Alternatives to IBM z/VM

VMware Fusion empowers Mac users to seamlessly operate Windows alongside a variety of other operating systems and Mac applications without the need for rebooting. It caters to both casual users and IT professionals, making it versatile enough for developers and businesses alike. The capability to run Windows on a Mac is just the starting point; VMware Fusion offers access to a multitude of supported operating systems, ranging from niche Linux distributions to the latest version of Windows 10, all while coexisting with the current macOS. This software simplifies the process of testing virtually any operating system and application on a Mac, allowing users to build and evaluate applications in a controlled environment while easily sharing local files and folders. Additionally, Fusion Pro now features a RESTful API, enabling integration with contemporary development tools such as Docker, Vagrant, Ansible, and Chef, thus aligning VMware's robust functionality with the demands of modern Agile and DevOps workflows, ensuring that users can enhance their productivity effectively. By bridging the gap between different operating systems, VMware Fusion truly enriches the user experience on Mac.

CIQ empowers people to do amazing things by providing innovative and stable software infrastructure solutions for all computing needs. From the base operating system, through containers, orchestration, provisioning, computing, and cloud applications, CIQ works with every part of the technology stack to drive solutions for customers and communities with stable, scalable, secure production environments. CIQ is the founding support and services partner of Rocky Linux, and the creator of the next generation federated computing stack.

Oracle's server virtualization offerings are engineered for high efficiency and enhanced performance, catering to both x86 and SPARC architectures while accommodating diverse workloads, including Linux, Windows, and Oracle Solaris. Beyond hypervisor-based solutions, Oracle also provides virtualization that is integrated with hardware and its operating systems, ensuring a comprehensive and finely-tuned solution for your entire computing ecosystem. This combination of flexibility and optimization makes Oracle a compelling choice for organizations looking to streamline their virtualization strategy.

VMware Workstation Pro is recognized as the leading solution for operating multiple virtual machines (VMs) on a single computer running either Linux or Windows. It is a go-to tool for IT professionals, developers, and organizations involved in creating, testing, or showcasing software across various devices, platforms, or cloud environments. With VMware Workstation Pro, users can simultaneously operate multiple operating systems on their Windows or Linux systems. The software enables the creation of authentic VMs for Linux and Windows, along with other desktop, server, and tablet environments, all equipped with customizable virtual networking and the ability to simulate different network conditions. This makes it ideal for a wide range of activities, including code development, architectural planning, application testing, and product demonstrations. Moreover, users can securely connect to vSphere, ESXi, or other Workstation servers, facilitating the management and control of both virtual machines and physical hosts. A unified VMware hypervisor not only enhances productivity but also simplifies the process of transferring VMs to and from local PCs, making it a versatile tool for professionals. Overall, VMware Workstation Pro stands out as an essential resource in the toolkit of anyone needing to work within virtualized environments.

QEMU serves as a versatile and open-source machine emulator and virtualizer, allowing users to operate various operating systems across different architectures. It enables execution of applications designed for other Linux or BSD systems on any supported architecture. Moreover, it supports running KVM and Xen virtual machines with performance that closely resembles native execution. Recently, features like complete guest memory dumps, pre-copy/post-copy migration, and background guest snapshots have been introduced. Additionally, there is new support for the DEVICE_UNPLUG_GUEST_ERROR to identify hotplug failures reported by guests. For macOS users with Apple Silicon CPUs, the ‘hvf’ accelerator is now available for AArch64 guest support. The M-profile MVE extension is also now integrated for the Cortex-M55 processor. Furthermore, AMD SEV guests can now measure the kernel binary during direct kernel boot without utilizing a bootloader. Enhanced compatibility has been added for vhost-user and NUMA memory options, which are now available across all supported boards. This expansion of features reflects QEMU's commitment to providing robust virtualization solutions that cater to a wide range of user needs.

Hyper-V is a virtualization solution from Microsoft that allows users to create and operate virtual machines, which are essentially software representations of physical computers. Each virtual machine functions independently, complete with its own operating system and applications. This technology provides enhanced flexibility in resource allocation, making it a cost-effective and efficient alternative to running a single operating system directly on physical hardware. Furthermore, virtual machines can be tailored with integration services that provide essential drivers and tools for optimized performance of various guest operating systems within the Hyper-V environment. Notably, Hyper-V also features Virtual Machine Connection, a remote access tool compatible with both Windows and Linux, allowing users to access the console of a virtual machine. This capability is particularly beneficial as it enables users to monitor the virtual machine's status, including before the guest operating system has fully loaded. Overall, Hyper-V enhances computing efficiency and versatility for diverse workloads.

Red Hat® Virtualization serves as an enterprise-grade platform for virtualization, adept at handling high-demand workloads and essential applications, leveraging the robust foundation of Red Hat Enterprise Linux® and KVM, with complete support from Red Hat. This solution enables the virtualization of resources, processes, and applications, establishing a reliable base for a future that embraces cloud-native and containerized technologies. It allows for the automation, management, and modernization of virtualization workloads seamlessly. Whether it's streamlining daily tasks or overseeing virtual machines within Red Hat OpenShift, Red Hat Virtualization leverages the existing Linux® expertise of your team and enhances it for upcoming business requirements. Additionally, it is built on a comprehensive ecosystem of platforms and partner solutions, integrating with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform, Red Hat OpenStack® Platform, and Red Hat OpenShift, which collectively enhance IT productivity and maximize return on investment while positioning your organization for future growth and innovation.

VirtualBox is a robust virtualization tool compatible with x86 and AMD64/Intel64 architectures, designed for both corporate and personal use. This software not only boasts an extensive array of features and high performance tailored for business clients but also stands out as the sole professional-grade option that is freely accessible as Open Source Software under the GNU General Public License (GPL) version 2. For those looking for a comprehensive introduction, refer to the section labeled "About VirtualBox." Currently, VirtualBox operates on various host systems, including Windows, Linux, macOS, and Solaris, while offering compatibility with a wide range of guest operating systems, such as multiple versions of Windows (from NT 4.0 to Windows 10), DOS/Windows 3.x, various Linux distributions, Solaris, OpenSolaris, OS/2, and OpenBSD. The development of VirtualBox is ongoing, with regular updates contributing to an expanding catalog of features and supported guest operating systems. Additionally, it is the result of a collaborative effort within a vibrant community, supported by a committed company, ensuring its continuous improvement and relevance in the virtualization landscape.

LXD represents a cutting-edge system container manager that provides an experience akin to virtual machines but operates using Linux containers. It features an image-based architecture with a variety of pre-configured images for numerous Linux distributions and is centered around a robust yet straightforward REST API. To better understand LXD and its functionalities, you can explore it online, and if you're interested in deploying it locally, be sure to check out the getting started guide. Established and currently directed by Canonical Ltd, the LXD project benefits from contributions by various organizations and individual developers alike. At its core, LXD consists of a privileged daemon that delivers a REST API via a local UNIX socket and can also be accessed over the network if this option is enabled. Clients, including the command line tool that comes with LXD, interact exclusively through this REST API, ensuring a consistent experience whether you are accessing your local host or a remote server. This design allows for streamlined management and deployment of containers, making LXD a powerful tool in modern software development and deployment.

The AWS Nitro System serves as the backbone for the newest generation of Amazon EC2 instances, enabling quicker innovation, cost reductions for users, and improved security along with the introduction of new instance types. By rethinking virtualization infrastructure, AWS has transferred essential functions like CPU, storage, and networking virtualization to specialized hardware and software, thus freeing up nearly all server resources for use by instances. This innovative architecture includes several essential components: Nitro Cards, which accelerate and offload I/O tasks for services such as VPC, EBS, and instance storage; the Nitro Security Chip, which minimizes the attack surface and restricts administrative access to prevent human error and tampering; and the Nitro Hypervisor, a streamlined hypervisor that efficiently manages memory and CPU allocation, providing performance that closely resembles that of bare metal systems. Furthermore, the modular nature of the Nitro System facilitates the swift introduction of new EC2 instance types, enhancing the overall agility of AWS services. Overall, this comprehensive approach positions AWS to continue leading in cloud innovation and resource optimization.

Develop virtualization solutions utilizing a minimalistic hypervisor that operates without the need for any external kernel extensions. The hypervisor offers C APIs, allowing for interaction with virtualization technologies directly in user space, eliminating the necessity of writing kernel extensions (KEXTs). Consequently, the applications designed with this framework can be distributed through the Mac App Store. Leverage this framework to create and manage hardware-accelerated virtual machines and virtual processors (VMs and vCPUs) from your authorized, sandboxed user-space application. The Hypervisor simplifies the concept of virtual machines as processes and treats virtual processors as threads. It is important to note that the Hypervisor framework relies on hardware capabilities to virtualize resources efficiently. For Apple silicon, this entails support for the Virtualization Extensions, while for Intel-based Macs, it necessitates systems equipped with an Intel VT-x feature set that includes Extended Page Tables (EPT) and Unrestricted Mode. This ensures the framework is optimized for performance and security across various hardware configurations.

µ-visor is a virtualization solution for microcontrollers developed by Green Hill Software, designed to provide strong hardware-enforced software separation along with support for multiple operating systems while ensuring real-time efficiency for the secure consolidation of essential workloads on processors with limited resources. Its adaptable and effective architecture ensures that multiple operating systems can coexist on the same CPU without interfering with one another, while also offering various options to maximize the use of multi-core capabilities and scarce processor resources. This product, like others from Green Hills, is tailored for environments that demand stringent safety and security certifications specific to various industries, benefiting from the robust support offered by Green Hills' sophisticated integrated development tools. Additionally, the virtual machines and operating systems that operate within µ-visor are guaranteed to maintain independence from each other, thanks to its hardware-enforced separation feature, which adds an extra layer of reliability and safety. The combination of these features makes µ-visor an ideal choice for developers seeking to optimize the performance and security of their microcontroller-based applications.

Explore a powerful bare-metal hypervisor that can be directly installed on your physical server. By providing immediate access to and management of the underlying hardware resources, VMware ESXi efficiently divides the server's capabilities to merge applications and reduce expenses. This hypervisor is recognized as the industry standard for effective architecture, exemplifying reliability, high performance, and excellent support. As IT teams face ongoing challenges to adapt to changing market demands and increased customer expectations, they also need to optimize their resources for more complex projects. Thankfully, ESXi aids in achieving a balance that promotes improved business results while also ensuring cost savings in IT operations. Its design not only enhances operational efficiency but also empowers organizations to innovate without compromising their budgets.

Xvisor® is a type-1 hypervisor that is open-source, designed to deliver a monolithic, lightweight, and adaptable virtualization solution. It boasts a high-performance capability while maintaining a low memory footprint for various CPU architectures, including ARMv5, ARMv6, ARMv7a, ARMv7a-ve, ARMv8a, x86_64, RISC-V, and more. Unlike many other ARM hypervisors, it uniquely supports ARM CPUs lacking virtualization extensions. Furthermore, it stands out as the first Type-1 hypervisor for RISC-V, showcasing its innovative approach. The source code of Xvisor is crafted for portability and can be readily adapted to most 32-bit or 64-bit architectures, provided they are equipped with a paged memory management unit (PMMU) and a compatible GNU C compiler (GCC). Xvisor primarily focuses on full virtualization, allowing it to support a diverse array of unmodified guest operating systems, while paravirtualization is an optional feature that can be implemented in an architecture-independent manner, such as through VirtIO PCI/MMIO devices. This flexibility makes Xvisor a compelling choice for developers looking to implement virtualization across different platforms.

Red Hat Enterprise Linux serves as a robust operating system designed for enterprise use, with certifications spanning numerous cloud platforms and a vast array of vendors. It offers a reliable foundation that ensures consistency across different environments while equipping users with essential tools to accelerate the delivery of services and workloads for a wide range of applications. By minimizing deployment challenges and expenses, Red Hat Enterprise Linux enhances the speed at which value is realized for essential workloads, fostering collaboration and innovation among development and operations teams in various settings. Additionally, it enhances hybrid cloud infrastructures by extending capabilities to edge environments, reaching hundreds of thousands of nodes globally. Users can create OS images optimized for edge computing, reduce interruptions from OS updates, execute system updates with greater efficiency, and benefit from automatic health checks and rollback features. Furthermore, specialized command line tools are available to streamline inventory tasks and remediation processes linked to subscription upgrades or migrations from other Linux distributions, making the transition seamless and efficient. This versatility ensures that organizations can effectively manage their IT resources in a rapidly changing technological landscape.

The Virtuozzo platform is designed and built as a solution for running your own cloud business. It enables cloud hosting service providers to transform their business to differentiate among competitors by offering heterogeneous infrastructure platform, full-featured DevOps PaaS, containers hosting, a wide variety of packaged clusters (like Magento, WordPress, Kubernetes, replicated SQL and NoSQL databases, etc) and auto-scalable Elastic VPS to their customers. Also, we deliver the required tools to manage the platform, support customers, and monitor ROI growth. Virtuozzo is an industry pioneer who developed the first commercially available container technology 21 years ago. Our technology is used in over one million virtual environments, and we have accumulated over 100 patents to date. Virtuozzo is a large contributor to numerous open-source projects including KVM, Docker, OpenStack, OpenVZ, CRIU and the Linux kernel. These innovations have led to us having a commanding, about 40% market share in VPS hosting globally.

KVM, which stands for Kernel-based Virtual Machine, serves as a comprehensive virtualization solution for Linux systems operating on x86 hardware equipped with virtualization capabilities (such as Intel VT or AMD-V). It comprises a loadable kernel module, known as kvm.ko, that underpins the essential virtualization framework, along with a processor-specific module, either kvm-intel.ko or kvm-amd.ko. By utilizing KVM, users can operate several virtual machines that run unaltered Linux or Windows operating systems. Each virtual machine is allocated its own set of virtualized hardware components, including a network interface card, storage, graphics adapter, and more. KVM is an open-source project, with its kernel component integrated into the mainline Linux kernel since version 2.6.20, while the userspace aspect has been incorporated into the mainline QEMU project starting from version 1.3. This integration enables widespread deployment and support for various virtualization applications and services.

OmniOS is an open-source server operating system designed to include only essential features. Its native file system, ZFS, integrates a volume manager with robust data integrity protections. You can effortlessly share volumes using protocols like iSCSI, CIFS, and NFS. Additionally, OmniOS allows the execution of lightweight virtual machines running either OmniOS or Linux in containers, eliminating the traditional hypervisor's overhead while ensuring complete resource management. For those needing full hardware virtualization, it supports bhyve and KVM, allowing the operation of various guest systems including Microsoft Windows and FreeBSD. Network infrastructure can be virtualized through Crossbow, which offers virtual interfaces and switches, plus the option to allocate dedicated resources for specific applications. DTrace serves as a powerful dynamic tracing framework to facilitate troubleshooting across the software stack, enabling real-time instrumentation whenever needed. As an open-source project, OmniOS is self-hosting and its development is actively managed on GitHub, where contributors can submit pull requests, and anyone interested can access the source code to compile their own version of OmniOS. This environment fosters community involvement and transparency in the development process.

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) is a powerful and secure operating system tailored for enterprises and organizations, providing a scalable and reliable foundation for critical workloads and applications across diverse environments, whether physical, virtual, or cloud-based. This operating system boasts advanced capabilities like high availability, virtualization, and seamless cloud integration, making it well-suited for the deployment of sophisticated IT infrastructures. Renowned for its stability and long-term support, SLES ensures that organizations can maintain a secure and consistent operational environment over extended periods. Moreover, SUSE's management tools facilitate efficient configuration and automation, which greatly simplifies server deployment and ongoing maintenance tasks. It accommodates a variety of hardware architectures, including x86_64, ARM, and IBM Power, thus offering the necessary flexibility to meet differing business demands. Additionally, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server is designed for optimal performance and comes equipped with robust security features to protect valuable data and resources. With its comprehensive support and innovative features, SLES stands out as an exceptional choice for businesses aiming to enhance their IT capabilities.

Many individuals engage in discussions about open source, but words alone do not create progress; we take action through coding. With CrossOver, you can seamlessly operate your Windows® applications on MacOS, Linux, or ChromeOS. If you enjoy purchasing Windows® licenses, that's perfectly fine, but for those who wish to avoid that expense, CrossOver offers a straightforward solution to run various Microsoft applications on your Mac without the cumbersome experience of a traditional Windows emulator. Have you ever experienced the sluggishness of emulators on your Mac? CrossOver stands out because it isn't an emulator; instead, it effectively translates Windows commands into Mac commands, allowing you to use Windows software as if it were natively developed for Mac. This versatile tool supports a wide array of software, including productivity applications, utility tools, and games, all accessible through a single application. For the proud users of Linux, the idea of installing a Windows OS on your sophisticated machine can feel like a betrayal. You deserve to maintain the integrity of your system without resorting to purchasing a Windows license or wasting precious resources on a virtual machine, which is why CrossOver is an ideal choice for you. It empowers you to enjoy the best of both worlds without compromising on your values or your machine's performance.

SUSE Linux Micro is a streamlined, container-focused Linux operating system specifically tailored for edge computing and microservices applications. With its minimal size, it is optimized for security and performance, making it ideal for deploying applications within containers. This platform facilitates rapid, scalable, and economical cloud-native development, particularly in environments with limited resources. Featuring integrated automation tools and full compatibility with Kubernetes, SUSE Linux Micro ensures seamless integration into contemporary containerized systems. Its design caters to the needs of developers and IT operations teams, allowing them to efficiently deploy and oversee applications across diverse distributed environments. Additionally, its lightweight nature and robust capabilities make it an excellent choice for organizations looking to enhance their container strategies.

Parallels Desktop can help you run Windows programs on Macs, or if you're moving from PC to Mac and need your data to be transferred, Test and develop across multiple OSes using a virtual machine for Mac. Microsoft Office for Windows and Internet Explorer are available to you. Windows apps that run quickly without slowing down your Mac. Move files, apps, and other items quickly from a computer to a Mac. You can use Windows side-by-side (no restarting necessary) on your MacBook Pro, MacBook Pro, MacBook Pro, iMac Pro or iMac Pro. You can share files and folders, and copy and paste text and images. You can also drag and drop files between Windows and Mac applications. Parallels Desktop automatically detects the files you need to get up and running in minutes. You will be asked to download and install Windows 10 or choose your existing Windows, Linux Ubuntu, or Bootcamp installation.

The Arista Extensible Operating System (EOS®) serves as the foundation for Arista's cloud networking solutions, specifically designed for advanced data centers and cloud infrastructures. Architectures leveraging Arista EOS can scale seamlessly to accommodate hundreds of thousands of computing and storage nodes, offering robust management and provisioning functionalities that operate efficiently at scale. Thanks to its programmability, EOS supports various software applications that enhance workflow automation, ensure high availability, provide exceptional network visibility and analytics, and facilitate quick integration with a diverse array of third-party applications for services related to virtualization, management, automation, and orchestration. Additionally, Arista EOS stands out as a fully programmable and highly modular network operating system based on Linux, utilizing a user-friendly industry-standard CLI, and it operates on a single binary software image across the entire Arista switching portfolio. This flexibility and adaptability make it a powerful tool for modern networking challenges.

Qubes OS is an open-source operating system designed with a strong emphasis on security for individual desktop users. It utilizes Xen-based virtualization technology to create and manage distinct isolated environments known as qubes. Each qube operates as a virtual machine (VM) and serves specific functions, which can include running a variety of isolated applications tailored for personal or professional use, managing the network stack, handling firewall duties, or achieving other user-defined objectives. By incorporating the robust security features of the Xen hypervisor, Qubes OS provides a level of protection comparable to that used by major hosting services to keep websites and services securely separated. If you're unsure about which Linux distribution suits your needs, or if you require a particular Windows application for your job, Qubes offers the flexibility of running multiple operating systems simultaneously. Additionally, with the integration of Whonix into Qubes, accessing the Internet anonymously through the Tor network becomes both safe and straightforward, enhancing your overall online privacy. This unique capability makes Qubes OS an ideal choice for users who prioritize security and versatility in their computing experience.

Oracle Linux provides a comprehensive and open operating environment that combines virtualization, management, and cloud-native computing tools along with the operating system in a unified support package. It maintains full binary compatibility with Red Hat Enterprise Linux, ensuring seamless application performance. You can browse the catalog to locate details about independent software vendors (ISVs) that have validated their applications for use with Oracle Linux and its virtualization capabilities. Certified applications on Oracle Linux are capable of running across various environments, including on-premises, Oracle Cloud Infrastructure, and other cloud services. Don't miss the opportunity to participate in the Oracle Tux Tech Talk webinar on July 28, where you will learn how to benchmark performance, explore the advantages of the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK), and identify which workloads benefit from its enhancements. This session promises to equip you with valuable insights for optimizing your Linux applications.

For computing needs that require the highest levels of security, resilience, availability, and scalability while ensuring maximum business agility, ClearPath Forward serves as a key platform for simplification, cost management, and digital transformation. Enhance your workforce, improve efficiency, and accelerate the digital transformation of your ClearPath Forward environment through a managed service solution with cloud hosting that is expertly managed, maintained, and optimized by Unisys. Develop a clear and actionable plan that details how to adapt your applications to meet evolving demands with the assistance of ClearPath Forward Advisory Services and ClearPath Forward Application Evolution Services. Take advantage of a comprehensive array of advisory and implementation services designed to facilitate the smooth transition of your ClearPath Forward environment to either private or public cloud solutions, ensuring that you remain competitive in a rapidly changing market. By leveraging these services, organizations can achieve a seamless integration of their systems into the modern cloud landscape.

Lubuntu is an efficient and streamlined operating system featuring a straightforward user interface that prioritizes speed and simplicity. As a Linux distribution, it utilizes the lightweight LXDE/LXQT desktop environment alongside a carefully chosen set of lightweight applications, which allows it to operate with minimal hardware demands. Established by Mario Behling, the project has seen significant development over the years under the guidance of Julien Lavergne. We invite you to experience Lubuntu by installing it on your device. The aim of the Lubuntu project is to provide a faster, lightweight, and energy-efficient alternative to Ubuntu, utilizing LXDE, the Lightweight X11 Desktop Environment, as its primary graphical interface. The Lubuntu team is committed to maintaining LXDE and the various packages included in the Lubuntu distribution. By participating in this initiative, you can help create a more efficient, resource-conscious, and energy-saving Linux desktop experience. Our mission extends to enabling Linux to run smoothly on a broader range of affordable devices, including those powered by ARM and MIPS architectures, in addition to traditional Intel CPUs. Ultimately, we strive to make computing more accessible to everyone by optimizing performance on diverse hardware platforms.

Reliable servers help decrease customer turnover while enabling you to boost server density, ultimately enhancing your profitability. The stability features of CloudLinux OS effectively mitigate resource surges, ensuring that your servers maintain exceptional stability even under significant pressure. Additionally, CloudLinux OS safeguards your servers against attacks by virtualizing users' file systems, preventing any potential leaks of sensitive information. Our advanced kernel-level technology effectively blocks all known symbolic link attacks, significantly bolstering server security. It is also essential to secure outdated PHP versions where vulnerabilities may exist, particularly in cases where the PHP.net community does not provide patches. By utilizing CloudLinux OS, you can effectively increase the number of users on a more stable server while managing resource limits for each individual customer. Moreover, you can troubleshoot performance issues with comprehensive insights into system bottlenecks, slow database queries, functions, or external calls, ensuring optimal server performance. This holistic approach not only guarantees security but also enhances the overall user experience.

Enterprise-Grade Linux for Edge-to-Cloud Implementations. This collaborative open-source initiative is a Debian-based Linux distribution specifically designed for applications spanning from edge to cloud scenarios. It guarantees reliable performance and stability across devices, on-premises environments, and cloud infrastructures. eLxr offers a robust and secure distribution, built upon the innovations of the open-source community, featuring a reliable release and update schedule that supports extended lifecycles and long-term deployments. It is especially suited for applications with strict timing demands, utilizing preempt-rt kernel configurations to enhance low-latency responses and ensure tasks are performed within exact timeframes. This approach leads to improved determinism and predictability when compared to conventional Linux kernels. eLxr is designed with a reduced footprint, promoting optimal performance and resource efficiency while minimizing potential vulnerabilities. It encompasses all essential features and capabilities, ensuring the most effective use of system resources while supporting diverse deployment needs. As a result, users can expect a highly adaptable and efficient platform for various application requirements.

Altima Linux is an open-source operating system that has been tailored to meet our preferences, featuring a curated selection of top-notch open-source software applications. It serves as an excellent alternative to both Windows and MacOS, built on the robust foundation of Debian Linux. This desktop environment comes equipped with all the free software necessary for everyday computing tasks, while additional specialized applications are available through detailed installation guides. You can download it for free and revitalize many older computers, breathing new life into what you might have considered outdated hardware, which is often just bogged down by unnecessary bloat. Key applications included are LibreOffice, PhotoShack, Inkscape, Sublime Text, QEMU, Nginx, Audacity, VLC Media Player, Epiphany, and Remmina, with recommendations for supplementary downloads like VirtualBox and WINE. A standout feature of Altima Linux is its seamless integration of the aesthetics of both Windows and Mac, creating a user-friendly desktop environment that appeals to both novices and seasoned users alike. We trust that you will find great enjoyment in exploring and utilizing Altima Linux as your computing solution. Embrace the opportunity to experience a modern yet familiar interface that enhances productivity and creativity.

Proxmox VE serves as a comprehensive open-source solution for enterprise virtualization, seamlessly combining KVM hypervisor and LXC container technology, along with features for software-defined storage and networking, all within one cohesive platform. It also simplifies the management of high availability clusters and disaster recovery tools through its user-friendly web management interface, making it an ideal choice for businesses seeking robust virtualization capabilities. Furthermore, Proxmox VE's integration of these functionalities enhances operational efficiency and flexibility for IT environments.

Gentoo is an open-source operating system built on the Linux kernel, designed for extensive optimization and customization to meet a wide array of applications and requirements. The Gentoo experience is characterized by its exceptional configurability, impressive performance, and a vibrant community of users and developers. Utilizing a system known as Portage, Gentoo can be tailored to serve as a secure server, a development workstation, a professional desktop, a gaming platform, an embedded solution, or virtually anything else one might require. This remarkable level of adaptability leads us to refer to Gentoo as a metadistribution. Beyond its software capabilities, Gentoo also fosters a strong community that supports the distribution's growth and sustainability. With around 250 dedicated developers and a vast network of knowledgeable users, many of whom are specialists in various fields, Gentoo thrives through collaboration. The project not only empowers users to make the most of Gentoo but also provides essential resources such as documentation, infrastructure, release engineering, software porting, quality assurance, security maintenance, and system hardening, among other contributions to the ecosystem. This collective effort ensures that Gentoo remains a top choice for those looking for a robust and flexible operating system.

Triton SmartOS merges the lightweight features of a container operating system with the advanced security, networking, and storage functionalities typical of a hardware hypervisor. It utilizes Zones, a fortified container runtime that does not rely on virtual machine hosts for its security measures. With its unique resource protection system, Triton SmartOS ensures that each container is insulated and receives an equitable distribution of input/output resources. This operating system simplifies the challenges often associated with solutions dependent on virtual machine hosts. Additionally, it provides integrated networking that allows each container to possess multiple network interfaces, granting it a complete IP stack and enabling it to function as a full peer on the network, which helps avoid port conflicts and simplifies network management. Each container is equipped with secure, isolated, and resizable filesystems, enhancing both security and flexibility. Overall, Triton SmartOS offers the speed associated with bare metal performance while also incorporating the adaptability of virtualization. This unique combination positions Triton SmartOS as an optimal choice for developers and businesses seeking efficiency and security in container management.

oVirt serves as a comprehensive open-source virtualization platform that allows for the effective management of your entire organizational infrastructure. Utilizing the reliable KVM hypervisor, oVirt is constructed on a foundation of various community-driven projects, such as libvirt, Gluster, PatternFly, and Ansible, ensuring a robust and versatile solution. This interconnected ecosystem of technologies enhances the capabilities of oVirt, making it a favored choice for enterprises looking to optimize their virtualization strategies.

FreeBSD stands out with its sophisticated networking, exceptional performance, security, and compatibility elements that many other operating systems, including several top commercial options, still lack. It serves as a prime choice for both Internet and Intranet servers, delivering reliable network services even under extreme loads while efficiently managing memory to ensure excellent response times for numerous simultaneous user processes. Moreover, FreeBSD extends its advanced operating system capabilities to both appliance and embedded systems, accommodating a diverse range of hardware platforms such as higher-end Intel-based devices, as well as ARM, PowerPC, and MIPS architectures. Vendors globally depend on FreeBSD for their embedded products, which encompass everything from mail and web appliances to routers, time servers, and wireless access points, thanks to its integrated build and cross-build environments. Additionally, the Berkeley open-source license allows these vendors the flexibility to determine the extent of their contributions back to the community, fostering collaboration and innovation. This combination of features makes FreeBSD an invaluable asset for developers aiming to create high-performance embedded solutions.

Lguest enables the operation of several instances of a 32-bit kernel simultaneously; by using the command modprobe lg, you can initiate it by running Documentation/lguest/lguest to establish a new guest. I encourage you to experiment with it as lguest is exceedingly straightforward to set up. Its utility is significant: I can boot kernels for testing purposes in less than a second, which is approximately ten times quicker than standard qemu and a hundred times faster than a traditional boot process. Moreover, since it employs a pty for the console, you're able to perform actions such as piping the output through grep. Lguest comprises a comprehensive kernel patch, which includes the launcher and is available in versions 2.6.23-git13 and later. The primary goal of lguest is to keep the guest isolated, preventing it from accessing the host directly, aside from virtual devices provided by the host, even if the guest is acting maliciously. Nevertheless, a potentially harmful guest kernel has the capability to pin host memory, limited to the volume allocated to the guest. While most images are configured to create virtual consoles like (/dev/tty0, etc.), the console for lguest is designated as /dev/hvc0, which adds a layer of distinction to its functionality. Additionally, this makes lguest a practical tool for developers who want to test kernel changes in a rapid and efficient manner without the overhead of a full virtualization solution.

IBM® z/OS® harnesses the robust capabilities of the IBM Z® platform to facilitate business transformation and foster innovation. It provides a stable and secure environment essential for enhancing performance in mission-critical tasks while preparing organizations for future challenges. This operating system is designed with high security and scalability, making it ideal for running essential applications. The advanced IBM® z16™ platform not only speeds up decision-making but also safeguards your operations against potential threats while adapting to hybrid cloud environments. With IBM z/OS V2.5, businesses can leverage cutting-edge development to enhance hybrid cloud and AI applications, alongside advanced technologies focused on security and resilience. Additionally, a continuous delivery model ensures that new features for z/OS are introduced quarterly without compromising stability, complexity, or costs, leading to swift application development and deployment in hybrid cloud settings. The system also offers a streamlined and modernized experience to simplify installation and management tasks, further enhancing operational efficiency. Organizations can thus embrace a transformative approach to their IT infrastructure, ensuring they remain competitive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

For over twenty years, we have been developing our operating system, consistently incorporating features that align with current market demands while ensuring that older applications remain functional. With our Application Binary Guarantee, users can seamlessly operate both the latest and legacy applications on contemporary infrastructure. Our advanced lifecycle management technologies enable you to execute a single command to update your entire cloud environment, covering everything from firmware to all virtualized spaces. A major player in the financial services sector experienced a remarkable 16-fold increase in efficiency by utilizing Oracle Solaris for managing its virtual machines, compared to a rival open-source solution. Additionally, the latest enhancements to the Oracle Solaris Observability tools empower users to troubleshoot both system and application issues in real time, providing immediate and historical data that enhances the ability to diagnose and resolve problems swiftly and effectively. This combination of features ensures that businesses can optimize their operations while remaining agile in an ever-evolving technological landscape.

Scientific Linux, a project backed by Fermilab, primarily serves the High Energy and High Intensity Physics community, although its user base extends across various industries globally, and occasionally into space. This operating system is essentially a rebuild of Red Hat Enterprise Linux, which is owned by Red Hat Inc (NYSE:RHT), and is often referred to as “The Upstream Vendor” or “TUV” within our communications. By using the term TUV, we emphasize that Scientific Linux operates independently and is neither formally associated with nor endorsed by the upstream entity, thereby clarifying this important distinction. Designed to provide a stable, scalable, and extensible platform, Scientific Linux supports scientific research by offering methodologies that facilitate the integration of scientific applications with their operating environment. The initiative encourages the free exchange of ideas, designs, and implementations, all aimed at establishing a robust computing platform for future advancements in technology. Ultimately, this collaborative effort strives to foster innovation in scientific computing, paving the way for breakthroughs that can benefit a diverse range of fields.

openSUSE has introduced an innovative method for its development, resulting in a new kind of hybrid Linux distribution known as Leap. This version leverages the source code from SUSE Linux Enterprise (SLE), which ensures a reliability that few other Linux distributions can match, and merges it with community-driven advancements to offer the best stable experience for users, developers, and system administrators alike. Those currently using openSUSE can easily transition to Leap by booting from a DVD or USB and selecting the upgrade option, or they can perform an ‘Online Upgrade’ with just a few commands. Leap adopts a traditional approach to stability, releasing a new version annually while providing ongoing security updates and bug fixes in between releases. This combination of features makes Leap particularly appealing for server environments, but it is equally suitable for desktop users due to its low maintenance requirements. Furthermore, openSUSE Leap's compatibility with SUSE Linux Enterprise not only enhances its stability but also allows users the flexibility to move to an enterprise solution if needed, ensuring a smooth transition for future growth and support. Overall, Leap stands out as a compelling choice for anyone seeking a robust and reliable Linux operating system.

Kali Linux is a Debian-based, open-source distribution designed specifically for a variety of information security activities, including penetration testing, security research, computer forensics, and reverse engineering. While it's possible to take any Linux distribution and manually install penetration testing tools, this requires considerable setup and configuration efforts. Kali Linux is tailored to minimize this workload, enabling professionals to focus on their tasks right away. You can access a version of Kali from virtually anywhere, whether on mobile devices, Docker, ARM architectures, Amazon Web Services, the Windows Subsystem for Linux, virtual machines, or even bare metal installations. Thanks to metapackages that cater to specific security tasks and a user-friendly ISO customization process that is well-documented, creating an optimized version of Kali to suit your particular needs is straightforward. This makes it a versatile choice for both experienced users and newcomers alike, as comprehensive documentation ensures that everyone can find the guidance they require. Additionally, the active community surrounding Kali Linux continuously contributes to its improvement, further enhancing the resources available to users.

SparkyLinux is a distinctive GNU/Linux distribution built on the foundation of Debian GNU/Linux. Known for its speed and lightweight nature, Sparky provides a fully customizable operating system that caters to a variety of users and tasks. It offers several versions, including a fully featured OS equipped with a lightweight desktop environment, which is ready to use right out of the box and comes with a selection of commonly used software for home users. Additionally, there is a MinimalGUI version that utilizes the Openbox window manager, featuring only basic software for users who wish to personalize their OS and desktop according to their preferences, along with the flexibility to install any desktop environment or window manager they desire. For advanced users, the MinimalCLI version omits the X server entirely, allowing for a more hands-on approach to building and configuring their desktop environments. With support for approximately 20 different desktop environments and window managers, SparkyLinux ensures users have the freedom to choose how they want their computing experience to be, whether for productivity, leisure, socializing, or a multitude of other activities. This versatility makes SparkyLinux not just an operating system, but a platform for creativity and personal expression in computing.

The latest release of DragonFly, version 6.2.2, introduces several enhancements, including hardware compatibility for type-2 hypervisors utilizing NVMM, an upgraded amdgpu driver, and the experimental feature of remote-mounting HAMMER2 volumes, alongside a variety of other updates. As a member of the BSD family of operating systems, DragonFly shares its roots with Linux and other BSD variants, adhering to the foundational principles and APIs of UNIX while also diverging in terms of development direction from FreeBSD, NetBSD, and OpenBSD. This divergence allows DragonFly to pursue unique innovations, such as its sophisticated HAMMER filesystem, which offers high performance, built-in mirroring, and historical access capabilities. Additionally, one of the standout features is the implementation of virtual kernels, enabling the execution of a complete kernel as a user process, which facilitates resource management, kernel development, and debugging in an accelerated environment. These features collectively position DragonFly as a distinctive option within its operating system category, appealing to users seeking alternatives beyond conventional solutions.

Wind River's eLxr Pro is a robust, commercial-grade Linux solution tailored for a wide range of cloud-to-edge applications, capable of handling critical workloads such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and computer vision tasks. This solution is derived from the open-source eLxr distribution and delivers adaptable, long-term support alongside continuous security monitoring and updates. It guarantees compatibility with various hardware accelerators and meets necessary industry compliance standards. Additionally, eLxr Pro enhances business operations by offering specialized consulting services and performance improvements, enabling organizations to efficiently scale their edge computing capabilities while effectively managing expenses, ensuring security, and optimizing resource use. By integrating these features, eLxr Pro positions businesses to thrive in an increasingly digital landscape.

JupyterHub allows users to establish a multi-user environment that can spawn, manage, and proxy several instances of the individual Jupyter notebook server. Developed by Project Jupyter, JupyterHub is designed to cater to numerous users simultaneously. This platform can provide notebook servers for a variety of purposes, including educational environments for students, corporate data science teams, collaborative scientific research, or groups utilizing high-performance computing resources. It is important to note that JupyterHub does not officially support Windows operating systems. While it might be possible to run JupyterHub on Windows by utilizing compatible Spawners and Authenticators, the default configurations are not designed for this platform. Furthermore, any bugs reported on Windows will not be addressed, and the testing framework does not operate on Windows systems. Although minor patches to resolve basic Windows compatibility issues may be considered, they are rare. For users on Windows, it is advisable to run JupyterHub within a Docker container or a Linux virtual machine to ensure optimal performance and compatibility. This approach not only enhances functionality but also simplifies the installation process for Windows users.