In 2006, Win4Lin came in three different versions, depending on the virtualization requirements of the user.
The Win4Lin 9x/Pro (henceforth the only technology discussed in this section) operates by running Windows applications in a virtual machine. Unlike Wine or CrossOver which are compatibility layers, virtualization-based software such as VMware or Win4Lin require users to have a Windows license in order to run applications since they must install a full copy of Windows within the virtual machine.
When the Win4Lin application starts it displays a window on the Linux desktop which contains the Windows desktop environment. Users can then install or run applications as they normally would from within Windows. Win4Lin supports Linux printers, internet connections, and Windows networking, but as of 2000[update], does not support DirectX and by extension most Windows games.
In June 2006, Win4Lin released Win4Lin Virtual Desktop Server, later named Win4VDI based on the same code base. Win4VDI for Linux served Microsoft Windows desktops to thin clients from a Linux server. It was integrated into VERDE on March 9, 2009.
Win4Lin, Inc. discontinued Win4Lin 9x on May 30, 2006. The Win4Lin Pro Desktop product ceased to be supported in March 2010.
Win4Lin version historyMany users reported that the 9x version ran windows software at near-native speed, even on quite low-powered machines, such as Pentium-IIs.
Nicholas Petereley praised Win4Lin in two of his columns in the year 2000, for its significantly faster performance than its competitor VMware.
Hsiao, Aron (July 7, 2005). Sams teach yourself Red Hat Fedora 4 Linux: all in one. SAMS Publishing. p. 678. ISBN 9780672327070. Retrieved February 4, 2025. 9780672327070
"TreLOS - Win4Lin FAQ's". TreLOS. Archived from the original on March 8, 2000. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20000308021442/http://trelos.com/win4lin_faqs.html
McCallister, Michael (2006). Suse Linux 10: Unleashed. SAMS Publishing. pp. 191–192. ISBN 9780672327261. Retrieved February 4, 2025. 9780672327261
McCallister, Michael (2006). Suse Linux 10: Unleashed. SAMS Publishing. pp. 191–192. ISBN 9780672327261. Retrieved February 4, 2025. 9780672327261
McCallister, Michael (2006). Suse Linux 10: Unleashed. SAMS Publishing. pp. 191–192. ISBN 9780672327261. Retrieved February 4, 2025. 9780672327261
McCallister, Michael (2006). Suse Linux 10: Unleashed. SAMS Publishing. pp. 191–192. ISBN 9780672327261. Retrieved February 4, 2025. 9780672327261
Hsiao, Aron (July 7, 2005). Sams teach yourself Red Hat Fedora 4 Linux: all in one. SAMS Publishing. p. 678. ISBN 9780672327070. Retrieved February 4, 2025. 9780672327070
Bushong, Charles (April 4, 2002). "Windows Emulators for Linux: VMware, Win4Lin Face Off". Computerworld. Archived from the original on March 24, 2010. Retrieved February 4, 2025. http://web.archive.org/web/20100324095653/http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/69849/Windows_Emulators_for_Linux_VMware_Win4Lin_Face_Off
Hsiao, Aron (July 7, 2005). Sams teach yourself Red Hat Fedora 4 Linux: all in one. SAMS Publishing. p. 678. ISBN 9780672327070. Retrieved February 4, 2025. 9780672327070
Bushong, Charles (April 4, 2002). "Windows Emulators for Linux: VMware, Win4Lin Face Off". Computerworld. Archived from the original on March 24, 2010. Retrieved February 4, 2025. http://web.archive.org/web/20100324095653/http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/69849/Windows_Emulators_for_Linux_VMware_Win4Lin_Face_Off
Bushong, Charles (April 4, 2002). "Windows Emulators for Linux: VMware, Win4Lin Face Off". Computerworld. Archived from the original on March 24, 2010. Retrieved February 4, 2025. http://web.archive.org/web/20100324095653/http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/69849/Windows_Emulators_for_Linux_VMware_Win4Lin_Face_Off
Petreley, Nicholas (November 20, 2000). "Get Win4Lin and Windows users won't feel disenfranchised under Linux". InfoWorld. Vol. 22, no. 47. p. 66. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://books.google.com/books?id=vDgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA66
"win4bsd FreeBSD". The FreeBSD Ports Archive. Archived from the original on February 15, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20170215084833/http://www.freebsdsoftware.org/emulators/win4bsd.html
"Win4Lin Ships Lightweight Low Cost Product Version" (Press release). Austin, TX, USA: Win4Lin, Inc. January 29, 2005. Archived from the original on November 26, 2010. Retrieved February 4, 2025 – via LinuxPR. https://web.archive.org/web/20101126173229/http://linuxpr.com/releases/7530.html
O'Gara, Maureen (February 25, 2005). "So You Want To Run Windows 2000 and Windows XP Apps On Linux?". Open Source Magazine. Archived from the original on May 4, 2017. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20170504204652/http://opensource.sys-con.com/node/48377
"Win4Lin Delivers Windows 2000 and Windows XP on Linux" (Press release). Boston, MA, USA: Win4Lin, Inc. January 26, 2006. Retrieved February 4, 2025 – via LWN.net. https://lwn.net/Articles/124091/
"Win4Lin Announces Virtual Desktop Server Product" (Press release). Austin, TX, USA: Win4Lin, Inc. June 13, 2006. Archived from the original on December 7, 2006. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20061207044610/http://www.win4lin.com/content/view/206/202/
"Virtual Bridges Announces Major Update to VDI Products" (Press release). Virtual Bridges, Inc. August 8, 2008. Archived from the original on February 19, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20090219104241/http://vbridges.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=1
Curtin, Jim (March 9, 2009). "Win4VDI becomes VERDE". Virtual Bridges, Inc. Archived from the original on August 3, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2025. http://web.archive.org/web/20090803171914/http://vbridges.com/wp/?p=152
"Win4Lin Announces Version 3 Win4Lin Pro" (Press release). Austin, TX, USA: Win4Lin, Inc. May 30, 2006. Archived from the original on January 26, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20070126053038/http://www.win4lin.com/content/view/205/202/
Lawrence, Tony (April 2000). "WIN4LIN". A.P. Lawrence. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://aplawrence.com/Reviews/win4lin.html
"Introducing Win4Lin". TreLOS, Inc. Archived from the original on May 10, 2000. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20000510062824/http://www.trelos.com/trelos/Trelos/Products/Product_Information.htm
"Win4Lin Desktop Version 2.0 Now Available" (Press release). Research Triangle Park, NC, USA: NeTraverse Inc. December 5, 2000. Archived from the original on April 14, 2003. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20030414003416/http://www.netraverse.com/company/press/press81.php
"NeTraverse announces the release of NeTraverse Server Standard Edition Version 1.0" (Press release). Austin, TX, USA: NeTraverse Inc. April 17, 2001. Archived from the original on June 4, 2001. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20010604125135/http://www.netraverse.com/company/press/press127.php
"NeTraverse announces availability of Win4Lin 3.0" (Press release). Austin, TX, USA: NeTraverse Inc. May 28, 2001. Archived from the original on April 14, 2003. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20030414002151/http://www.netraverse.com/company/press/press145.php
"NeTraverse Delivers Break-Through Thin-Client Computing Solution, Providing Alternative to MS Upgrades" (Press release). Austin, TX, USA: NeTraverse Inc. April 17, 2001. Archived from the original on April 14, 2003. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20030414001915/http://www.netraverse.com/company/press/press152.php
"NeTraverse Announces Win4Lin Workstation Version 4.0" (Press release). Austin, TX, USA: NeTraverse Inc. May 20, 2002. Retrieved February 4, 2025 – via Linux.com. https://www.linux.com/news/netaverse-releases-win4lin-workstation-version-4/
"NeTraverse Releases Win4Lin Terminal Server 2.0" (Press release). Austin, TX, USA: NeTraverse Inc. July 23, 2002. Retrieved February 4, 2025 – via Linux.com. https://www.linux.com/news/netraverse-releases-win4lin-terminal-server-version-20/
"Win4Lin Workstation Edition 5.0 Extends Ability to Bridge Windows Users to Linux" (Press release). Austin, TX, USA: NeTraverse Inc. May 20, 2003. Retrieved February 4, 2025 – via LWN.net. https://lwn.net/Articles/33520/
"NeTraverse Releases Newest Version of Win4Lin Terminal Server" (Press release). Austin, TX, USA: NeTraverse Inc. July 29, 2003. Retrieved February 4, 2025 – via Linux.com. https://www.linux.com/news/linux-alternative-citrix-helps-migrate-users-windows-linux/
E-mail sent to NeTraverse Community Members on December 11, 2003 https://www.linuxforen.de/forums/showthread.php?115383-Win4Lin-Update-5-1-als-Datei
"NeTraverse Significantly Enhances Win4Lin Terminal Server with 3.0 Release" (Press release). Austin, TX, USA: NeTraverse Inc. January 13, 2004. Retrieved February 6, 2025 – via Linux.com. https://www.linux.com/news/netraverse-significantly-enhances-win4lin-terminal/
"Win4Lin Ships Lightweight Low Cost Product Version" (Press release). Austin, TX, USA: Win4Lin, Inc. January 29, 2005. Archived from the original on November 26, 2010. Retrieved February 4, 2025 – via LinuxPR. https://web.archive.org/web/20101126173229/http://linuxpr.com/releases/7530.html
"Win4Lin offers new support for Windows 9X products" (Press release). Austin, TX, USA: NeTraverse Inc. July 23, 2002. Retrieved February 4, 2025 – via Linux.com. https://www.linux.com/news/win4lin-offers-new-support-windows-9x-products/
"Win4Lin Delivers Windows 2000 and Windows XP on Linux" (Press release). Boston, MA, USA: Win4Lin, Inc. January 26, 2006. Retrieved February 4, 2025 – via LWN.net. https://lwn.net/Articles/124091/
"Win4Lin Pro™ Updated for Full Windows XP Support and Blazing Fast Performance" (Press release). Austin, TX, USA: Win4Lin, Inc. May 2, 2005. Retrieved February 4, 2025 – via LWN.net. https://lwn.net/Articles/134319/
"Win4Lin Introduces Major Upgrade to Flagship Product" (Press release). Austin, TX, USA: Win4Lin, Inc. September 1, 2005. Archived from the original on March 17, 2006. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20060317044320/http://www.win4lin.com/content/view/190/202/
"Win4Lin Introduces Major Upgrade to Flagship Product" (Press release). Austin, TX, USA: Win4Lin, Inc. February 28, 2006. Archived from the original on March 17, 2006. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20060317042458/http://www.win4lin.com/content/view/198/202/
"Win4Lin Announces Version 3 Win4Lin Pro" (Press release). Austin, TX, USA: Win4Lin, Inc. May 30, 2006. Archived from the original on January 26, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20070126053038/http://www.win4lin.com/content/view/205/202/
"Win4Lin Announces Virtual Desktop Server Product" (Press release). Austin, TX, USA: Win4Lin, Inc. June 13, 2006. Archived from the original on December 7, 2006. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20061207044610/http://www.win4lin.com/content/view/206/202/
"Virtual Bridges Announces Major Update of Win4Lin Pro Product" (Press release). Austin, TX, USA: Virtual Bridges, Inc. November 30, 2006. Archived from the original on February 2, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20070202170638/http://www.win4lin.com/content/view/215/202/
"Virtual Bridges Announces Major Update of Win4Lin Pro Product" (Press release). Austin, TX, USA: Virtual Bridges, Inc. March 19, 2007. Archived from the original on June 13, 2007. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20070613052828/http://www.win4lin.com/index.php/content/view/218/202/
"Virtual Bridges Announces Major Update of Virtual Desktop Server (VDS) Product" (Press release). Austin, TX, USA: Virtual Bridges, Inc. October 25, 2007. Archived from the original on January 2, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20090102002354/http://vbridges.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=21&Itemid=1
"Virtual Bridges Announces Major Upgrade of Win4 Pro Desktop Products" (Press release). Virtual Bridges, Inc. November 8, 2007. Archived from the original on May 2, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20080502000724/http://win4lin.net/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=22&Itemid=1
"Brand New Win4Lin and Win4Solaris Desktop 5 Released - Special Ubuntu Pricing $29.99". Virtual Bridges, Inc. May 15, 2008. Archived from the original on December 18, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20081218080539/http://vbridges.com/wp/#post-13
"Virtual Bridges Announces Win4Lin Desktop 5" (Press release). Virtual Bridges, Inc. May 15, 2008. Archived from the original on December 19, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20081219174743/http://vbridges.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=26&Itemid=1
"Virtual Bridges Announces Major Update to VDI Products" (Press release). Virtual Bridges, Inc. August 8, 2008. Archived from the original on February 19, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20090219104241/http://vbridges.com/content/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=27&Itemid=1
"Win4lin - The Best Way to Run Windows on Linux". Virtual Bridges, Inc. Archived from the original on November 20, 2008. Retrieved February 4, 2025. http://web.archive.org/web/20081120180007/http://win4lin.net/content/index.php
Reiter, Leo. "Win4Lin Pro 5.5 Update: Debian 5.0 Support, and More". Virtual Bridges, Inc. Archived from the original on February 24, 2009. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://web.archive.org/web/20090224141520/http://vbridges.com/wp/?p=134
Petreley, Nicholas (November 20, 2000). "Get Win4Lin and Windows users won't feel disenfranchised under Linux". InfoWorld. Vol. 22, no. 47. p. 66. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://books.google.com/books?id=vDgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA66
Petreley, Nicholas (December 11, 2000). "Am I the only one who doesn't know why to use VMware?". InfoWorld. Vol. 22, no. 50. p. 60. Retrieved February 4, 2025. https://books.google.com/books?id=vzgEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA60