Would you like to install some x86 Linux apps on your favorite board?. Surely you've heard about *Exagear Desktop*, a payment software that allows you to launch applications based on *x86 (32-bit)*. Maybe you have doubts about if it really works.
The company [Eltechs](http://eltechs.com/?utm_source=misapuntesde&utm_medium=post_part1&utm_campaign=ED_May2015_release) has contacted to me to make a review about their product. 5-10% is difference between ExaGear v1.0 and v1.1. I know only one similar solution - Qemu. Performance comparing to Qemu is 5x (500%)!
Are you interested or curious about how it works?. I've seen comparisons and graphics in several sites about their performance, but nowhere have made real test running software. I bring **the first analysis** about this product and we'll see in the following two articles if it really worth. In addition, **we are giving away 10 free licenses of Exagear Desktop**.
This solution implement a *virtual machine (VM)*. It's a container for *x86 applications* inside a board with *ARM* processor. That is, you have a host computer (*PI, ODROID*, etc.), an a guest (*x86 VM*).
I'm going to test the latest version, [Eltechs ExaGear Desktop 1.1.](http://eltechs.com/product/exagear-desktop/?utm_source=misapuntesde&utm_medium=post_part1&utm_campaign=ED_May2015_release)
This product takes nearly a year on the market, and it is compatible with the *Raspberry Pi 2*. Now it brings support also for *Raspberry Pi A/B/B+*, and have gained support to other boards like *ODROID, Banana Pi, CubieBoard* or any with *ARMv7 processor*, as mentioned before.
The requirements what you need:
*Raspberry Pi 1, Raspberry Pi 2, ODROID, CubieBoard, CuBox, Utilite, Jetson TK1, Wandboard, Banana Pi* or whatever with *ARMv7* support.
For applications using *MMX/SSE*, you also need [NEON](http://www.arm.com/products/processors/technologies/neon.php) and *vfp* support. This technology called **NEON** handles multimedia accelerate algorithms in general: Decode video or *2D/3D* graphics among others. You can check whether your motherboard supports running the following command: **cat /proc/cpuinfo | grep 'neon\\|vfpv3'**.
*Ubuntu 12.04/14.04, Debian 7 or Raspbian*. Check your *Ubuntu* version with: **cat /etc/lsb-release**
*binfmt_misc* kernel module. You should also have it, but if you want to make sure, execute one of the following instructions and get a result, it means that is supported:
Mis apuntes de...
cat /proc/config.gz | gzip -d | grep CONFIG_BINFMT_MISC
cat /proc/sys/fs/binfmt_misc/status
In my case, I have several packages: *Raspberry Pi, Raspberry Pi 2* and for *ARMv7* processors. As you can see, it will install a virtual image adapted to the operating system that you have installed. That is, if your operating system is *Raspbian*, the installer **will use an *x86 Raspbian* image as a *guest*.**
There are two installation methods:
# ./install-exagear.sh
System memory configuration is determined as 2g/2g
ARCH=armv7l
HOST OS: debian
HOST OS VERSION: "7"
EXAGEAR package: exagear-mem2g_*-1_armhf.deb
EXAGEAR guest image package: 'exagear-guest-debian-7-wine2g_*_all.deb'
Installing prerequisites...
sudo apt-get install -y bash coreutils findutils realpath curl binfmt-support cron
sudo dpkg -i exagear_.deb
sudo dpkg -i exagear-guest-.deb
sudo cp /opt/exagear/lic
sudo /opt/exagear/bin/actool
Ready!. Application is installed together with the packages needed to run everything correctly. The image what really does is expand in the directory */opt/exagear/images/\
To ensure that the image that we installed is Ok, we can use **command-ls**. If you have a *ODROID* board, it shows you:
Installed guest images:
ubuntu-1404lts
To access the guest system, you must type **exagear**:
$ exagear
Starting the shell in the guest image /opt/exagear/images/ubuntu-1404lts
$ uname -a
Linux odroid 3.10.79-87 #1 SMP PREEMPT Wed Jun 3 14:57:54 BRT 2015 i686 i686 i686 GNU/Linux
Eureka, you have your own *x86 VM* running!. It was very easy to get here. To return to our guest operating system, type **exit**
One detail to note is that users share the guest machine to the host computer. That is, within the *VM*, have the same users and the same folder */home* that in your main operating system.
You have arrived at the end of the first part of this review. If you like to try this software, [Eltechs](http://eltechs.com/?utm_source=misapuntesde&utm_medium=post_part1&utm_campaign=ED_May2015_release) has been kind enough to give **10 free Exagear Desktop licenses** for readers of this blog. The rules are simple:
Share a message on *Twitter, LinkedIn, FaceBook or Google Plus* with the next text: **"I want a free license of Exagear Desktop to My Raspberry Pi/Odroid/cubieboard (or whatever you want)"**. That is, if you want a license for your *Raspberry Pi 2*, would be: *I want a free license of Exagear Desktop to My Raspberry Pi 2*. You can see the supported boards on the official website of the product.
Send the link you have just shared to the *e-mail*: [raffle@eltechs.com](mailto:raffle@eltechs.com)
Only one email per person and social network is allowed, so **you can participate a maximum of 4 times**.
It is optional, but if you want, you can follow us on *Twitter*: [ulysess10](https://twitter.com/ulysess10) | [Eltechs](https://twitter.com/eltechs)
You have until next Sunday 14th to participate.
Good luck!