LM

Linux supports several virtualization tools that would let you run your Windows programs on a virtual Windows system inside Linux. Of course, you still need a Windows license to run Windows in a virtual machine. The Wine project (http://www.winehq.org) is getting better at supporting Windows apps directly in Linux, but results can vary, and if you have custom, homegrown applications, be prepared to do some troubleshooting. The best answer for the long term is to avoid applications that lock you in with a single OS vendor. I know that can be difficult when your business is built around existing applications, but as you chart a course for the future, keep in mind that Linux does support some excellent financial and asset monitoring tools.

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