Installing OpenSource Sage Mathematical Software for Win7 Pro 64-bit

Pre-made virtual machines are called appliances. The Open Virtualization Format OVF standard uses the .ova extension (Open Virtual Appliance) for distribution of appliances.

If your Sage comes as an ova file, it means it can be imported as a virtual machine to standard virtualization platforms like VirtualBox or VMware. I suggest you download and install the free Oracle VirtualBox, download the Sage ova and simply import it to VirtualBox.

Kari

pete barnes said:

Can this be done using instead the Win 7 VM, which I have installed to run WinXP Mode for such applications as VB 6 and VC++ 6?

I assume you mean Windows Virtual PC with "Win 7 vm", the virtualization platform needed to run Windows XP Mode?

Windows Virtual PC is a good and reliable platform to run Windows (XP and later) virtual machines but as the integration features only work on Windows virtual machines, it's not a good solution to run other virtual operating systems.

pete barnes said:

Or do I specifically need to use the Oracle or VMware VM you describe?

I recommend you use VirtualBox, based on that Sage seems to prefer it and has quite clear and precise instructions in using the Sage appliance on VirtualBox (SageAppliance - Sage Wiki).

pete barnes said:

Do you know wheteher the Sage package is worthwhile installing?

I have absolutely no clue. I do not use any mathematical special programs nor do I know them in general and Sage in particular.

pete barnes said:

And does that mean the Sage software is not available for 64-bit machines under Windows? I am just not sure if it would be easy to use the VM you describe from a Win 7 environment.

It is available for Windows machines but as it seems to run on its own modified operating system, it needs to be installed as a virtual appliance.

Using virtual machines is exactly as easy as to use the same operating system on a physical computer.

Kari

Perhaps I did not express my concerns about VM problems clearly. When I used VMware in the past, I agree it had no problems running Linux under Windows, but it was very awkward ro get it to interface with the PC hardware directly in a way that could be accessed form Windows (for example, I had to use a virtusl HDD, and the interface to the network connection was complicated) whereas the Windows VM machine is very well integrated with the system hardware, which is why I asked about it.

But you have convinced me to try your suggestion. I will install VirtualBox and do as you suggest, I'll see how it goes. Thanks for the advice.

Pete B

pete barnes said:

Perhaps I did not express my concerns about VM problems clearly. When I used VMware in the past, I agree it had no problems running Linux under Windows, but it was very awkward ro get it to interface with the PC hardware directly in a way that could be accessed form Windows (for example, I had to use a virtusl HDD, and the interface to the network connection was complicated) whereas the Windows VM machine is very well integrated with the system hardware, which is why I asked about it.

You expressed your concerns very clearly, I tried to be as clear with my response: If you want to run Sage, you need to get the virtual appliance and install it as a virtual machine, whatever you think of virtual machines and virtualization.

Kari

BTW, out of interest I downloaded the Sage appliance and imported it to VirtualBox.

Seems to be built on a totally normal Fedora Linux. When the Sage vm is running, you can access it also from your Windows 7 host using any browser giving the local host address http://localhost:8000/

You are welcome :).