Lxrun
| Company type | Open source software project |
|---|---|
| Industry | Software compatibility layer |
| Founded | 1997 |
| Founder | Mike Davidson |
Area served | UnixWare, SCO OpenServer, Solaris |
| Products | Compatibility layer for running Linux executables |
In the realm of Unix systems, lxrun functions as a compatibility layer that allows Linux executables to operate on UnixWare, SCO OpenServer, and Solaris platforms without the need for recompilation. Developed by Mike Davidson, this project has been available as open source since 1997, distributed under the terms of the Mozilla Public License. Official backing for lxrun began in 1999 from both SCO and Sun Microsystems.
Timeline
- August 22, 1997: lxrun is showcased as a proof of concept for enabling cross-platform binary compatibility during the 86open conference organized by SCO in Santa Cruz, California.
- August 29, 1997: The initial reference to lxrun appears on Usenet (comp.unix.sco.misc), highlighting its availability in both source code and binary formats via the SCO Skunkware FTP repository, with development contributions from SCO and external programmers.
- October 1, 1997: The official website dedicated to lxrun is launched.
- June 19, 1998: Ronald Joe Record, Michael Hopkirk, and Steven Ginzburg deliver a presentation on lxrun at the USENIX Technical Conference held in New Orleans.
- March 1, 1999: SCO announces Linux compatibility integrated into UnixWare 7 and demonstrates lxrun at the LinuxWorld Expo in San Jose, California.
- May 12, 1999: Sun Microsystems declares its support for running Linux binaries on Solaris through lxrun.
Status
By 2003, the official lxrun website indicates that the project had entered a "maintenance" phase with no ongoing active development. The reduced enthusiasm is largely due to the increased accessibility of native Linux environments along with more sophisticated emulation alternatives such as SCO's Linux Kernel Personality (LKP), OpenSolaris BrandZ, and multiple virtual machine technologies. lxrun does not provide official compatibility for newer Linux applications or updated host operating systems.