Moka5, Inc., has released a preview version of Moka5 Engine for Mac OS X, a beta Mac version of its software for automatically distributing and updating virtual machines over a network or USB storage device. The company currently is shipping Windows and Linux versions.

Moka5 Engine enables users to create and configure LivePCs, virtual machines containing an operating system and applications and settings. Moka5 Engine can automatically install LivePC on multiple Windows, Mac, and Linux client machines over a network. On Mac clients, the LivePCs run in VMware Fusion. On Windows PCs, the LivePCs can run in the free VMware Player. Mac clients can also run LivePCs created with Moka5 Engine for Windows.

One feature of LivePCs that ordinary virtual machines don't have is that LivePCs are "self healing:" every time the LivePC is rebooted, the server automatically installs a fresh copy on the client. Users' documents and preference settings are retained, but any malware or accidental damage to the system is eliminated as the operating returns to its original state.

Moka5 Engine also automates the software distribution. When the maintainer of a LivePC makes changes, such as installing a new application, and publishes the update, and all subscribers get the update automatically.

Users don't have to be connected to a network when using a LivePC. Moka5 is also working on support for updating clients that are not network connected. An upcoming release of Moka5 Engine will include an installer that will copy a LivePC to a USB storage device. Users would then be able to copy a LivePC being used at work to a Mac used at home.

The Moka5 has a LivePC library with free downloads of LivePCs, consisting of various open source operating systems configured with different software.

The preview version of Moka5 Engine for Mac OS X is free, and requires VMware Fusion. A Moka5 spokesperson said that the company isn't announcing a final ship date for the Mac version, but that it will be "soon." The company has not announced what the pricing will be, though it is saying the player component for the client will remain free.

(See also these Moka5 Mac release notes.)

Click here for our previous coverage of Moka5.