New to Virtualization

[corbryant]

Hey guys, I just got 7 Ultimate installed on my Dell D430 laptop a couple of days ago and I'm just poking around and trying to figure everything out. So far, I love it. I can't believe how much faster it is - compared to Vista. So far, I have nothing bad to say! What's happening to me?!? =)

My question is... What is virtualization all about? I turned it on in the BIOS so that I would get a chance to go through everything after the installation, but I never saw anything else about it - other than what I had read in the advisior before I installed.

In a nutshell, I'd like to know basically what it's used for and where the controls/software are at in Windows 7? I'm not even sure it works that way, but I'd just like to check it out.

Thanks for any help guys!

Cor

 

[Kari]

Hi Cor, welcome to the Seven Forums

Virtualization makes it possible to run so called virtual machines on your computer. Your Windows 7 system is called the host, and you can install guest operating systems to be run on virtual machines.

Here for instance my laptop's desktop just a moment ago, running three guest OS's (OpenSUSE Linux, Mac OSX and Android) on Seven host:



You need an virtualization application, or platform, to install and run these virtual machines. In the screenshot above those virtual machines are running on VirtualBox from Oracle. It is free, easy to use and configure. More information and download: VirtualBox

Microsoft's own virtualization application is called Virtual PC. You can download it, and the free Windows XP (XP Mode) virtual machine here: Windows Virtual PC: Home Page

Kari

 

[DeanP]

How did you get Mac OS X working on VirtualBox? I'm desperate for this on my other PC.
When I entered the Mac OS X Leopard Install Disc on VirtualBox, nothing shows up at all.

 

[Kari]

I have legal and valid install media for Mac OSX 10.6 because of my MacBook, but even then it is in a bit grey zone, Apple does not allow Mac OSX to be installed and used on anything else than in their own computers. EULA, the licence agreement makes this very clear.

This is why I am not telling or showing how to do it. You might think I am a tighta**, but that's my policy.

Sorry.

Kari

 

[pparks1]

How did you get Mac OS X working on VirtualBox? I'm desperate for this on my other PC.
When I entered the Mac OS X Leopard Install Disc on VirtualBox, nothing shows up at all.

95% of the people who "Do" get this working, are using hacked copies of the OS that they downloaded from a torrent.

I can tell you from personal experience, that after all the fuss of getting OSX working in a virtual environment, you won't find that you use it often at all because it's "dog slow". I'm sure Kari can back me up on this.

 

[Kari]

It is. It's dead slow, almost impossible to configure and update. For me it has only been to virtually test a network of three different OS's in same domain (OpenSUSE Linux, Mac & Windows Server). I rather did it in on one computer because of my laziness; testing this kind of stuff with simultaneously running virtual machines I can sit in one place, use one KB and mouse etc.

I would not recommend using MacOSX on a virtual machine, or even on a real PC. The little I need / want to use Mac, I prefer MacBook. The real thing always beats an imitation, even when talking about Macs

Kari

 

[DeanP]

And one more thing,
Where'd you get that clock and weather widget? Kinda looks like the same as the ones you get in Android Smartphones.

 

[Kari]

That is Android's HTC gadget: HTC Home for Windows

Kari

 

[corbryant]

Nice. I appreciate the info. I'd love to have a Linux box to play with. I've got very little experience with it, and it would be nice to have it on hand like that. What distro do you guys like? I guess to say, what would be good for someone just easing into Linux?

 

[Kari]

Nice. I appreciate the info. I'd love to have a Linux box to play with. I've got very little experience with it, and it would be nice to have it on hand like that. What distro do you guys like? I guess to say, what would be good for someone just easing into Linux?

Here's something that might interest you: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ndows-7-virtual-machine-using-virtualbox.html

 

[DeanP]

It is. It's dead slow, almost impossible to configure and update. For me it has only been to virtually test a network of three different OS's in same domain (OpenSUSE Linux, Mac & Windows Server). I rather did it in on one computer because of my laziness; testing this kind of stuff with simultaneously running virtual machines I can sit in one place, use one KB and mouse etc.

I would not recommend using MacOSX on a virtual machine, or even on a real PC. The little I need / want to use Mac, I prefer MacBook. The real thing always beats an imitation, even when talking about Macs

Kari

This is what I got from other sites (if you are using VMware):

VMware is always slow because it adds a layer of virtualisation above your hardware which is limited in speed by the actions of the host operating system

 

[pparks1]

Nice. I appreciate the info. I'd love to have a Linux box to play with. I've got very little experience with it, and it would be nice to have it on hand like that. What distro do you guys like? I guess to say, what would be good for someone just easing into Linux?

My suggestion would be Ubuntu Linux. Lots of people also like Mint Linux, which is simply a respin of Ubuntu with all of the multimedia features already incorporated.

VMware is always slow because it adds a layer of virtualisation above your hardware which is limited in speed by the actions of the host operating system

Sure, in any virtual environment, it's not "quite" as fast as running completely on the real hardware. However, for Windows and Linux hosts...the speed is incredible and feels just like a real machine (as long as you have a suitable host computer). But OSX on the other hand, is painfully and excruciatingly slow in a VM environment. Even for learning the most mundane tasks in an OSX environment, this isn't going to be fast enough. If I recall correctly, it takes about 3-5 minutes simply to boot from a power on. It's awful.

 

[Kari]

Booting OSX on a virtual machine takes on this computer (laptop as in my specs) about 3 minutes in VMware and about 50 to 60 seconds in VirtualBox 4 Beta 2. But both are almost unusable in real life, for me VirtualBox one worked better but even that was a real PITA to use, so after my network tests I've not used it anymore. The biggest culprit is lack of Guest Additions, I think.

However all Windows and Linux machines, both in VMware and VirtualBox, work great. Nothing to complain. It's quite an experience to have dual display system, running Seven host on main screen and Novell SUSE 11.3 in seamless mode on second display. Recommend wholeheartedly!

I have to add that I am also completely happy when running XP, Vista and Seven machines in Virtual PC. The negative publicity VPC has gotten is to me like this with Vista was: I have no problems, can not understand why people are complaining

Kari

 

[corbryant]

Nice. I appreciate the info. I'd love to have a Linux box to play with. I've got very little experience with it, and it would be nice to have it on hand like that. What distro do you guys like? I guess to say, what would be good for someone just easing into Linux?

Here's something that might interest you: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...ndows-7-virtual-machine-using-virtualbox.html

Thank you. I'm installing VB and downloading Ubuntu right now, so I'll play around with it a little tomorrow. I was wanting someplace to start with this, I guess I have it. =)

 

[corbryant]

Ok, so I had to dig into this tonight. LOL Quick question though. I've enabled Hardware Virtualization in the BIOS, and Oracle VM installed and everything is running smoothly - Ubuntu is installing. Does this mean that everything as far as Windows 7's Virtualization is running and working correctly? What I'm asking is ... is say, for instance - a computer didn't support virutalization, would oracle even run? Or would it just be slow? I'm just trying to grasp exactly how all of this works..

Tks!

 

[DeanP]

It would only run if hardware virtualization was supported
Please excuse my typing - on my iPhone atm

 

[corbryant]

It would only run if hardware virtualization was supported
Please excuse my typing - on my iPhone atm

Okay, thanks. That explains a lot believe it or not. I dare say I'm excited about this. I've always wanted a simple way to run different OSes on my laptop without using VMWare..which I hate... Soooooo much I'm behind on!

 

[Kari]

Yeah, like Dean said you are OK. In fact, you answered your question yourself; if you are already installing Ubuntu on a vm, virtualization works.

 

[whs]

Thanks Kari. So I gather it is not worth trying because without the guest additions and the slow speed it is a dog. But installing Snow Leopard must be "legal". They sell it in the big box stores here.

 

[Kari]

It is legal, of course, to install on any computer that can run it and is made by Apple. Mac OSX EULA makes that very clear, Apple authorizes user to use their OS only on Apple computers.

That for instance kept me for testing Mac OSX on VirtualBox before I got a Mac. I have no interest in pirated software. After I got a Mac and valid OS install media I made a moral decision that because I am going to use it on PC only to test different networking scenarios and to learn OSX, I can test it on PC as long as I do it purely by and for myself, not instructing others on how to do it. Keep in mind almost all OSX's running on PC vm's are illegal, pirated copies.

I did it to better learn how Mac works, and rather did the testing with a virtual machine because of its ability to create and restore an image in seconds (VirtualBox Snapshots).

But really, it's a real gigantic PITA to use. Very slow to react, and because there are no Guest Additions very difficult to integrate to your virtual or physical network. I can understand Oracle not publishing Guest Additions to Mac OSX, it's quite clear they would not even think on publicly working against Apple.

In my of course subjective opinion, whereas Windows and Linux guests are acting and working more or less as any physical computer, the only benefit of having Mac OSX running on a PC virtual machine is to brag as I do: Look guys, I did it!

Kari