Linspire and Parallels announced the availability of Parallels’ Workstation 2.2 desktop virtualization solution for download through the CNR.com free software delivery service to desktop Linux users. Available for the Freespire 2.0, Linspire 6.0 and Ubuntu 7.04, 7.10 operating systems, the CNR Service will expand to provide support for additional popular Linux distributions. Parallels Workstation allows users of any skill level to run multiple operating systems on a single computer.

“As CNR expands its commercial offerings, we're happy to offer another quality virtualization solution in Parallels, a product our customers have requested,” says Larry Kettler, President and CEO of Linspire. “The Free CNR Service is designed to help users easily find and install the best that Linux software has to offer.”

CNR.com is a free standardized Web 2.0-based Linux software delivery service for desktop Linux users worldwide. It is designed to normalize the process of finding, installing, and updating Linux software for Linux distributions.

Parallels Workstation is a desktop virtualization solution. It enables the user to create completely networked and secure independent virtual machines on a single physical computer. Parallels Workstation's sophisticated virtualization engine enables each virtual machine to operate similarly to a physical computer.

“We’re excited to make Parallels Workstation 2.2 available through CNR.com,” said Benjamin Rudolph, Director of Corporate Communications. “By giving CNR users the ability to easily and seamlessly run multiple OSes, like Windows, at the same time as Linspire, Freespire or Ubuntu, Parallels Workstation makes working with these desktop Linux distributions even more fun and productive.”

The updated version of the Parallels Workstation includes a number of new features that make using multiple operating systems simultaneously even easier.

New Features in the updated Parallels Workstation 2.2:

• MS Windows from 3.1 up to Vista guest OS support
• Linux guest OS tools: Smooth mouse transition between most popular Linux guest OSes and Windows and Linux primary OSes
• Multiple network adapters support - support up to 5 network adapters in VM simultaneously
• Parallels Workstation 2.2 installation on new Linux kernels (2.6.20, 2.6.22, 2.6.23)
• Significantly improved AMD-V support

• Stronger support for Intel Virtualization Technology (VT)
• Improved overall performance and stability
• Support for primary OSes running on machines with up to 32 CPUs
• Shared Folders utility - easily share files and folders between operating systems
• Improved full screen mode that automatically resizes virtual machines to match your screen’s native resolution
• Support for dynamic primary OS video modes, custom video modes and 32 bpp video modes
• Full Unicode support lets users name files and directories in any language
• Support for multi interface USB devices
• Full support for Windows Mobile 2005 devices
• The default network adapter automatically bridges to the most readily available network
• Change network and bridge type on the fly
• Better sound recording and playback
• Smoother mouse synchronization for primary Linux OSes
• Improved performance for Sun Solaris running in virtual machines
• NetBSD and OpenBSD can now be run in a virtual machine as a guest OS
• A more powerful, easier to use Image Tool
• Better networking - use WiFi connections in Linux primary OSes, and switch bridge connections between a LAN cable and WiFi connection on the fly in any guest OS
• A redesigned, more user-friendly interface