcos Reyes wrote:
> > http://www.xensource.com/Pages/default.aspx
> > http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xen
>
> Damn!  They got bought out by a company that has agreements with Microsoft!

_You_ wanted Linux and windoze coupled together more tightly, there you go!

Besides your question being far off-topic for this list, which is what Tarl 
probably wanted to imply as well, let me quickly share a thought. Maybe as 
a "prior art" reference, in case some wit considers that patentable rocket 
science.

IIRC there already is an X server ( http://x.org ) for windoze, and also a KDE 
port being done. So, by launching a Xen, Linux in dom0, windoze in domU and 
passing it  the graphics hardware, the windows desktop, looking like windoze 
or KDE, could seamlessly show native windows, or Linux programs via X 
protocol over veth.

Torsten