which virtualization should I give a try?

English Virtualization
1

Hi,

I have just installed 11.4 and using it. But using virtualization would be a new experience. What should I do for it? Should I install kvm from Yast? Or something is recommended?

Thanks.

2

On 12/20/2011 06:56 PM, opensuse121 wrote:
> Or something is recommended?

imo Virtual Box is the easiest to setup and use…
but, your needs have to dictate which of many you use…

–
DD
openSUSE®, the “German Engineered Automobiles” of operating systems!

3

I don’t use anyone, I am new in fact, I just want to give a try so that I can see other distributions within openSUSE.

4

Like I can install Windows XP or Fedora or Ubuntu or something else within openSUSE itself in the virtual environment.

5

On 12/20/2011 07:16 PM, opensuse121 wrote:
>
> Like I can install Windows XP or Fedora or Ubuntu or something else
> within openSUSE itself in the virtual environment.

right…you can do that with any of the VMs, as mentioned if i were you
i would begin with VBox…

you can install it use YaST Software Management…just search on
‘virtualbox’…

there may even be a how-to somewhere to help you set it up…

–
DD http://tinyurl.com/DD-Caveat
openSUSE®, the “German Engineered Automobiles” of operating systems!

6

I suggest vboxlive](http://forums.opensuse.org/english/get-technical-help-here/how-faq-forums/unreviewed-how-faq/465445-running-linux-live-cds-disk-less-virtual-machines-under-virtualbox.html) to test other Linux distros. It will also install VirtualBox properly the first time you run it (although you can also use it to just install VirtualBox).

  • Make sure you install vmscripts from the 12.1 repo (unlike in the examples at the beginning of the howto).
7

For a straightforward, vanilla install of VirtualBox, maybe read this: http://forums.opensuse.org/content/59-how-install-virtualbox-opensuse-11-4-12-1-tumbleweed.html

8

What is meant by ‘vanilla’ install? I am using 11.4 openSUSE KDE. Does this is having some especial meaning?

9

Well, but some packages are already there like: Packages

10

So is virtualbox (or any of its package(s)) is already installed? Seeing this, I must install virtualbox which is not installed…? Or from the link which swerdna has given…? But as you say, virtualbox is easiest, so I should go with it…

11

Well, its a bit confusing. @swerdna’s howto as well as vboxlive do not refer to the same version of VirtualBox. Actually, the one we talked about is written “VirtualBox” and not “virtualbox”. If you install the version you see in YaST - it’s up to you - you don’t need (and you should not) install the oher one of course, but you should still install the Extension Pack if you want USB support.

12

Before installing anything, could you please type this command in a terminal and paste the output here:

rpm -qa | grep -i virtualbox

That will tell us what you have installed yet.

13

While I am not to use USB port, so does it mean that I have already installed?

14

The output of ‘rpm -qa | grep -i virtualbox’ is as follows:

virtualbox-guest-kmp-default-4.0.12_k2.6.37.6_0.7-0.2.1.i586
virtualbox-guest-tools-4.0.12-0.2.1.i586
virtualbox-guest-x11-4.0.12-0.2.1.i586

But I ran that command without using ‘sudo’.

15

You don’t need to use sudo to just query which packages are installed.
All right, did you install these packages yourself in YaST? I mean, did you check the boxes to install them? These are the guest packages, not the ones you need for the host. What you need is the emulator itself, the package called “virtualbox”. The required host kernel modules should get installed automatically when you install virtualbox.

This is one way to install, not the only one, and this is not the method nor the package I’m using. Most of us still use the Oracle version, I would say probably mostly for historical reasons, because I’m not sure it still has advantages.

So you have the following options :

The latter is (IMO by far) the fastest and most straightforward way of installing VirtualBox. It is intendeed for both, people who have no idea at all and people who have ideas but no time. However, learning how to install the package manually step by step, as explained by @swerdna, can not hurt.

Method 2 and 3 will install the Oracle version (package VirtualBox). Method 1 will install the OSE version (package virtualbox), which I guess is not called OSE anymore … or it is the other one which is not called PUEL anymore … I’m not sure about that.

The main difference of method 1 is that it does not require to compile the kernel module after a kernel update, since the kernel module is installed (and get updated) in the kmp package.

16

Okay.

I really didn’t install any of the packages but I guess then, while updating 11.4, this might have happened that those three packages got installed themselves.

Okay.

Okay if I go with the first option (the only reason being it is more simple and easy to use), I have to just install the package ‘virtualbox’, but only the emulator as you say and so other packages (which are not for host), should I uninstall those and install only this one? Further, I get the same result (in the searching of the package in Yast) when I type either ‘VirtualBox’ or ‘virtualbox’.

17

Just because it seems that you just have to check a box doesn’t mean that is is more simple and easy to use. The virtualbox package will get installed for sure. But then, does it add yourself to the vboxusers group? I don’t know - because I’m not using this package - but I doubt it. Anyway, you’ll get it set up one way or another.

The guest packages are not needed but shouldn’t bother.

Because the search in YaST is case insensitive. But here’s the package VirtualBox (not the one you are about to install) :

$ rpm -qa | grep -i virtualbox
VirtualBox-4.1-4.1.8_75467_openSUSE114-1.x86_64

The -i option of the grep command means --ignore-case. This command filters the output of “rpm -qa” and displays both, VirtualBox and virtualbox, whichever package is installed. Simply typing “rpm -qa” displays the (long) list of all packages that are installed.

18

I just have uninstalled the three packages also, so that finally the output of ‘rpm -qa | grep -i virtualbox’ is null now.

So I am now thinking to go with the simple (yes it also looks simple) method as you have said, here. But the method has 12.1 instructions, can I very well implement those for 11.4?

Oh I see. Then it is really best to include ‘-i’.

19

And the method you have told has one options:

vboxlive -o ubuntu -D

but suppose I have not ubuntu but some other CD, then? Means prior to use any CD virtually, I need to enter this definitely? And whatever be the version of the CD, like 11.04 or 14.34 (say).

20

I was really a bit more confused but wanted to give the Virtualization a try. I finally went with the swerdna’s method. Added the repo but while installing 4.1 VirtualBox (I had two options, one another of 4.0) but I chose the latest one but while I was installing it, I got the warning of an additional package which is:

Install this also

while on the page he describes the process (here) it is said that there should not be any such warning, so really what’s the error?