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Desktop Virtualization

This document discusses desktop virtualization using Oracle's VirtualBox software. It provides an overview of desktop virtualization and why it is useful, particularly for trying different operating systems, development environments, and running foreign applications. The document outlines the benefits of VirtualBox, how to use it, and some key things to know when using VirtualBox like keyboard/mouse integration, safely shutting down virtual machines, and default disk formats and networking modes. It concludes with instructing the reader to install VirtualBox and create a virtual machine to install Ubuntu as a practical exercise.

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62 views8 pages

Desktop Virtualization

This document discusses desktop virtualization using Oracle's VirtualBox software. It provides an overview of desktop virtualization and why it is useful, particularly for trying different operating systems, development environments, and running foreign applications. The document outlines the benefits of VirtualBox, how to use it, and some key things to know when using VirtualBox like keyboard/mouse integration, safely shutting down virtual machines, and default disk formats and networking modes. It concludes with instructing the reader to install VirtualBox and create a virtual machine to install Ubuntu as a practical exercise.

Uploaded by

Prima Even
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Desktop Virtualization

NSRC
What do we mean?
● Running VMs on your laptop or desktop
machine with keyboard and screen
● Especially useful for:
– Trying out other operating systems
– Development and test environments (sandboxes)
– Running foreign applications
Things we like
● Simple to use GUI
● Features
– Represent the guest's console as a window
– Easy use of keyboard and mouse
– Copy-paste between the guest and the host
– Disk image management and snapshots
● We are not worried about datacentre-grade
scalability
We are going to use VirtualBox
● Pros:
– Free* and Open Source (GPL)*
– Available for Windows, Mac, Linux, FreeBSD
– Good documentation
– Easy to use and powerful
– Can run 64-bit guests on 32-bit host (with VT-x)
● Cons:
– It's owned by Oracle

* Except the optional Extension Pack, which is closed source, free for personal use only
Things you need to know (1)
● Click in the guest window to capture the
keyboard and mouse
● To release the keyboard and mouse, press
the "host key" which is usually Right Ctrl
● You can get better keyboard/mouse integration
by installing the "VBox Guest Additions"
– Then you can simply move your mouse over the
window and move it away again
– Also lets you copy-paste and share files with the
guest
Things you need to know (2)
● Shutting down a VM is most safely done by
requesting shutdown from within the VM
● Or you can send an "ACPI shutdown" signal
from VirtualBox
– Linux guests need "acpid" installed
● Try to avoid an "immediate power off"
– Just like pulling the power out on the wall
– Could result in lost data / filesystem corruption
Things you need to know (3)
● Default disk image format is "VDI" and you can
choose either fixed or growable
● The default networking mode is "NAT" and you
don't need to configure anything
– Client will pick up IP address (10.0.2.15) via DHCP
and can make outbound connections
● The full manual is included (Help > Contents) or
you can download it separately
Practical exercise
● Install VirtualBox on your laptop
– Check with instructors if you have <1GB RAM or
<5GB free hard drive space
● Create a VM and install Ubuntu within it
● If you have time: install the VirtualBox Guest
Additions and more VMs

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