Linux A newbie learning about Linux using VMware virtual pc's

Hi all,

for some time (read: years) I have been wanting to learn more about Linux, but I never seem to get my act together about setting up extra hardware so that I can have a dedicated machine running Linux, as my main system will have to run Windows!

I have been using windows for years, its what all my friends and associates use, so to be able to run effecient communications I'll need to keep my main system on windows.

But now that all sorts of Network Enabled Devices are now Linux Capable (like: Linksys Routers, Asus Routers, Buffalo Routers and NAS devices) I really NEED to get into the understandig of Linux, and how it works.

 

Running any Linux inside any Windows workstation!!!

For many years now, VMware has had a virtual PC/motherboard tool, that will allow one to emulate running several motherboards on the same PC. It is however quite pricey - until now!!!

Get your FREE VMware Virtual PC Player today!

They have a free workstation version that can run on a Windows workstation edition (NT, 2K, XP).
Inside the Workstation version of VMware Player one can load and run pre-set-applications. That is: VM files with pre-installed OS'es.

You can download many per-loaded versions of different OS'es and you may also be able to find OS'es with lots of pre-installed tools.
The official name for this kind of stuff is a Virtual Appliance.

Take a look at the Virtual Appliance Marketplace

I am currently using:
- Ubuntu VMware image (743MB, username: ubuntu/password: ubuntu)
- see how one can use this to compile stuff for openWRT here
- a complete pre-loaded, pre-setup Asterisk VoIP system at NerdVittles (torrent, http)

If you have enough RAM in your windows PC it has been said that the VMware Virtual PC's almost run at the same speed as your physical hardware system.
Currently I run WinXP Pro with 1Gb RAM on an AMD 4000+ system, and the system runs Linux in VMware like a dream.

 

Taking VMware run Linux'es to the next level

As my PC is running in the bedroom, I want to be able to turn it off sometimes (it's very quiet, but sometimes completly qiuet is needed).
Trying to have a phone system running on it, it became sort of hazardous to turn off my pc (the wife did not appreciate the idea of sometimes not being able to make phone calls!!)

So onto the next step: getting the Virtual OS'es to run on a server somewhere. Fortunately I have a Windows 2003 server running in the basement, so I installed VMware Server Player on it.

Jubiiieee - VMware gives you server test licenses for free!!

And with the server edition you can start setting up your own Virtual PC's, that is you can decide which hardware interfaces is connected through to your Virtual PC, and more.
You are no longer limited to only pre-installed Virtual Appliances

 

Nice marketing campaign... But VMWare server is free too (just need to register), and it gives you the capability to create your own VM's, and install whatever you want in it...

But I have 1 question tough, what's the use of this thread?

EDIT: Actually 2

What is this thread doing in the Linux subforum?

 

Hi Glider,

This is just the begining.
And it seems to me that many users may have their beginnings in a similar situation as I have described: using Windows, and wanting to learn more about Linux.

You may very well read the first entries as a "marketing campaign", I wrote them to express my excitement about being able to learn more about Linux, right inside my current windows systems.

 

Installing Ubuntu Server 6.06 LTS (without making a CD)

Here are a few details about how I installed the Ubuntu server system.

It seems to me that Linux evolves every day, and frequently is updated to a new version. That is fine for test sytems and some workstations. For most of my server needs however, I often want to have a system that may be able to run for many months or even years at a time without too many changes.

Ubuntu recognizes that need for stable and predictable operation of servers, and have announces that the LTS version will be supported for 5 years (LTS = Long Term Support).

So I downloaded the Ubuntu 6.06 LTS version ISO file from Ubuntu download section


Then I setup an Ubuntu server in VMware server


and made the virtual CD-rom point to .iso file


Then one just pushes the "Start this virtual machine"

... and answer the different questions of the Ubuntu install system.
And you have a Linux server running.

 

Adding a web management interface to Linux

I got the system installed OK, but it seems that one only get a command prompt to operate everything.
I wanted a web interface to manage the server from.
...so on with the search. And after some google-ing I find: The Perfect Setup - Ubuntu 6.06 LTS Server (Dapper Drake) which lead to a setup that can be controlled by the ISPconfig web interface

I decide to follow the very detailed HowTo guide.

The VI Linux editor
The first applicatoin I am introduced to is the "primitive" VI editor that seems to be the default editor that is always included in a Linux distro.
VI editor works very different from NotePad, so fortunately I found an easy to read web documentation page of VI.

Following the HowTo of "The Perceft Setup" I had several opertunities to swear at the unfamiliar VI editor. After a few hours I fortunately find VI easy and simple to use.

A few hints:
- when VI is first opened the letters are commands.
- placing the cursor at a positin and pressing "i" enters the Inset mode.
- you can now type whatever you want and it will be insterted at the cursor.
- press ESC to end the Insert Mode.

- pres ":" (the colon key) to enter the file command mode.
- ie. ":wq" Write the file to disk and Quit the editor.

Installing new applications on Ubuntu
One can get the source code of stuff one wants to run on Linux, and then compile it and finally run it.

The easy way is however to only use and run one of the many, many applications that have been pre-compiled for your distribution of choice.

This is one aspect where I have discovered that Linux is really ment to be a networked OS. As program packages are downloaded from the net, and auto installed with a very simple command. Typing "apt-get install ssh openssh-server" at the command line will
- check to see if ssh and openssh-server applications/modules are already installed.
- check the installed version number compared to the newest version number
- based on the checking the program may be skipped (if already up-to-date and installed), updated to the newest version
- or will be downloaded, unpacked and installed.
so long as the pc is online, this seems to be a very easy and simple way to add new programs and/or functionality.

I assume that other versions of Linux might have other install procedures.
See for instance: How to install ANYTHING in Ubuntu!

Have fun trying out something like this install yourself.

 

I should kick your ass because of this... VIm is nothing close to primitive... It just has a learning curve... vimtutor is a great start, just type

Code:

vimtutor

from a CLI. If you hate to invest an effort, use nano, it's more notepadlike, but also a lot slower to work with.

About every distro has a package manager nowadays... Yum, Portage, Apt,... The disadvantage about apt (IMHO) is that it uses precompiled binaries. While they will work on 99% of the pc's, they won't be optimised for any of them, which is a waste IMHO. I use Gentoo, it compiles everything from source, and I like it a lot more.

Also, if your pc isn't online, you can get the .deb packages on an other one, transfer them to yours (using USB, CDROM,...) and install them from there using

Code:

dpkg -i <file>

I thing I do find a bit troublesome is that you want a Linux server, but hate CLI... That is a contradiction. CLI is the power of Linux, and if you learn how the Linux structure works, you'll see is a lot easier and faster then al the webbased stuff (not to mention secure). Also, Ubuntu isn't a server OS. Like it or not. It installs a lot of junk by default which just pose potential security leaks. Try Debian (it is the base of Ubuntu) instead. That will give you a lot less junk (last time I installed there were 5-10 unneeded packages). And a Debian install isn't a lot harder then an Ubuntu install.

All the servers I administrate are updated once every 2 weeks. Updates are the thing that keeps severs secure. Every dat there are bugs that get fixed, additions to packages,... But for non-frontline servers (as in a NAS at home), you can just install it once, and it will continue to do its job. You are able to update, but you aren't required.

 

Hi Glider,

About VI
yeah - I see how "primitive" when talking about VI is not really fair. "Different" is more like the right word, when one has been bottle-fed with windows. I still think that many windows users may curse a bit at first when they have to use VI.

I remember back in '91-'94 when I was first involved with setting up PC networks. The main office had a mainframe Prime system with abt. 400 terminals connected to it. The in-house print shop had a MacII (I think it was called) and the graphics department was just starting to use PC's and Ventura (again I think that is what it was called), and someone was connecting SUN Sparc's to Xerox Docu-Tech high-speed copiers/printers.

Anyway all the people I got in contact with during those years did not know much about Unix, and they all seemed to curse at VI, because it was not as easy to use as i.e. Notepad and it was even different from WordStar! (you remember/know the one with ctrl+x+y commands)

So to be fair, I think I gave VI credit saying that after using it for a few hours, I found it fairly easy and good to use.
I have to credit web pages as well, and being able to easily switch between the Linux interface window and the help (man) pages of the web.

About installing new programs
One of the things that I find to be different on Linux (different from what I know best and most: windows) IS the whole deal about installing programs, libraries etc. and I just wanted to comment on this as I did learn about it.

It always good to hear from others with experience that there may be more or other ways to deal with a situation like handling programs.

Its great to know that .deb is the way to handle packages on no-network media. Thanks!

Something about a GUI - terminal or web based
One of the things that I (an incarnated Windows user) find that I require of an operating system is that it is easy to work with - for newbie's and advanced users alike.
Not that I find Windows particular easy to use or tweak (damn-it - they keep changing the control interfaces with every version of windows. And with XP there is even the "home" version and the "pro" version of many of the control interfaces).

When I have to learn about something new though, I really find a good GUI a faster way to get into the concept and principles of a matter rather than just reading words about it, and having to remember spelling details etc.

The thing about distros and virtuality
I find the concept of the countless Linux distros a bit confusing at first. Fortunately I have discovered that there are just some 10-15 distros that is so well known that they might be called the mainstream of Linux, and of these abt. 5 distros probably making up more than 50% of what is used (just a shot in the dark).

So when I found out about Ubuntu (based on Debian), I immediately knew that I was going to like the whole "linux for human beings" idea. As it has an aura that feels like a good and welcoming place to start a learning experience.

As I have also mentioned before, I just love the idea of virtual pc's. Because it gives me a perfect opportunity to search and use the best of several worlds (next I want to find a way get OS X to run inside a virtual pc).

I am looking forward to getting more familiar with the differences between the distro versions. For now am I quite content with "easy access".

Easy for newbies, efficient for advanced users
I think that some kind of graphics interface is the easiest way to get to grips with any new computer system.
Having a powerful underlying commando line and script language is definitely what makes for a flexible, user and task optimizable system, and it is a must for advanced uses. As Linux has both of these is one of the main reasons I want to get to know Linux better.
I just take my first dips at the shallow end first (read: GUI use) before I try to do the 30' jump at the deep end (read: CLI use).

Having said that - I did find going through and typing into a linux terminal interface from the several pages of the HowTo of "The Perfect Setup" a beneficial and easy way to become more familiar with the Linux CLI.

KISS
Keep comments short and simple - sorry don't seem to be able to do that

So I did also have a read of these two threads
- XP + VMware + Linux... and
- What is this Linux thing? (great read!)

So until next time - take care.

 

I didn't mean to jump you, sorry if it came across that way... Alcohol + Stress + post stress + few sleep = grumpy me

I understand why ex-windowsians like Ubuntu, and I respect that, but that is exactly the reason that I don't like it. I jumped in seriously at the deep end (Gentoo), got a big bang to the face, bit through it and learned 90% of my pc knowledge in 2 months of Gentoo usage. I can say I know my laptop (Gentoo fluxbox desktop) inside out. I know what is running/loaded and what's not, and why. You just don't get that with Ubuntu. But I do realise that 99% of the users don't care about that... I just like it small, simple and powerfull

There are plenty more good reads in the Linux subforum. Lots ow knowledge by lots of people...

Spoiler

And I'm working on a Debian based NAS server guide too to add to it

 

Howd you know i was planning on trying that

 

Call it espionage

Spoiler

About 75% through the process of making screenshots

 

Perhaps Bit should setup a wiki for this kind of stuff. These great guides have a tendency to be written and forgotton about. Nothing personal Glider, I'm thinking about the "Lo-Fat Apache/FTP server using Slackware" sticky.

 

You have a point there, which I agree too 100%. Fora just aren't meanth for guides, they are meanth for discussion

 

I'm currently working on is a wiki which I'm going to use to host Wiki's on customised content. So when I have it sorted I'll drop a thread in somewhere telling people to go abuse it like a whore.

 

There's also my wiki, but if either of use leave Bit we loose the administrator. We need something official that Rich and Co have responsibility for.

 

linux + VMware + wXP = no activation?

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned, so I thought I'd ask.

If you were running linux(any dist), then wanted to include windows(xp in this case) by using VMware, would you still have to go through the windows activation crap?

 

For the guest OS the VM seems just like a regular PC, so yes, you should go through the registration steps too.

 

I love running linux under vmware, since I dont want to partition my hard drive, just yet. If only vmware provided native 3d hardware acceleration in guest OSes, that'd be great.

 

ok, here's another one:
is it possible to install Mac OS X through VMware on either a linux or windows system?