Windows program on Linux ? Proxmox with Bottles or Windows ?

As a Mac and Linux user it was 20 years ago I used Windows.  But having an old Actisense NGT-1, NMEA 2000 interface, where I had to update the firmware made it impossible to avoid. 

Of course I could have used some friends Windows PC but it's not the same challange. 😉

Linux Bottles is a free tool that lets you run Windows programs and games on Linux. It makes Wine easy to use by organizing separate virtual environments, called bottles, with a simple screen.

And maybe Windows don't need an any intro ..... ?

Bottles

Key Features

• Virtual Environments: Keeps each Windows app safe and separate in its own container, Flatpak, (bottle).
• Easy Fixes: Automatically downloads needed Windows files like .NET and Visual C++.
• Gaming Ready: Works well with game stores and Proton layers. 

Main Tools

• Runner Manager: Changes the compatibility layer version easily.
• Task Manager: Checks and stops programs that freeze.
• Backup Tool: Saves and restores your virtual bottles.

Short install help

I created a debian 13 VM/Guest, without Desktop, in Proxmox and then 

apt install xfce4 => Lightweight Desktop, reboot and the GUI will appear in the console

apt install flatpak

flatpak remote-add --if-not-exists flathub https://dl.flathub.org/repo/flathub.flatpakrepo

flatpak install flathub com.usebottles.bottles

and then start the application via the Desktop.

Windows 

In Proxmox I created the Windows VM and I will not write down any info about that ..... there are several guides on the WEB but some thoughts below....... A reflection after the installation is that Windows 11 is really a big and "heavy" application.....

Conclusion

Sorry to say I couldn't get the Actisense Toolkit software to discover the USB NGT-1 so had to use the Windos VM instead. And good to know is that a firmware update is made by a patcher, ActiPatch.

I tested some other applications, not having a USB connection, in the Bottles environment, it worked just fine, so that's seems the way, not Windows.

Some Proxmox settings för Windows

I ended up with installing Windows 10 which served my purpose.

Besides the Windows ISO you have to download the Windows VirtIO Drivers" and place them at "/var/lib/vz/template/iso/"

My VM settings

** General

Guest OS:

Type: MS Windows

Version: 10/2016/2019

**System

Machine: q35

BIOS: OVMF (UEFI)

Add EFI Disk: Yes

EFI Storage: local-lvm

Pre-Enroll keys: Yes

SCSSI Controller: VirtIO SCSI single

Qemu Agent: Yes

Add TPM: Yes

TPM Storage: local-lvm

Version: 2.0

** Disk/Disks(Advanced)

Bus/Device: VirtIO Block or SCSI

Disk size(GB) 75 GB

Cache: Write back

Discard = Yes

IO Thread = Yes

SSD = Yes => if disk is SSD

** CPU

Sockets: 1

Cores: 4

Type: host

** Memory

Menory (MiB): 6144 MB

** Network

Bridge: vmbr0

Model: VirtIO

Firewall: No