distribute (k)qemu with Mepis

Just want to refresh this topic, as I learned of [k]qemu this morning, installed it, and began installing my virtual WinXP on it. The qemu package is in the repositories, but there's still no kqemu accelerator to be found. From what I've read, kqemu makes things much more usable. Guess I'll see for myself how qemu performs tonight. Installation took a very long time (over an hour, and I left for work before it finished).

Random Synapse Firing

Instead of qemu, I would now recommend VirtualBox (www.virtualbox.org). It is factors faster than qemu and lots easier to setup.

Newbie or not Newbie, there's always a question

I will second VB!

Good news is that I had a problem with some dictation software in the virtualbox which freezes and emailed the developers about it. I got a very friendly email back telling me they would look into it!

Good program + good friendly developers = good to include

VirtualBox is a very nice product, it felt faster than VMPlayer in my experience. It is a work in project and I hope for big improvements from the dev team, but even the way it is now it's very usable. Not sure though if Warren has space left on the CD....

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Check out MEPIS Wiki: www.mepis.org/docs

VirtualBox is not completely Open Source either. I think USB support and the VirtualBox guest tools are closed source. So Warren would have to include a partially crippled version

For those wanting to check it out, it is easy enough to install though....

Newbie or not Newbie, there's always a question

Till somebody else will comment on this part... make sure you have kernel headers installed before you try to install it.
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Check out MEPIS Wiki: www.mepis.org/docs

I am willing to make a short wiki on howto install virtualbox. However, I am in doubt as to what would be the best place. Software installation is a good section, but it all holds generic info. Should we have a section for specific packages? Or should I just add it to the generic pages? (hummmmm)

Newbie or not Newbie, there's always a question

Hmm, I'm not sure, I think the best for now is to link it from "Linux software" where it's mentioned and add [[Category:Virtualization]] at the end of the page

We create I think at some point "Virtualization Solutions" link somewhere in Knowledge Database...
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Check out MEPIS Wiki: www.mepis.org/docs

Thanks, see if I can do it tonight.

Newbie or not Newbie, there's always a question

What kind of drive space is estimated with a test run of VB and will it work with any version of winders? Reason i ask is my drive is split up pretty good these days with all the betas & rcs, i might have to do some resizing.

jim

That depends. If you want to install windows XP, I think you'll need at least 4 Gb. You can opt for a growing image, so it will only take up what's really in there.

By default, the image is created in the .virtualbox folder in your home. Once it has been created though, you can move it to another partition and create a symlink

Newbie or not Newbie, there's always a question

The good part about VB (and vmware) is that they can use virtual drives that grow as much as they need you don't need to assign the whole space in advance. So it's the normal space that you need for Windows... plus 20M or so for VB
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Check out MEPIS Wiki: www.mepis.org/docs

Wow.
I am so glad I bumped this topic. I will definitely check out VB this weekend. Qemu seems like a nice attempt, but:
1) I can't get sound at all
2) The virtual XP claims to have network connectivity, but I can't actually get out to the net
3) I am unable to install anything from CD (and that's a dealbreaker)
4) To use Qemu for what I want, I need to start all over again from scratch because the image size is not growable, and the "how to get started" pages I followed told me to make way-to-small of an image file.

I started by looking at VMware, but it was too confusing, and I don't have the time/energy right now to get into any really involved configurations. (or the money to pay for the VMware easy solution)

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Thanks guys i downloaded the dapper.deb but i will wait a while till carlops has a chance to form a how-to. Im looking forward to the day i can reclaim some long wasted space on this hard drive.

jim

1. you need kernel headers (and probably the /usr/src/linux pointing to the headers directory)
2. after you install the deb you need to run apt-get -f install to get the dependencies.
3. you need to add your username to vboxusers and reboot (I don't know why, but only after I rebooted that took effect).

I can't think about anything else tricky about installation, Carl will probably add more.

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Check out MEPIS Wiki: www.mepis.org/docs

Jim, you shouldn't have said that (evil grin). Now I want you to be my guinea pig (even eviller grin)...

Before dumping it in the wiki, would you be so kind as to follow the steps. Knowing you know you're way around, I've kept it very concise, but if the steps itself are OK, I will elaborate a little and put it up.

So here goes:
- open synaptic
- install packages libxalan110 and libxerces27
- install headers for your kernel (get kernel name via uname-r). This will also install automatically install a generic header package
- close synaptic. Necessary to close to avoid dpkg conflict when installing via CLI
- get VirtualBox package at http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads. For MEPIS 6.0 and 6.5 get Ubuntu 6.06 LTS ("Dapper Drake")
- open konqueror and point to the folder where package was saved. Press F4 to open a console in that folder
- su to root
- command: 'dpkg -i VirtualBox_1.3.8_Ubuntu_dapper_i386.deb' Tip: use tab to complete (type dpkg -i Virt and then tab)
- package will be installed. At one time you will get the question if a module should be compiled. Answer this with yes.
- When done, PC needs to be restarted to make sure normal users can run VirtualBox

Let me know please....

Newbie or not Newbie, there's always a question

OK well give it a shot i've been reading from VB sit & getting prepped. More i think about it better i like the idea of a small install in Mepis all i use winders for is printer utils anyway. Will try asap have a few things to do this afternoon.

jim

Cool, take it easy.... Once you're done drop a line.

Have fun

Newbie or not Newbie, there's always a question

Well i have VB installed without too much trouble but kernel headers were a snag. The matching headers (or the ones i thought matched) for my kernel-image didn't work and left me without a working module & thinking what kind of deal is this. Fortunately module-assistant saved my bacon. I installed it and had it prep the system for compiling which installed an Ubuntu headers package that did work. Don't know what to make of that i suppose it's because the system and package is mostly Ubuntu.

I will try that approach on rc2 i have still installed to test its worth when time permits.

Another snag is getting 98se to boot for install in VM and am still trying to get over that hurdle. Linux doesn't treat floppies like winders & the 98 disk isn't bootable so i may have to try me or xpee to get something installed.

By the way carlops your directions worked fine to the header snag and Qt & other needed files installed without a hitch. I'm wondering if kpackage & module-assistant from the start might not make it easier for newbs though. I will try that on rc2 and get back.

jim

Jim, thanks a lot.

Strange....those header files ought to be correct...

HWat did you do exactly with module-assistant?

Newbie or not Newbie, there's always a question

Basically just have module-assistant install the correct headers with make system ready for compiling by selecting same from menu. My thinking was it almost had to be headers from the error messages even though i was careful about the version i installed it seemed to match exactly my kernel-image. Being between a rock & hard spot with a half installed app it was the only thing i could think of at the time, luckily it worked. Truthfully though i was thinking about moving to rc2 install and try again when it hit me to try it, i thought i probably had that partition muffed good by that time. My thinking was i'm in a world of dodo with something i know nothing about & if it couldn't bail me i would try and muff another one.

Another couple of tid bits is i blew it with two cd drives & i was trying to install from the wrong one. The program clearly states the drive on the secondary ide channel is automatic default for most if not all things & i wasn't paying attention. Another thing is don't try and make a boot floppy in win98 install it don't work and had to start over but i just had to see if it would work. Also xpee wins hands down between the two, its fast on install and works like a native install.

Have to say im impressed by this software and amazed so far. Haven't really tested installing programs and using it much but still think it will reclaim the first part of my hard drive when 6.5 is final. Win98 will have to go though its its a real slug on install takes forever.

jim

Module-assistant & kpackage make this install a breeze i only had to install three packages libxalan110 libxerces27 & module-assistant. I had 22 updates in the kicker when logging into rc2 & after installing them and the previously mentioned packages & a reboot module-assistant handled the headers in short order. Then clicking on the virtualbox.deb kpackage handled the rest of the grunt work by installing and making the module in a couple of minutes. Then a adduser jim vboxusers in konsole as su (in my case) with a reboot and your'e ready to setup partitions and install the winders of your choice in VB.

I get the definite impression Mr. Warren is playing with VB and its dependencies cause it seemed so easy this time around, hardly anything to install. From start to finish and playing spider solitaire in about a hour and a half & watching tv most of the time too. Definitely different than the first go round.

Carlops if you can try this method to see what you think & confirm it is viable it would be super.

Also if there is any thing i have written you can use in the howto feel free to use it.

jim

Jim,

Thanks a lot. I'll do a fresj install of RC3 on a free partition and see if I need to follow the module-assistant step as well. Then I'll put it up.

Cheers

Newbie or not Newbie, there's always a question

Well, VirtualBox was pretty easy to install and get working, but no joy with Direct3D (I wanted to be able to play games without a dual boot). I got the latest DirectX installed, but no joy without Nvidia drivers, and the Nvidia install couldn't detect my graphics card. I did a little Googling, and apparently this is just a weakness of VB, but I thought I'd put it up here in case anybody else had some experience/advice/input.

Random Synapse Firing

For 3D and in general gaming is not good idea to use Windows under a VM. VMWare I think added 3D but only experiemntal and I'm not sure how it works, if it does, I can bet it's slow.

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Check out MEPIS Wiki: www.mepis.org/docs

Now i can play with printer utilities in linux without rebooting and a few old games now and then plus reclaim some otherwise wasted drive space. And you know im a happy camper!

jim