[PLUG] Occasional windows, and VMware

[Keith Lofstrom]

The thread on network storage was discussing "infrequently used
machines", dual boot, and the like.   I am running a Windows 98
guest image using VMware player, which allows me to run all the
old Windoze apps (like Quickbooks and some CAD stuff) through a
virtual window on my desktop.  No dual boot or other machines needed.

VMware PLAYER is free as in beer, but not free as in freedom :-(. 
QEMU is a F/OSS alternative, but slow.  Sadly, the speedier KQEMU is
proprietary, much like VMware, and I do not know how capable it is.

VMWare player does everything I need it to, including connect to an
in-machine virtual network that NATs out to the host machine's real
network connection.  So I can connect to file shares and printers via
that internal network without completely exposing fragile little
Windoze to the dangerous internet.  I imagine I could still pick up
something through bad windoze files or bad websites, but it will be
blocked from real damage by iptables on the Linux host, and I can
clean up the damage from the host while the windows guest is stopped.

The vfat filesystem for the guest is stored in a .vmdk file, a big
binary blob that behaves like a partition.  The .vmdk file of a
stopped guest can be mounted by the Linux host with a VMware program
called vmware-mount.pl .  The mounter program complains about access
with newer kernels, but I have not seen any problems yet yet yet yet ...

Normally, you need the $$$ VMware Workstation to build the starting
images that VMplayer works with.  Ted Kubaska pointed out the site
www.easyvmx.com, which will produce these images for you, and there
are other websites like that.  It works much better if the guest has
a copy of VMware Tools, but those can be copied from one of the beta
versions or demo disks.

Remaining problems with the VMware approach include the inability
to drive specialized windoze-only internal hardware, though it does
just fine with exernal peripherals.  It will talk with parallel port
and USB license dongles, for example.  Unlike the Win4Lin that I
previously used, VMware does not require any kernel mods, and
allows full screen access, three button mouse control, and sound.  
It probably sucks with games.

VMplayer does load a tainted module or two.  Of course, you need a copy
of Windoze to install on it.  A .vmdk can be copied, and multiple
copies can be run on the same machine or over the network, though that
would violate the Microsoft EULA and we would never ever ever be that
mean to poor old Bill Gates.  VMware is not free as in freedom, but
free-er and more flexible than Windows on bare metal, and more capable
than the greatly appreciated but not-quite-ready-for-prime-time Wine.

So check it out.  Perhaps if there is time at the clinic this Sunday,
we can have a mini-VMplayer workshop, bring your (gag-choke-gasp)
Windoze install disks and the license certificate.  I feel dirty 
enough helping people with legitimate Windoze, I will not help with
unlicensed Windoze, and if you want unlicensed software (good for
you) we have Linux.

Also, the first meeting of the Portland VMWare user's group is
Wednesday afternoon, at 4pm:

(from their announcement)
  Standard Insurance Center
  Auditorium, C-Level
  900 SW 5th Ave   
  Portland, OR 97204

  Note: Standard Insurance occupies three buildings in close proximity
  downtown. The one we'll be holding the meeting in is on the block
  bounded by 4th and 5th, Taylor and Salmon. To reach the auditorium
  you'll need to take the escalators down to the C-Level. We should have
  signs up to help direct traffic.

Keith

-- 
Keith Lofstrom          keithl at keithl.com         Voice (503)-520-1993
KLIC --- Keith Lofstrom Integrated Circuits --- "Your Ideas in Silicon"
Design Contracting in Bipolar and CMOS - Analog, Digital, and Scan ICs