The GUI ScreenIO Network Client on Linux or Mac

GUI ScreenIO Network Client is designed to run on Windows platforms.  Any version of windows will work, from Windows 95 to Vista and Windows 7.

Some users have requested a Linux version of the Client, or a version for the Apple Mac OS X platform.   We do not make a version for either of these platforms.

However, using CrossOver package from Codeweavers you can run the Client on most versions of Linux and Mac OS 10.

We have found that our Network Client works very well under CrossOver, but of course we can not guarantee all functions of your application will work perfectly in this environment, and neither can Codeweavers.  

You may also find that your applications work when installed directly on on Linux/Mac using CrossOver, but we are unable to assist with that.  

In our testing all normal GUI ScreenIO applications ran perfectly under our Client Server layer running under CrossOver, however we did not test every possible situation.

There are minor painting issues concerning borders of windows when they are being resized. Multiple border lines appear as you drag windows bigger or smaller.  These disappear in normal use.  Also, applications (as well as the Client itself) appear as a small window in the upper left hand corner of the screen when first launched,  and you have to drag them to the appropriate size.  You only need to do this the first time you launch the client or the first time you launch any application within the client.  After that the size and position of the each application will be remembered.

You need only purchase the entry level version of CrossOver Linux, or CrossOver Mac (less than $40 as of this writing) for each workstation, and then install our GUI ScreenIO Client using CrossOver.   If you mention the Special Deals code "SCREENIO" when purchasing your CrossOver product from the Codeweavers website you will be eligible for a discount on their software.

Installing CrossOver

See the CrossOver site for documentation on how to install their software on your Linux machine or Mac.

Installing the Client in CrossOver

To install the GUI ScreenIO Client in CrossOver, follow the steps below, after visiting our web site to download the GUI ScreenIO Network Client installer package.  You can Click here to download this installer to your hard drive.  Remember where you save this file.

Note:  After you install CrossOver, clicking the above link (or any other .exe file) may cause CrossOver to automatically try to run/install the windows executable automatically.  We have not tested all direct download-to-install scenarios, and prefer to download the exe first, then install as described below. 

In the following examples, screen shots from Codeweavers Installation wizard are shown.  These are current as of the date this web page is written, but Codeweavers may make changes to these procedures.  Use these images as a guide, and adjust as necessary for any improvements or enhancements that Codeweavers may make along the way.  Of course, these images are copyrighted by Codeweavers.

1) Start the CrossOver Installation Wizard:

You will find CrossOver Menu options  in your Linux/Mac menu system after installation of CrossOver.  From those, you need only select the option named Install Windows Software.  This will launch the Installation Wizard.  Its not necessary to run the configuration option, and for your first install its actually easier to leave the CrossOver configuration as is.

The Installation Wizard screen looks something like this.

2) Select the Install unsupported software option.

This means that Codeweavers does not directly support this software.  Check the box, (it turns red) and click Next.

3) Select the application to install (the previously downloaded GUI ScreenIO Client)

In the next screen, click the bottom Radio button (Other installer file), then click the bottom browse button to locate the GUI ScreenIO Client exe file that you previously downloaded.  Then click the Next button.

4) Telling CrossOver how to install the GUI ScreenIO Client.

CrossOver installs windows applications on Linux and Mac machines in "Bottles" which segregate them from other windows applications and assure the best compatibility environment.  When you first install CrossOver you will have no Bottles, and will have to create a new one.  

For this example we created a custom named bottle "GUI-Screenio-Client", and we selected the option to make it think it was running in Windows XP.  

If you have previously used CrossOver and have other bottles or a default bottle, you can most likely install the Client in one of those bottles.  It should work well in either situation.  If your applications make use of Client Side programs (such as MS Office/Word/Excell) it would be best to install those packages first, and then install GUI ScreenIO Network Client in the same Bottle.

Click the next button after entering a bottle name and selecting a platform to emulate.  We recommend Windows 2000 or Windows XP.

5) Allow CrossOver to run the installer

At this point, CrossOver will run our installation program.  Its mostly an automated process.  You should see a few CrossOver animated advisory screens, and then our installer program will pop-up (full screen).  We recommend you take ALL the defaults during this process with respect to our installer.

Note that CrossOver emulates a C: drive and a C:\Program Files\ directory just as if you were running on windows.  There is no reason to get cute and try to outsmart CrossOver, because these directories are all part of the CrossOver magic, and best left alone.  Your Linux or MAC does not actually have a C drive, but our network client will be none the wiser and will install perfectly in this emulated environment.

6) After the Install - Running the Network Client

CrossOver attempts to detect the creation of Windows Desktop Icons during the installation process and creates Linux/Mac equivalences to these.  It also detect the creation of Windows Start bar shortcuts and attempts to emulate these.

Therefore, immediately after CrossOver finishes installing the Network Client you may find desktop icons for the network client such as the one below (This example from a Kubuntu Linux KDE4 desktop):

If you see such an icon you can click it to launch the The Network Client.  If not, check your Linux/Mac applications menu to see if you can find an entry named Windows Applications (put there by CrossOver), and under that you should be able to navigate to the shortcut to the client.

It might be that CrossOver is unsuccessful in creating these shortcuts in some versions of Linux desktops.  

If all else fails, you can find the CrossOver menu, (created when you installed CrossOver), and there will be an option named "Run a Windows Command".   If you click that you can browse for the GSClient.EXE using the screens shown below.  

6a)  The first launch

CrossOver may launch the Client as a small window (very small) in the upper left hand corner of your screen.  Just grab it, and drag it bigger.  This will only happen the first time you run the Client, and the first time you run each application.  This is because the default screen sizes in CrossOver differ from those in real Windows platforms.

7) Running GUI ScreenIO Network Client

Once the client is launched, select File, Connect To, and follow the normal directions for connecting to the GUI ScreenIO Network Server.  You can use the settings below to connect to our test server.  The password is "test".

8) The Client's Menu

Once you are connected you will see the list of applications offered by the server you are connected to.  This should look similar to what you would see running on a native windows platform.  The Help does not work in Linux/MAC as of this writing because it requires the installation of windows html-help subsystem which is licensed from Microsoft. 

The one visual difference we have notices is that the PadLock symbol shown in the lower right (next to the Cancel button) does not render correctly in most Linux/Mac platforms due to font availability.  That character requires the WebDings True Type font from Microsoft.  

To remedy this, close the Client, and launch the CrossOver configuration utility from the CrossOver menu, and select the Install Fonts button.  Its an automated process, and it will allow your applications more closely  resemble a windows platform.  Also, See the CrossOver documentation on how to install fonts.