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Emulated PC Enables Linux Desktop In Your Browser

Posted by timothy on from the right-where-you-need-a-pc-is-on-your-computer dept.

Ianopolous writes "Classic DOOM and DSL Linux Desktop inside your Java-enabled browser! The latest JPC, the fast 100% Java x86 PC emulator, is now available with online demos and downloads. JPC is open source and is the most secure way of running x86 software ever — 2 layers (applet sandbox, JPC sandbox) of independently validated security make it the world's most secure means of isolating x86 software. Visit the website to try out some classic games and play around with Linux all within your web browser. Refresh = reboot!"

8 of 165 comments (clear)

  1. We put an OS in your browser in your OS! by gbarules2999 · · Score: 4, Informative

    I'm just waiting for somebody to go, "fuck that Java shit." But read the summary, people! Secure means security which means secure!

    Also: But can it run Crysis?

    1. Re:We put an OS in your browser in your OS! by operator_error · · Score: 2, Informative

      Thank you for your enlightening and detailed technical comments.

      It is often my job, as a manager, to try to understand and then to mitigate risks which you have explained and detailed well. I see in a network you have setup, I would be blocked from doing many cool things with Backtrack as OS in a browser.

      How about another classic trick to watch out for? How would you prevent someone running standard OS in a browser (or of a USB stick, etc.) from running an SSH proxy, on port 443, to their home dd-wrt router (or something more sinister?)? Assuming they could configure the SSH client to run somewhere on your network, and you did deep-packet inspection, all you'd see would be encrypted traffic going out on acceptable port 443, albeit probably to a single IP address, which we *might* be able to block with the router after noticing the pattern and traffic volume; especially if its just a single employee proxying to their home router.

      I do understand what you mean about Microsoft IE being locked down in a corporate environment. But please understand if I have anything to say in the office architecture, I view IE, and Windows as RISK to be avoided whenever possible, especially for common 'office workstations'. I support Firefox on Ubuntu, (and web-services). PCI-DSS backs up my views about MS-avoidance too, and this is what I explain to my boss who has charged me with ensuring compliance to this standard. We want to mitigate risks, while following a Plan.

      Sure I want to 'lock-down' the network and staff with rules, but within reason, and I want everyone to know *why*. I KNOW I can't lock-down the technical staff always, so I try to discuss these things in the open, as a team where everyone shares responsibility.

      I'm certainly not an advocate of locking everyone to IE on Windows as a 'security measure'. What if I knew of an exploit that was unpublished? I could craft a targeted virus (with no 'pattern' known to the anti-vir vendors), use a little social engineering to get my virus running on-site, and I'd be 'in'. Sure that's a minor feat, but it shows the relative risk of Windows, while Windows offers us nothing in a common office workstation that can't be done in Ubuntu & Firefox & Open Office for the most part. The value of Windows isn't worth the risk.

  2. Old news by Kazymyr · · Score: 5, Informative

    JPC has been around for at least 3 years, and on Slashdot at least twice before.

    --
    I hadn't known there were so many idiots in the world until I started using the Internet -Stanislaw Lem
  3. Most secure!? by lithero04 · · Score: 3, Informative

    the world's most secure means of isolating x86 software

    I seriously doubt this claim...

    What about? http://www.nsa.gov/research/tech_transfer/fact_sheets/nettop.shtml
    Or its predecessor? http://www.nsa.gov/ia/programs/h_a_p/releases/hapr1.shtml

  4. Re:Why would I want to run X86 emulator in my brow by peppepz · · Score: 3, Informative

    Having a PC emulator written in Java means to be able to run any previously-written x86 code on any Java-enabled machine out there, forever. And don’t forget about mobile devices, too. JPC needs not to be run in a browser, it can be run standalone, and has already been ported to high-end phones - I, for one, think that running Windows 3.1 on a phone is quite cool. Running old games might even be funny.
    Perhaps JPC could be ported to an xlet and, say, ran off a bluray disc or a dvb-t transmission. OK, I hate both of them, but the point is that achieving platform-independence opens up many possibilities.
    It’s not less useful than the many old-systems emulators available on the net - and those get quite a lot of followers.
    I’d say that it can be useful for:
    - preservation (and enjoyment :D) of ancient software;
    - interoperability with not-so-ancient software.

  5. Re:source code ? site is down ! by peppepz · · Score: 2, Informative

    Yes,they do.
    (Not that I expect the source code of a x86-to-jvm bytecode recompiler to be very readable...)

  6. Re:source code ? site is down ! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Informative

    There was a JavaOne session on it last year: http://developers.sun.com/learning/javaoneonline/j1sessn.jsp?sessn=TS-13820&yr=2007&track=5

  7. Yes, it runs FreeDOS by Jim+Hall · · Score: 4, Informative

    "Classic DOOM and DSL Linux Desktop inside your Java-enabled browser! The latest JPC, the fast 100% Java x86 PC emulator, is now available with online demos and downloads. JPC is open source [...] Visit the website to try out some classic games and [...]"

    Where it mentions playing DOOM and other DOS games, JPC is booting FreeDOS. So yes, this can run FreeDOS.

    Here's a screenshot of FreeDOS in action on JPC, if you need one.

    In fact, we've discussed the Java PC emulator on the FreeDOS web site since JPC was first released. We even link to it on our "About" page and "Links" page. It's a great way to introduce new users to the idea of running DOS, without asking them to install their own PC emulator, or even install FreeDOS at all.

    Java PC has been released under the GNU GPL since May 2007, so to answer your question: source code is available. We mirrored an old copy of the source code from 2007, but looks like we haven't made further copies. But maybe it's enough to interest folks who don't want to wait for the JPC site to recover from its slashdotting today.