I'm looking for a free unix download(for a p.c. which I think is running xp) to simulate or mirror a unix operating system to teach a friend basic unix skills for an interview. I saw the solaris link, but couldn't really tell if it would work on a p.c. And I don't want to mess with his operating system, I just want it to run in it's own little environment/window so he can practice basic commands(editing files, redirects, creating removing directories, traversing through directories...)

Suggestions???

P.S. Last I checked they were using SUN computers where he will be interviewing, if that makes a difference.

Please try Cygwin Information and Installation and see if you like it.

Hi.

I think Cygwin is a good idea. It will require installation, however.

A Google search for "free shell account unix OR linux OR bsd" yields about 1 M hits. Then all you'd need is telnet or ssh on the XP box to get to the shell account.

Further searching for training materials of the level you wish, could result in a self-teaching, self-administering course and environment for your friend with you as backup for tough questions.

Best wishes ... cheers, drl

Dave Korns' UWIN is also a good choice for Windows XP systems

You can download and install Sun Solaris on a PC.
It is the full, real, kosher product, and Sun use it in their training labs.

If you want to keep your PC intact, you can install the Solaris OS into a VMware instance.

Install VMware player for windows ( free download from VMware: Virtualization, Virtual Machine & Virtual Server Consolidation - VMware) and then from the same site download their many free unix / linux appliances.

* You need to have a good PC ( minimum 512 MB RAM ) to run VMware.

thanks all. I like the sun solaris idea. Not to sound like an idiot, but what is a VMware instance and how does one go about installing something in it.