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Microsoft Windows Print Spooler Service Replacement (view and print documents in virtual appliance)

Features

Collegiate:
No

One-line Description:
Microsoft Windows Print Spooler Service Replacement (view and print documents in virtual appliance)

Filename:
doknir.zip

Size Compressed:
773

Allocated Memory:
192

Username:
doknir

Password:
doknir

VMware Tools Installed?:
Yes

Operating System:
Kanotix 2006 RC4 (Debian based, kernel 2.6.16.16)

Torrent?:
No

Applications:
harbour-project 45 | Clipper compatible compiler
portland xdg-utils
More info at: http://doknir.blogspot.com
New version to be released in fall 2006: doknir II

Last Updated:
November 10, 2006 - 01:56

Description:
(1.The judging panel is interested to know what is
unique about this appliance!)
Dr. Jeffrey Jaffe (CTO for Novell) says in his blog:
"True, Windows is far from perfect. It is not comfortable
to “ctrl-alt-del” every time my printer driver gets confused
and hangs the system."[2006APR]
He suggests to replace Windows with Linux:
"Linux desktop has more than arrived – it has
become the better desktop."[2006APR]
But I don't want to replace my Windows desktop, so I propose
another solution regarding printer drivers: stop Print Spooler
and print via Linux VM! The result is this VM:
doknir (dokument nirvana).
(Why users will want to download and run it?)
Because it is simple and useful! ;)
Everybody can add support for additional formats
by installing appropriate package (for example: djview
for .djvu format).
Another reason could be 64-bit versions of Windows (XP x64, Vista)
that do not have drivers for some older printers. Manufacturers
probably won't write them either. In such cases users will
print via 32-bit "doknir" VM.
Finally, "doknir" can be used when working via "Remote Desktop"
(terminal services). In this case, two "doknir" virtual appliances
are running - one locally and one on server, which we are accessing
with Remote Desktop. Using RDP's feature of drive mapping (and some
changes in source), users can select to print via local "doknir"
or via remote "doknir" ...
(And how they will use it?)
They will right-click on the document in the Windows
Explorer, select menu item "doknir" on popup menu, and wait
until the document will appear in VM. Print!
(2. How was the appliance built:)
KISS! (Keep It Simple and Straightforward)
I installed Kanotix 2006 RC4 and added two utilities that I
wrote in Harbour for Linux and Delphi (source included - public
domain). One is running in Windows desktop and another in Kanotix
VM for exchanging files via shared folder (VMWare tools).
(Summarizing the steps involved.)
a) HD Install Kanotix 2006 RC4
b) Install VMware Tools
c) Install Clipper compatible compiler "Harbour Project"
(needs flex and libncurses4-dev)
d) Make "doknir" Linux executable using: "./bld.sh doknir" in
folder "/home/doknir/prg/
e) Make win32 utility "doknir.exe" using Borland Delphi 2006 Trial and
free wodShellMenu component (www.weonlydo.com). Instructions are here.
(Describe what optimizations were made, for example any changes
you made to the underlying operating system to optimize it for
size or functionality!) Nothing especially, because VA needs to
support as many formats as possible!
(Any special application configurations you made that increase
the usefulness of the appliance)
I've installed Harbour compiler, so that people (like me) who are
not experts in Linux (and C) programming can build native
Linux executables ...
I also use Portland xdg-utils (xdg-open) so that doknir could
be easily built using another Linux distribution ...
(3. Detailed instructions to start using the Appliance and the
location of any other documentation.)
a) create folder with full access in win32 host
b) share above created folder with VM and name it "doknir"
c) start "doknir" VM in win32 host
d) copy "win32" folder from "doknir" VM dekstop to
"doknir" shared folder (there is an icon "hgfs" on desktop)
e) regsvr32 wodShellMenu.dll and import its type library
into Borland Delphi
f) make "doknir.exe" with Borland Delphi (from project doknir.dpr)
and start it in win32 host
g) click on "doknir" icon on "doknir" VM desktop to start utility,
which monitors shared folder
h) stop MS Windows Print Spooler Service ! ;)
i) use right-click in windows to open files in Linux VM by
selecting "doknir" menu-item
* * * * *
* Root password is: doknir
* More info at http://doknir.blogspot.com/
* * * * *
4. The names of any licensed operating systems, applications,
or other components in your appliance, and the licenses
(names or URLs) under which you are using them:
Kanotix 2006 RC4
GNU/GPL: http://www.gnu.org/
xdg-utils
http://webcvs.freedesktop.org/portland/portland/xdg-utils/LICENSE?view=markup
harbour-project
http://www.harbour-project.org/faq/harbour17.html#17
wodShellMenu
http://www.weonlydo.com/index.asp?showform=ShellMenu
free Delphi source:
http://www.swissdelphicenter.ch/en/tipsindex.php
http://subsimple.com/delphi.asp
----------------
[2006APR] http://www.novell.com/ctoblog/?p=3
[]

Technical Specifications

Operating System:

Kanotix 2006 RC4 (Debian based, kernel 2.6.16.16)

VMware Tools installed: No

Size: 773MB

Allocated Memory (RAM): 192

Applications Installed:

harbour-project 45 | Clipper compatible compiler


portland xdg-utils

More info at: http://doknir.blogspot.com

New version to be released in fall 2006: doknir II

Virtual Appliance Account Information