Works a treat, great for testing web applications in all browser/OS combinations… Can run IE in its native environment with ease.

A +1 for a very helpful and elegant solution!

Thanks a bunch…

This is a great hint. I have a Mac with Leopard and rdesktop compiles just fine (with Dev Tools installed from CD) and I was able to run my windows app on my X11 installation just fine. Took about 3 minutes to do.

Why wouldn’t you just use virtualbox which has this built in?

ummm… virtualbox in seamless mode? much simpler.

@snapper thanks, thats good to know

@Antony Jones: I honestly didn’t know that virtualbox had such a feature, reading comments on Digg made me realize that. It does sound a much better solution, haven’t tried it yet.

@Rambi
it doesnt only seem like it, it works really nice too.
and installing using it is slightly simpler.
and the good think is you can grab the virtualbox oss version for doing so, much nicer than vmware.

This does have the advantage that it does not have to be run on a virtual box. I have used this to run apps from my office computer locally via the VPN, works just as well that way.

is it good enough to run games at full speed? can i finally dump my windows box

I don’t know much about the VM software being used here. I’ve only used so far in a full windows environment so I have a few questions.

How heavy is this on resources? I would LOVE to finally get off XP all together, but I still want to be able to game. I’ve never tried to run anything with heavy graphics in a VM environment. Will it run as fast but just use more system resources?

Horrid machine? Odd. Maybe you’re doing something wrong. Windows is a source of employment and entertainment for me. I support about 400 PC’s at Honda. Windows allows them to get work done at work and away from work. I only hear about problems with Windows on the web. Usually, I only have hardware probelms at Honda.

@shiro and Userdenied: Do you have examples of the apps and/or games you wish to run on VM?

@lazybit, I will def check it out! It’s Rami not Rambi

@JC: Didn’t quite get you, what do you mean?

what is the point of having linux if you are just going to run windows apps on it?

If I understand correctly, you have not really gotten rid of Windows. You have simply dumped it on another machine, which is extra hardware that costs you more money.

Does it work with a cmd window? Last time I looked at this (2 years ago?) it didn’t They never appeared, something to do with the way windows renders cmd windows differently.. was a real pain

Keep in mind this does not work on computers that are part of a domain.

[...] Run Windows Apps 100% Seamlessly on Ubuntu! | Bringing Linux to the Masses (tags: ubuntu Windows vmware) [...]

[...] under Windows. So why not eliminate Windows out of the equation and run it seamlessly on Ubuntu? read more | digg story Filled under: Uncategorized | You can follow any responses to this entry through the [...]

Yeah but you still need to pay for a valid windows license

You still have to have windows, So by seamlessly, you mean not exactly? Nice work.

Greetings,
I’m totaly new in Linux and I’we tried to run Win programs in Linux. But it doesn’ work for me and I don’t know why.
Both of my machines are in VMWare. I have Win XP SP2 an Ubuntu. I have done everithing what is written, but when i click the louncher in Ubuntu, it doesn’t happen enithing.
I can conect from Ubuntu via remote on Windows.
What am I dooing wrong?
Thanx for answers.

@Soor could you email me using this :

http://hehe2.net/contact/

Nice tutorial. I will try and get back, if, any problem arise.

Hi, I found your blog on this new directory of WordPress Blogs at blackhatbootcamp.com/listofwordpressblogs. I dont know how your blog came up, must have been a typo, i duno. Anyways, I just clicked it and here I am. Your blog looks good. Have a nice day. James.

Wonderful Tutorial! Thank You!

@LinuxUser: It does work on a domain. The rdesktop client takes many options, and domain is one of them.

“rdesktop -A -s ‘c:\seamless\seamlessrdpshell.exe c:\windows\explorer.exe’ -u [username] -p [password] -d [domain] [Server Name/IP]”

I’ve tested this successfully on my own domain.

[...] Run Windows Apps 100% Seamlessly on Ubuntu! [...]

@Rami:
Just out of curiosity, do you have to purchase VMware? The only thing I can seem to find is their corporate website. There is a trial version on there, but it doesn’t say how long the trial lasts for.

Currently using VirtualBox, but you have to have it running the whole time if you want to RDP into it which kind of defeats the purpose.

@Keevman no you don’t. Here is a handy howto, for Ubuntu, your mileage may vary

http://www.howtoforge.com/ubuntu_feisty_fawn_vmware_server_howto

@Rami: Running into problems. Downloaded VMware server 2, and followed the instructions to the letter. When I click on the launcher, I get a “no such file or directory error,” despite the fact that I know it should be there (screenie upon request). I even re-installed rdesktop, but still no joy. VMware server 2 works like a champ (I especially like the web interface for managing the VM). This really isn’t that critical an issue for me, as I basically just use it to manage my iTunes and access my work email (work seems to be dependent on MS products!), but it would be nice to have the task bar available while using my Ubuntu desktop.

@Keevman, I am assuming that VMware is working fine, you are just having trouble with the launcher you created as per this post right?

Could you post the exact command?

“rdesktop -A -s ‘c:\seamless\seamlessrdpshell.exe c:\windows\explorer.exe’ nnn.nnn.nnn.nnn -u xxxxxxxx -p xxxxxxxx”

Quotes included. Of course, that’s without the actual ip address, username or password. But you get the idea.

That seems right, but are you sure you got seamlessrdpshell.exe in c:\seamless ?

What do you get when you execute that command in the terminal??

It gives me the help for rdesktop. I did try to put in an “-n” (client hostname) prior to the IP address, however it returned an error code stating that “host could not be resolved.” I also tried using the “-n” with the name of the VM, but got te “host could not be resolved” error for that as well.

Can i run iTunes on this setup of windows?

Am not really sure Aanand, I doubt it, but it’s worth a try. Generally if it doesn’t work under general VM then this method won’t change a thing…

Rami:
I read somewhere that the USB option doesn’t work well on windows on VMware. I am really tired of trying to run non-iTunes software to sync my iPod [on ubuntu]. On most occassions, i can’t get videos on the iPod. looks like i have to get hold of a windows install on my desktop again…

It works! Very nice. There is one thing: I still have an extra Ubuntu Window around my windows application. Any idea what this can be?
I use:
Ubuntu 8.10
rdesktop 1.6.0.
VMware Player 2.5 + Windows XP Pro SP2

I really like this to work. I will hold a few seminars and this is a feature I would love to demonstrate. I am sure people will like to see this…

Hmm, I am not sure if I understand you. Do you mean you have two borders? You got a screen shot?

Well the sad truth is the the newer iPods (touch) don’t work well with Linux. Apple have locked it down very well. There are some tools, but they never seem to work for me….

You got an iPod touch right? I personally ditched my iPod Touch.

Sure thing, Rami: http://www.crap.net/aaargh/screenshot_for_rami.jpg

Perhaps also useful. This is the command I used to start up rdesktop using terminal:

rdesktop -A -s “c:\seamlessrdp\seamlessrdpshell.exe
c:\windows\explorer.exe” 10.1.1.19:3389 -u admin -p mepasswordnot

NOTE: I get the same when I just start one application. Thanx in advance for your help…

One more thing: I use VMWare Player instead of VMWare Server…but that shouldn’t make a difference, right?

Thats weird man, I never encountered this. Let me google it a bit and try to find the solution.

Did you try it with another distro?

nope, not yet. Just downloaded VMWare Server. Just wanna see how that works out. If not, I’ll use Ubuntu 8.04 (I now use 8.10). I’ll keep you informed. If you find anything, I’ll be much obliged…

This is awsome. Ive wanted to get off windows so long but I have an windows APP for my job that REQUIRES MSDE,
This is the perfect solution.
Im using Virutalbox, doesnt get quite the same effect as your screenshot. Is your background windows or your ubuntu machine?

[...] Run Windows Apps 100% Seamlessly on Ubuntu! [...]

after following these instructions specifically when I click my launcher I get no response, if I paste the launcher command into a terminal (with and without sudo) I get the instruction screen for rdesktop as if I typed something incorrect. I used the username and password as you specified and set the IP to match my domain.. .the virtual machine can browse the web thus connected etc.
Ideas?

Jim,

I am not sure if you got my Email regarding this. But I will look into it, I promise

Are you kiddding me. YOu assume we know tool #1? come on. If you going to write a post like this, write all the stops, dont skip stuff. What is Vmware?–great post this was…

Tools

1. Windows installed on Vmware. ( I assume you have one or know how to create one)

Are you kiddding me. YOu assume we know tool #1? come on. If you going to write a post like this, write all the stops, dont skip stuff. What is Vmware?–great post this was…

Tools

1. Windows installed on Vmware. ( I assume you have one or know how to create one)

If you dont know what VMWare is…. look it up…. there is plenty on google

I have an updated, Simpler, yet more detailed walkthrough at Ubuntoogle.blogspot.com, no messing with rdesktop or anything

Jeffrey,

I tried the link you posted to your more detailed walkthrough solution to running windows apps seamlessly on Ubuntu which doesn't require rdesktop but couldn't read it because the blog is open to invited readers only.

Would appreciate it if you could include me in your list of invites.

Thanks,

Taz

I also tried to accessz your blogspot on running windows programs under Ubuntu but could not access it because I need to be invited. What info do you need to invite me?

Thanks,

Ubuntu Newbie

Apologies, I had possible venture interest and had to shut everything down for a few weeks while attorneys checked everything in my business plan out. It's all public now.

dear, Rami Taibah..
it is about http://linuxologist.com/apps/run-windows-apps-100-seamlessly-on-ubuntu/
article, can you give us more detail that step..for example..what could we do for the first step..to run windows 100 % seamlessly on ubuntu..
thank you..

it is about `running windows 100% seamlessly on ubuntu`, can you give us that steps more detail,please..

thank you..

[...] Here is a good tutorial show you how to Run Windows Apps on Ubuntu: I know that most of us Linux user usually cringe whenever we need to *god forbid* use a Microsoft WIndows machine. So we created applications like Wine in an effort minimize the contact with that horrid machine. With Wine a big percentage of Windows only apps could run on Linux, which more or less takes Windows out of the equation and lets us interact directly with our favorite App. Another solution of course would be installing Windows on a virtual machine. [...]