How to Run Netflix in Linux

I have played with different options for getting Netflix running on Linux, and the best and easiest option I found was to install Windows in Virtual box.  Yes, it's not an elegant solution but it works and it works well. Now if you are using Linux you probably don't have a spare Windows key lying around so to get past that hurdle we will use an IE Testing VM.

Go to http://www.modern.ie/en-us/virtualization-tools#downloads and download a version of windows you would like.  I am using Windows 8 with IE11.

wget -i https://az412801.vo.msecnd.net/vhd/VMBuild_20131127/VirtualBox/IE11_Win7/Linux/IE11.Win7.ForLinuxVirtualBox.txt
chmod +x part1.sfx
./part1.sfx

You will now have an ova file.  This file is used to import the VM into virtual box.

Now you will need to install virtual box.  This will depend on your distro.  I am on fedora so it would be sudo yum install VirtualBox.  There might be a little more to it than that depending on your distro/setup.

Finally import the ova file.  Open up virtual box and go to File -> Import, click next like you would if you were on windows unless you really need to update the vm options.  Once complete start up the VM.  Once started you can open up IE and navigate to Netflix and give it a try (You can install Chrome, but I'm not sure if that is against the License).

If you want to go full screen or run seemless mode you will need to install guest additions.  This can be done by clicking Devices -> Insert Guest Additions CD Image...

Fedora, The One True OS

I have officially switched all my main computers over to Fedora Linux.  A friend of mine at work uses Fedora, and recently I had some issue with Mint, at the time my favorite distro, so I deiced to try Fedora out.  I also switched over from GNOME, to KDE and that has been a great expierence also.  The look and feel are great, and all of the options are really easy to setup compared to some of my recent experiences with GNOME 3 / Unity.  I got all of my hot keys setup the way I like and I feel very productive.  Anything I could think of I was able to find a program, setting, option or theme for.

On top of that, always having the latest and greats programs is really nice.  No more trying to figure out how to get the latest version of something and having to do hacky things to make it work.  I recently updated from Fedora 19 to 20 on my laptop and had no issues.  I went to the wiki, ran the commands it said, after a few minutes I was back in business.  Straight forward and easy, couldn't ask for more in an OS.  Having Steam run on linux is pretty great too.  I've added to my rules of purchasing games, does it run on linux.  I don't play many games but all the ones I have purchased from the Humble Bundle have worked so far.

TLDR; switched to Fedora, and it's awesome. I would recommend you try it out.

I'm Back

I haven't posted in a while, but I have decided to come back.  I was trying to create my own blog using Symfony CMF using the BlogBundle, but it isn't quite baked yet. I am working on updating my website from node.js using express to use Symfony CMF.  So far it's been an interesting experience.  I had to learn PHP, then Symfony, and finally the CMF.  Anyways, hope to be posting more soon!

-Andrew