VirtualBox Essentials

Sun’s xVM VirtualBox software is a good place to start for this series. It’s multi-platform
(Windows, Mac, Linux—but not Solaris), it’s free, it’s very easy to use, and it’s very
small (~59MB Installed). The installer file is a mere 37MB and downloads very quickly.
Windows installation is fast, simple, and complete with only a few clicks—no advanced
knowledge of virtualization required.

Setup a New VM

Once installed, xVM VirtualBox is ready to h 5a8 ost a VM. My choices are in
parentheses. To setup a new VM, click New->Name your VM (For example, Debian5),
select the Operating System (Linux), and Version (Debian). Click Next. Set the VM
Memory (256MB). Click Next. The Virtual Hard Disk prompts you to create a new
virtual hard disk or select an existing one. Since this is a new installation, select New and
the Virtual Disk Wizard steps you through creating one. Click Next. Choose Fixed size
for better performance. Click Next. Select a virtual disk size and location. Choose a size
for your disk—8GB is the default (2 GB). Click Next and Finish. You’re returned to the
Virtual Hard Disk Screen. Click Next. Select your Disk from the dropdown menu. Click
Finish. Figure 1 shows you the new VM (Debian5) and its configurable components.
Figure 1: Fresh VM and its Configurable Components

You’ll notice from Figure 1 that the CD/DVD-ROM drive isn’t mounted. Before you’re
able to install a new operating system into the VM you’ve just created, you have to
specify an installation source (CD/DVD or ISO). To do this, click CD/DVD-ROM in the
righ pane, Select Mount CD/DVD 5a8 Drive, and then select the physical CD/DVD
Drive that contains a bootable operating system image or select ISO Image File. Browse
to and select your ISO image by clicking the Browse icon, remove VMAdditions.iso,
click the Add button, find your ISO image, click the Select button, and click OK to return
to the main xVM screen.

Desktop Virtualization Products

• Sun’s xVM VirtualBox

• VMware’s Desktop Products
• Parallels
• Microsoft’s Virtual PC

Install the Operating System

You’re now ready to power on the VM and start the installation. Click Start to power on
the new virtual machine. A console screen appears in a separate window and the
installation begins. If you need to release your mouse and keyboard focus from the VM’s
console screen at any time during the installation, press the Right Ctrl key on your
keyboard. Clicking inside the console will return focus to the console. The installation
proceeds with or without mouse and keyboard focus. Page through your installation until
it’s complete. I used all default values for this 5a8 demo VM installation.

Enjoy Your New Virtual Machine

The new virtual machine is fully functional and ready to serve. This VM is just like any
guest VM on a virtual server host system. Install or remove software, setup Internet
services, write an OpenOffice.org document, play a game, or open a browser and surf the
Internet.

To customize your system’s hardware, you’ll have to shut it down just as you would a
physical computer. Please note that by default your new VM’s network setup uses NAT,
which means that it uses your host computer’s network adapter to connect to outside
resources (Internet, Software Repositories, Other Systems) but those connections look as
if they originate from your host and not the VM. If you want to SSH to your VM from the
host or other remote computer, shut down the VM, click the Network link in xVM’s right
pane, use the dropdown selection, Attached to:, and select Host Interface. Click OK and
start the VM. The VM automatically obtains an available IP Address from your DHCP
server (For example, your router).

Sun xVM Advantages and Disadvantages

Advantages:

• Easy to Install and Use

• Small Footprint
• Free
• Multi-Platform
• Supports Wide Variety of Guest OSs
 • Actively Developed
• Remote Display Capa 284 bility

Disadvantages:

• No Solaris OS Support
• Tricky Network Setup
• Awkward CD Drive Management
• No VM Cross-Compatibility

Despite some of xVM’s shortcomings, I like it. If you’re looking for a desktop-level
virtualization solution that’s easy to use, quick to install, and priced right; xVM is
definitely worth a try. Don’t expect it to be an enterprise-level solution or a replacement
for something more robust, like VMware’s Workstation product, but for the money,
you’d be hard-pressed to find something better.