Scoop’s Views

I received this press release today. It came from a company I have done business with in the past.

The press release is to announce a soon-to-be released utility for use on Unix and Linux boxes. It allows you to suspend running applications on office workstations or remote Linux and Unix server. Later, from a remote machine, such as at home, another location, or whatever, resume the applications on a Windows PC.

StarNet Communications of Sunnyvale, California, a leading developer of Windows-to-Linux/UNIX connectivity solutions, announced the first public demonstration of LinuxLIVE, an innovative Linux workstation solution that lets users suspend applications running on their office workstation and on remote Linux and Unix servers and resume them on a Windows PC at home or elsewhere.

StarNet will also demonstrate the new X-Win32 9.2 release that includes the ability for multiple users in different locations to securely and effectively collaborate on applications running on remote Unix or Linux servers.

LinuxLIVE leverages StarNet’s LIVE client/server technology that keeps applications running on Linux and Unix servers when the connection between the client and server is severed by either a Windows, network or power crash or when the end user suspends the applications. By installing the LIVE server and client on their Linux workstation, user can manually suspend their work at the end of the workday, go home and resume their sessions on a Windows computer using StarNet’s X-Win32 PC X server software.

LinuxLIVE also protects Linux users who are accessing applications on remote Unix and Linux hosts against workstation crashes, network interruptions or power outages. The LIVE server keeps those sessions running on the remote hosts.

“LinuxLIVE allows us to bring our innovative LIVE session capabilities such as session recovery, session mobility and session sharing, to the Linux workstation platform. LinuxLIVE brings the interoperability between Linux, Unix and Windows clients and servers full circle. It no longer matters on which end-user platform you work at any given time. You can always connect to your remote Linux and Unix applications,” said StarNet co-founder and Chief Executive Officer, Steven Schoch.

While Linux desktop systems have not made a measurable impact on the overall desktop computer market, Linux workstations are used extensively in the engineering departments of most high-tech companies. “We have seen a significant migration from Windows workstations outfitted with a PC X server to Linux workstations. LinuxLIVE gives us the opportunity to continue to serve these users with X server solutions that improve their productivity,” Schoch said.

For example, Schoch added, LinuxLIVE users can simultaneously display local Linux and Windows desktops alongside, Solaris and AIX CDE desktops. They can then suspend all of those sessions and resume one or more on their home Windows PC using X-Win32.

Is this cool or what?

So what are your thoughts on this?