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nimbios_windows_virtualbox [2020/07/10 20:34]
peek [Shared Folders] |
nimbios_windows_virtualbox [2020/07/10 20:51] (current)
peek [Attaching USB Devices Directly To Your Virtual Machine] |
| A virtual machine is a fake machine that runs inside of a real machine. The physical machine, and the operating system it runs, is referred to as the "Host", while the virtual machine is referred to as the "Guest", "Virtual Machine" or "VM". A virtual machine uses the same keyboard, mouse, and monitor, and shares them with the operating system running on the physical machine. Virtual machines are very useful for people needing to use multiple operating systems, or different configurations of the same operating system. Generally speaking it's possible to run any operating system that you can install on a regular PC into a virtual machine, so long as the required resources are available. For instance, you can run multiple Windows and Linux operating systems in a virtual machine. But you can't run OSX, because Apple's OSX will check to see that you have Apple hardware before allowing the installation. | A virtual machine is a fake machine that runs inside of a real machine. The physical machine, and the operating system it runs, is referred to as the "Host", while the virtual machine is referred to as the "Guest", "Virtual Machine" or "VM". A virtual machine uses the same keyboard, mouse, and monitor, and shares them with the operating system running on the physical machine. Virtual machines are very useful for people needing to use multiple operating systems, or different configurations of the same operating system. Generally speaking it's possible to run any operating system that you can install on a regular PC into a virtual machine, so long as the required resources are available. For instance, you can run multiple Windows and Linux operating systems in a virtual machine. But you can't run OSX, because Apple's OSX will check to see that you have Apple hardware before allowing the installation. |
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| ====== Windows VirtualBox ====== | ====== Windows VirtualBox ====== |
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| Because even here at NIMBioS -- in Linux haven -- you are not safe from the clutches of the Microsoft Empire... | Because even here at NIMBioS -- in Linux haven -- you are not safe from the clutches of the Microsoft Empire... |
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| ====== Installing A Pre-Built Windows VirtualBox ====== | ====== Installing A Pre-Built Windows VirtualBox ====== |
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| The install script will plop down a fresh Windows-10 virtual machine for you. If you already have a Windows virtual machine then don't worry, this won't overwrite your existing virtual machine. Instead it will give the new one a different name. | The install script will plop down a fresh Windows-10 virtual machine for you. If you already have a Windows virtual machine then don't worry, this won't overwrite your existing virtual machine. Instead it will give the new one a different name. |
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| ====== Opening the VirtualBox Application ====== | ====== Opening the VirtualBox Application ====== |
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| - Click on the Whisker Menu\\ {{::virtualbox-001.png?direct|}}\\ | - Click on the Whisker Menu\\ {{::virtualbox-001.png?direct|}}\\ |
| - In the menu that appears, type: "VirtualBox", and click on the application in the search results.\\ {{::virtualbox-004.png?direct|}}\\ \\ | - In the menu that appears, type: "VirtualBox", and click on the application in the search results.\\ {{::virtualbox-004.png?direct|}}\\ \\ |
| - You will see the VirtualBox application window appear:\\ {{::virtualbox-005.png?direct|}}\\ \\ | - You will see the VirtualBox application window appear:\\ {{::virtualbox-005.png?direct|}} |
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| ====== Starting Your Windows Virtual Machine ====== | ====== Starting Your Windows Virtual Machine ====== |
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| - Click on the ''Start'' button.\\ {{::virtualbox-009.png?direct|}}\\ \\ | - Click on the ''Start'' button.\\ {{::virtualbox-009.png?direct|}}\\ \\ |
| - You will see a new window (or possibly multiple windows) appear. Each window is a virtual monitor for the virtual machine. Inside the window you will see the virtual machine booting up. Eventually it'll be up, running, and ready to use.\\ {{::virtualbox-010.png?direct|}}\\ \\ | - You will see a new window (or possibly multiple windows) appear. Each window is a virtual monitor for the virtual machine. Inside the window you will see the virtual machine booting up. Eventually it'll be up, running, and ready to use.\\ {{::virtualbox-010.png?direct|}}\\ \\ |
| - If your virtual machine window is too small, click on the maximize button at the top left of the window to make it take up the entire screen.\\ {{::virtualbox-011.png?direct|}}\\ \\ | - If your virtual machine window is too small, click on the maximize button at the top left of the window to make it take up the entire screen.\\ {{::virtualbox-011.png?direct|}} |
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| ====== Using Your Windows Virtual Machine ====== | ====== Using Your Windows Virtual Machine ====== |
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| | For the most part you will use Windows just as you would normally. You open applications, click on stuff and type the things. The real discrepancies between your Windows virtual machine and Windows running on a physical machine come into play when you choose where to store files, and when you need to use the virtual machine to access physical devices. |
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| ==== Shared Folders ==== | ==== Shared Folders ==== |
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| * On the desktop you will notice what appears to be network drives, one labeled ''Home'', one ''Groups'', and one ''Media'':\\ {{::virtualbox-013.png?direct|}}\\ If these icons are not on your desktop then you can find them under ''This PC'' in the Windows File Explorer:\\ {{::virtualbox-014.png?direct|}}\\ \\ | * On the desktop you will notice what appears to be network drives, one labeled ''Home'', one ''Groups'', and one ''Media'':\\ {{::virtualbox-013.png?direct|}}\\ \\ If these icons are not on your desktop then you can find them under ''This PC'' in the Windows File Explorer:\\ {{::virtualbox-014.png?direct|}}\\ \\ |
| * Under ''Home'' you will find all of the same files that you find with the Linux file manager. Here are the two file explorers pictured side-by-side for comparison:\\ {{::virtualbox-015.png?direct&600|}}\\ \\ | * Under ''Home'' you will find all of the same files that you find with the Linux file manager. Here are the two file explorers pictured side-by-side for comparison, the left one Windows and the right one Linux:\\ {{::virtualbox-015.png?direct&600|}}\\ \\ |
| * Under ''Groups'' you will find all the same files that you find with the Linux file manager if you were to go the ''/home/groups/'' directory:\\ {{::virtualbox-016.png?direct|}}\\ The groups folder is a shared space available to everyone who has an account on the NIMBioS system. Each user is assigned access to one or more groups depending on the nature of their work.\\ \\ | * Under ''Groups'' you will find all the same files that you find with the Linux file manager if you were to go the ''/home/groups/'' directory:\\ {{::virtualbox-016.png?direct|}}\\ The groups folder is a shared space available to everyone who has an account on the NIMBioS system. Each user is assigned access to one or more groups depending on the nature of their work.\\ \\ |
| * Under ''Media'' you will find the mount point for any removable media currently mounted by the Linux operating system.\\ \\ Q: What happens when you insert a CD, DVD, or USB drive into your workstation?\\ A: Linux mounts the device, and virtual machines never see it -- unless you tell the virtual machine to mount it explicitly.\\ \\ The ''Media'' shared folder is one method for giving the virtual machine access to removable media mounted on Linux without the need for going through any extra steps. However, this does mean that for writable media, like USB drives, you will need to use Linux to eject the device before you can safely remove it.\\ \\ To attach devices directly to the virtual machine see the instructions below.\\ \\ | * Under ''Media'' you will find the mount point for any removable media currently mounted by the Linux operating system.\\ \\ Q: What happens when you insert a CD, DVD, or USB drive into your workstation?\\ A: Linux mounts the device, and virtual machines never see it -- unless you tell the virtual machine to mount it explicitly.\\ \\ The ''Media'' shared folder is one method for giving the virtual machine access to removable media mounted on Linux without the need for going through any extra steps. However, this does mean that for writable media, like USB drives, you will need to use Linux to eject the device before you can safely remove it.\\ \\ To attach devices directly to the virtual machine see the instructions below. |
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| ===== ** NOTE: Store Everything In The Shared Folders!** ===== | ===== ** NOTE: Store Everything In The Shared Folders!** ===== |
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| - The backup server runs Linux, and it only backs up Linux files. And to the backup server, your virtual machine's virtual hard drive looks like just one gigantic file:\\ \\ {{::virtualbox-012.png?direct|}}\\ (A file you save inside Windows is //somewhere// inside that giant multi-gigabyte file!)\\ \\ If you need a file restored from backup and it's stored in the shared folders then it's stored on the Linux filesystem -- and that means it takes mere minutes to locate and restore your file. But if your file is stored inside the Windows virtual hard drive then it could take a day or more just to find it. | - The backup server runs Linux, and it only backs up Linux files. And to the backup server, your virtual machine's virtual hard drive looks like just one gigantic file:\\ \\ {{::virtualbox-012.png?direct|}}\\ (A file you save inside Windows is //somewhere// inside that giant multi-gigabyte file!)\\ \\ If you need a file restored from backup and it's stored in the shared folders then it's stored on the Linux filesystem -- and that means it takes mere minutes to locate and restore your file. But if your file is stored inside the Windows virtual hard drive then it could take a day or more just to find it. |
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| As a reminder, the most commonly-used locations in your Windows virtual machine will contain shortcuts to the ''Home'' shared folder. For example, this is what the ''Documents'' folder looks like in the file explorer:\\ {{::virtualbox-019.png?direct|}}\\ | As a reminder, the most commonly-used locations in your Windows virtual machine will contain shortcuts to the ''Home'' shared folder. For example, this is what the ''Documents'' folder looks like in the file explorer:\\ {{::virtualbox-019.png?direct|}}\\ \\ |
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| Q: But applications often assume that they should save to places like ''Downloads'', or ''Documents'', or something similar.\\ | Q: But applications often assume that they should save to places like ''Downloads'', or ''Documents'', or something similar.\\ |
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| Q: But that's an extra step for each file!\\ | Q: But that's an extra step for each file!\\ |
| A: I know. But most applications allow you to tell it where to store files, and will remember that location in the future. Do that for every application that you can and then you're good to go.\\ \\ | A: I know. But most applications allow you to tell it where to store files, and will remember that location in the future. Do that for every application that you can and then you're good to go. |
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| ==== Attaching CD's, DVD's, and ''*.iso'' Files Directly To Your Virtual Machine ==== | ==== Attaching CD's, DVD's, and ''*.iso'' Files Directly To Your Virtual Machine ==== |
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| * Selecting ''Remove disk from virtual drive'' will eject it. | * Selecting ''Remove disk from virtual drive'' will eject it. |
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| ==== Attaching USB Devices Directly To Your Virtual Machine ==== | ==== Attaching USB Devices Directly To Your Virtual Machine ==== |
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| **IMPORTANT: Never attach your keyboard or mouse!** | **IMPORTANT: Never attach your keyboard or mouse!** |
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| VirtualBox already knows how to share the mouse and keyboard with the Linux workstation. If you attach them directly to the virtual machine then those devices will no longer be accessible to Linux. You won't be able to click on anything outside the VirtualBox windows, nor will you be able to detach them from your virtual machine, until you shut your virtual machine down. If you accidentally attach your mouse or keyboard, first shut down and restart your virtual machine. If that doesn't work, ask an IT staff member for help. | VirtualBox already knows how to share the mouse and keyboard with the Linux workstation. If you attach them directly to the virtual machine then those devices will no longer be accessible to Linux. You won't be able to click on anything outside the VirtualBox windows, nor will you be able to detach them from your virtual machine, until you shut your virtual machine down. If you accidentally attach your mouse or keyboard, first shut down and restart your virtual machine. (NOTE: Actually choose ''Shutdown'', not ''Reboot''. You want the virtual machine to exit and the windows to disappear, then you want to click the ''Start'' button in the VirtualBox application to bring everything back. Simply clicking ''Reboot'' won't do the trick.) If that doesn't work, ask an IT staff member for help. |
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| ====== Shutting Down Your Windows Virtual Machine ====== | ====== Shutting Down Your Windows Virtual Machine ====== |
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| Just like a real machine, it is always recommended that you go through the proper shutdown procedure to exit your virtual machine. Modern operating systems use what's called "caching" filesystems that may still have data sitting in memory, waiting to be written out, even after you have clicked ''Save'' and exited the program. Without a proper shutdown you risk data loss and file corruption. **Consider yourself warned.** | Just like a real machine, it is always recommended that you go through the proper shutdown procedure to exit your virtual machine. Modern operating systems use what's called "caching" filesystems that may still have data sitting in memory, waiting to be written out, even after you have clicked ''Save'' and exited the program. Without a proper shutdown you risk data loss and file corruption. **Consider yourself warned.** |
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| ====== Snapshots ====== | ====== Snapshots ====== |
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| TODO | TODO |
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| ====== Troubleshooting ====== | ====== Troubleshooting ====== |
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| TODO | TODO |
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| ====== Disclaimer ====== | ====== Disclaimer ====== |
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