Operating system optimized for VMware and remote Windows desktop setup
Operating system optimized for VMware and remote Windows desktop setup
The device links to the vehicle through a direct physical interface.
One connection at the OBD2 port and another linked to the laptop via VM. Diagnostic tools are compatible only with Windows 7 Ultimate, but I don’t recall the exact version. Using them is frustrating, yet the software remains unmatched despite not being updated anymore.
I primarily rely on Linux, though I don’t believe any of these setups are overly impressive. Over the last couple of years, Ubuntu has been my go-to due to third-party needs, and I also used Arch starting around 2019/18. My experience is limited to personal workstations and laptops. In IT, remote desktop tools like RDP and virtual machines are essential, so I haven’t had to worry much about them. I don’t use VMware Workstation; instead, I’d typically run QEMU/KVM VMs with tools like virsh or virt-manager, which are straightforward to install via package managers. If you want to switch to VMs, you’ll need to find the appropriate drivers—especially if you’re using signed ones.
I also rely heavily on VMRC for managing vCenter and ESXi environments, usually downloading it from VMware. In Arch, updating PKG builds is simple, though navigating the setup can be tricky for some. If your ODB2 app relies on serial connections, it might work with Wine, though that’s not always reliable.
For remote access, I use Remmina for RDP/VNC. It offers encryption and password protection, supports various protocols, and exposes many free options. Compared to Windows RDP, it feels more practical—especially for older systems or terminal servers. If your organization uses advanced authentication like AAD/Entra, you might run into minor issues, but they’re usually fixable.
I find VNC to macOS more cumbersome than RDP to Windows. Linux avoids the need for remote GUIs, which is a big plus. Installing Steam on Arch and Ubuntu was straightforward, though configuring apt/pacman for 32-bit repos can be a bit tricky. Editing package files often feels like a dry, frustrating experience to others.
Getting games to launch has always been a challenge for me. If you’re playing AAA titles, I’d probably check ProtonDB first. I didn’t recognize the app by name, but if it’s not Steam-based, there could be other issues. I hope this gives you some useful insights. Good luck, and enjoy your journey!