I have a few questions about running a linux distro in a vm on a linux box. I have read up about how to get Ethernet working over a bridge, but have not yet got to installing the system, etc.

(1) When the qemu session is running, is it smart to use the xserver on the vm instance? If I am not using the xserver and running the vm instance in console mode, will qemu catch certain keystrokes like ctrl-alt-2 so I can switch to tty2 (for example) or will that keystroke combo be interpreted by the host machine?

(2) If I can follow the directions and get the Ethernet bride working correctly, so that the network can see both the host and vm, I assume I can also do things like mount nfs shares in the vm. Is that a correct assumption?

(3) Will I be able to access other hardware while in the vm, like a usb port and whatever might be connected to it?

I have run DOS in a vm on a linux box, but I expect this to be different. :)

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Re: Running linux in vm on linux box
By: Dumas Walker to All on Thu Jul 12 2018 07:11 pm

I have a few questions about running a linux distro in a vm on a linux box. I have read up about how to get Ethernet working over a bridge, but have not yet got to installing the system, etc.

(1) When the qemu session is running, is it smart to use the xserver on

I don't have experience with qemu, but I've used VMWare and VirtualBox and I think both work well.

Nightfox

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Re: Running linux in vm on linux box
By: Dumas Walker to All on Thu Jul 12 2018 07:11 pm

I have a few questions about running a linux distro in a vm on a linux box. I have read up about how to get Ethernet working over a bridge, but have not yet got to installing the system, etc.

hey, stop right now and run proxmox
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Re: Running linux in vm on linux box
By: MRO to Dumas Walker on Fri Jul 13 2018 04:10 pm

hey, stop right now and run proxmox

It sounds like he's trying to run a Linux VM on top of an already working linux system. why would you suggest he wipe his system and install a specialized hypervisor like Promoxox?

Proxmox is great if you want to run a bunch of VMs, but you can't do much on the bare system other than manage those VMs.

DaiTengu


Mike

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Dumas Walker wrote to All <=-

@VIA: VERT/CAPCITY2
@TZ: c12c
I have a few questions about running a linux distro in a vm on a linux box. I have read up about how to get Ethernet working over a bridge,
but have not yet got to installing the system, etc.

(1) When the qemu session is running, is it smart to use the xserver on the vm instance? If I am not using the xserver and running the vm instance in console mode, will qemu catch certain keystrokes like ctrl-alt-2 so I can switch to tty2 (for example) or will that keystroke combo be interpreted by the host machine?

It depends on the purpose of the VM. For example: I have a VM that
handles just mail. I have no XServer on it because I only access it
through shell or with the email client.

However, I have a VM or two that I keep around to test out different distributions of Linux or run a Windows app or two and those have full
graphics capabilities.

(2) If I can follow the directions and get the Ethernet bride working correctly, so that the network can see both the host and vm, I assume I can also do things like mount nfs shares in the vm. Is that a correct assumption?

If you are using QEMU/KVM or LXD you can.

(3) Will I be able to access other hardware while in the vm, like a usb port and whatever might be connected to it?

Yes. It must be in the config file of the guest OS. If you are using
QEMU/KVM I suggest virt-manager to help you visualize the management of
the config files. It makes it a lot easier and faster than writing
your own config files.

I have a VM on my server that I use virt-manager to remote into and
then share my USB microphone with to do dictation.

I have run DOS in a vm on a linux box, but I expect this to be
different. :)

Happy computing. I have a few servers. Most have both KVM/QEMU and
LXD virtuals/containers on them. I've found that VirtualBox does a
wonderful job. It's just that it is very similar to KVM/QEMU and I
don't see a purpose for it on a Linux Machine. However, I do have
VirtualBox running on my Microsoft Hosts.

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It depends on the purpose of the VM. For example: I have a VM that
handles just mail. I have no XServer on it because I only access it
through shell or with the email client.

It is actually to run a BBS on. Specifically, I have a new 64-bit UP Board that currently hosts my 64-bit synchronet bbs (compiles and works great on there, btw, I prolly need to tell DM), and I still have a 32-bit debian box that is hosting my older DOS bbs. I tried running in under dosemu on the 64-bit os and it does not like some of the dos stuff, so I am trying the
32-bit debian in a vm with dosemu installed. We will see how that goes.

So far, the vm works, and dosemu works (real slow!), but I am not so sure
that binkley will load. FYI, I am using ubilinux which is the recommended 64-bit debian variant for the up board... it has drivers for it.

If you are using QEMU/KVM or LXD you can.

Someone told me to use ip instead of brctl. I could only get ip working
once. Brctl seems to set the bridge up perfectly, and the vm gets a IP
address assigned from the router!

(3) Will I be able to access other hardware while in the vm, like a usb port and whatever might be connected to it?

Yes. It must be in the config file of the guest OS. If you are using QEMU/KVM I suggest virt-manager to help you visualize the management of
the config files. It makes it a lot easier and faster than writing
your own config files.

I am using QEMU without KVM right now. I was able to get pretty easily get
the vm to recognize the connected serial port and modem... at least well
enough to echo at commands to the modem and make the lights blink. :)

Happy computing. I have a few servers. Most have both KVM/QEMU and
LXD virtuals/containers on them. I've found that VirtualBox does a
wonderful job. It's just that it is very similar to KVM/QEMU and I
don't see a purpose for it on a Linux Machine. However, I do have
VirtualBox running on my Microsoft Hosts.

Thanks!

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It sounds like he's trying to run a Linux VM on top of an already working linux system. why would you suggest he wipe his system and install a specialized hypervisor like Promoxox?

Exactly. Trying to emulate a 32-bit install on a working 64-bit machine. Proxmox looks pretty neat but I like the linux distro I currently have. :)

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Re: Running linux in vm on linux box
By: Nightfox to Dumas Walker on Fri Jul 13 2018 09:30 am

I don't have experience with qemu, but I've used VMWare and VirtualBox and I think both work well.

I've used qemu/kvm/libvirt for many years. I wouldn't say I'm an expert (it "just works" since I set it up) but I really enjoy it.

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Re: Running linux in vm on linux box
By: DaiTengu to MRO on Sat Jul 14 2018 09:59 am

hey, stop right now and run proxmox

I was really into Proxmox until I realized their pricing model and what proxmox actually is in comparison to running the bare services on your server. They have a wonderful web UI but if you're looking to scale, look to give them money for each CPU you license AFAIR.

-= The Darkener =-

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Re: Running linux in vm on linux box
By: The Darkener to DaiTengu on Mon Sep 03 2018 03:28 pm

I was really into Proxmox until I realized their pricing model and what proxmox actually is in comparison to running the bare services on your server. They have a wonderful web UI but if you're looking to scale, look to give them money for each CPU you license AFAIR.

Proxmox is free to use. Without the community license (about $93 per year, per physical cpu socket), you simply don't get access to actual support or their update repository, so all updates have to be done manually.

It's dirt cheap when compared to something like Citrix XenServer, VMWare, or any of the other enterprise virtualization products.

The less you pay for a hypervisor, the more work you have to do to do things. Stuff like VMWare and XenServer can be single-click deploy systems. While other stuff like KVM with ovirt on Linux requires a fair amount of tinkering to get everything running just right.

(I run VM clusters as part of my day job, we recently moved from Proxmox to Xen because management is stupid and likes to waste money)

DaiTengu

... Rugby is played by men with odd-shaped balls!!

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