Virtualization using VirtualBox Part II

From Newlug

2/21/08

One of the biggest pains in virtualization is getting USB working on the clients

You can create a group that has access to the /proc/usb tree -scripts are available that do this on the internet. -It changes permissions on the usb group to allow access on the host side. -The script will be made available on the NEWLUG site.

Snapshots- a valuable tool, especially during software development. How do you make a snaphot? -after any unwanted change is made, you can go back to your last snapshot, but it also makes a delta of snapshots from before that. It is similar to taking the subversion concept and applying it to Operating systems.

Question: How many virtual OSes can you run at a time? Answer: As many as you have the resources for.

Seamless mode is another cool feature of virtualbox virtualization. Seamless mode allows you to run the virtual OS as a window that you can move and play with as if it were a window in the host OS.

Virtualization and snapshots can allow you to, for example: Run Windows in a virtual space, take a snapshot, install Turbotax and do your taxes, and then revert back to the original Windows install as if Turbotax was never installed. This (for security reasons) is a definite plus for end users.

Difference between Virtualbox OSE (Open source Edition) and the commercial version? Lots. The open source version doesn't allow seamless mode.

When would you be able to tell that you're on a virtual system? High disk I/O and 3D graphics will take their toll on a virtual system. You do have the ability to allocate resources (RAM, video) to help yourself out.

And, that's all folks.