![](/i/fill.gif) |
![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
OK, so I need to do some stuff that will only work on Linux.
What I *could* do is set up a Linux system under QEMU, but that's quite
slow. So I thought I'd go with VirtualBox instead.
Nuhuh. Apparently VirtualBox is "free" so long as you only use it for a
week or two. You can also obtain a copy licenced under the GPL, but then
you have to compile it from source yourself. (Which, obviously, is
impossible.)
OK then. So how about VMserver then?
Nuhuh. They're demanding a real email address before they will let me
download the product, and it looks like they're going to demand that I
"activate" it after it's installed.
So can anybody suggest a virtual machine implementation that really *is*
free? (And works hosted on Windows.)
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
Post a reply to this message
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
On Sat, 14 Feb 2009 12:31:41 +0100, Orchid XP v8 <voi### [at] dev null> wrote:
>
> Nuhuh. Apparently VirtualBox is "free" so long as you only use it for a
> week or two.
There is no such limitation if you stick to "Personal use" as defined in
> You can also obtain a copy licenced under the GPL, but then you have to
> compile it from source yourself. (Which, obviously, is impossible.)
Why would that be impossible?
--
FE
Post a reply to this message
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
>> Nuhuh. Apparently VirtualBox is "free" so long as you only use it for
>> a week or two.
>
> There is no such limitation if you stick to "Personal use" as defined in
Damn legalese doesn't make this very clear.
>> You can also obtain a copy licenced under the GPL, but then you have
>> to compile it from source yourself. (Which, obviously, is impossible.)
>
> Why would that be impossible?
OK, I rephrase: It's infeasible on Windows. You could probably do it on
Linux, given sufficient time and energy.
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
Post a reply to this message
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
Orchid XP v8 wrote:
> So can anybody suggest a virtual machine implementation that really *is*
> free? (And works hosted on Windows.)
Microsoft VirtualPC. Works fine as long as you run 32-bit OSes under it. You
*do* need to "install" it, tho.
--
Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
"Ouch ouch ouch!"
"What's wrong? Noodles too hot?"
"No, I have Chopstick Tunnel Syndrome."
Post a reply to this message
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
>> So can anybody suggest a virtual machine implementation that really
>> *is* free? (And works hosted on Windows.)
>
> Microsoft VirtualPC. Works fine as long as you run 32-bit OSes under it.
> You *do* need to "install" it, tho.
The Wikipedia article suggests that it only gives you low-resolution
16-bit graphics, and also that only certain OSes work. (E.g., not all
flavours of Linux will install.) I would expect a VM to either work
properly, or not. It appears this one is "not".
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
Post a reply to this message
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
On Sat, 14 Feb 2009 11:31:41 +0000, Orchid XP v8 wrote:
> OK, so I need to do some stuff that will only work on Linux.
>
> What I *could* do is set up a Linux system under QEMU, but that's quite
> slow. So I thought I'd go with VirtualBox instead.
>
> Nuhuh. Apparently VirtualBox is "free" so long as you only use it for a
> week or two. You can also obtain a copy licenced under the GPL, but then
> you have to compile it from source yourself. (Which, obviously, is
> impossible.)
I know many people who have run VirtualBox from downloaded binaries and
it hasn't been "time bombed". There is a pay-for version, but there's
also a free version.
In fact, just looking here now, Virutalbox-OSE is the name of the package
on OpenSUSE 11.0. OSE = Open Source Edition.
> OK then. So how about VMserver then?
>
> Nuhuh. They're demanding a real email address before they will let me
> download the product, and it looks like they're going to demand that I
> "activate" it after it's installed.
VMware Server does require a "real" e-mail address, but the system will
accept mailinator.com e-mail addresses if you don't want to provide a
real address.
And it doesn't require activation, you just need a license key. I have
it installed on a system.
> So can anybody suggest a virtual machine implementation that really *is*
> free? (And works hosted on Windows.)
I would go with VMware Server for cross-platform support.
Jim
Post a reply to this message
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
On Sat, 14 Feb 2009 12:12:13 +0000, Orchid XP v8 wrote:
>> Why would that be impossible?
>
> OK, I rephrase: It's infeasible on Windows. You could probably do it on
> Linux, given sufficient time and energy.
Assuming the development prerequisites are all installed:
./configure && make && sudo make install
Should do the trick.
Jim
Post a reply to this message
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
>> Nuhuh. Apparently VirtualBox is "free" so long as you only use it for a
>> week or two. You can also obtain a copy licenced under the GPL, but then
>> you have to compile it from source yourself. (Which, obviously, is
>> impossible.)
>
> I know many people who have run VirtualBox from downloaded binaries and
> it hasn't been "time bombed". There is a pay-for version, but there's
> also a free version.
>
> In fact, just looking here now, Virutalbox-OSE is the name of the package
> on OpenSUSE 11.0. OSE = Open Source Edition.
From the VirtualBox website, the OSE is available as source only. You
have to build it yourself. (Suffice it to say my Windows box doesn't
have automake, autoconf, Perl, Python, sed, grep, gcc, ld, tar, or any
of the other things that 99% of all programs require in order to build.)
There's a binary package, but it has a different license.
>> OK then. So how about VMserver then?
>>
>> Nuhuh. They're demanding a real email address before they will let me
>> download the product, and it looks like they're going to demand that I
>> "activate" it after it's installed.
>
> VMware Server does require a "real" e-mail address, but the system will
> accept mailinator.com e-mail addresses if you don't want to provide a
> real address.
>
> And it doesn't require activation, you just need a license key. I have
> it installed on a system.
Hmm. Interesting.
> I would go with VMware Server for cross-platform support.
In the end, I got to fed up I used my laptop instead. ;-) My bedroom is
currently a tangle of Ethernet cables...
--
http://blog.orphi.me.uk/
http://www.zazzle.com/MathematicalOrchid*
Post a reply to this message
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
On Sat, 14 Feb 2009 19:27:10 +0000, Orchid XP v8 wrote:
>>> Nuhuh. Apparently VirtualBox is "free" so long as you only use it for
>>> a week or two. You can also obtain a copy licenced under the GPL, but
>>> then you have to compile it from source yourself. (Which, obviously,
>>> is impossible.)
>>
>> I know many people who have run VirtualBox from downloaded binaries and
>> it hasn't been "time bombed". There is a pay-for version, but there's
>> also a free version.
>>
>> In fact, just looking here now, Virutalbox-OSE is the name of the
>> package on OpenSUSE 11.0. OSE = Open Source Edition.
>
> From the VirtualBox website, the OSE is available as source only. You
> have to build it yourself. (Suffice it to say my Windows box doesn't
> have automake, autoconf, Perl, Python, sed, grep, gcc, ld, tar, or any
> of the other things that 99% of all programs require in order to build.)
>
> There's a binary package, but it has a different license.
Maybe from the virtualbox website, but the beauty of open source software
is that others can package it *for* you:
--- snip ---
[jhenderson@krikkit ~]$ zypper if virtualbox-ose
Repository 'Packman Repository' is out-of-date. You can run 'zypper
refresh' as root to update it.
Reading installed packages...
Information for package virtualbox-ose:
Repository: openSUSE-11.0-Updates
Name: virtualbox-ose
Version: 1.5.6-33.2
Arch: x86_64
Vendor: SUSE LINUX Products GmbH, Nuernberg, Germany
Installed: No
Status: not installed
Installed Size: 15.6 M
Summary: VirtualBox OSE is an Emulator
Description:
VirtualBox OSE is an extremely feature rich, high performance product
for enterprise customers, it is also the only professional solution
that is freely available as Open Source Software under the terms of the
GNU Public License (GPL).
--- snip ---
This is NOT a source package. It's a binary installable on my system
from the openSUSE repositories.
So no, you don't have to build it from source, you have to look in your
distro's package management system to see if someone has provided a
binary package of the OSE version.
>>> OK then. So how about VMserver then?
>>>
>>> Nuhuh. They're demanding a real email address before they will let me
>>> download the product, and it looks like they're going to demand that I
>>> "activate" it after it's installed.
>>
>> VMware Server does require a "real" e-mail address, but the system will
>> accept mailinator.com e-mail addresses if you don't want to provide a
>> real address.
>>
>> And it doesn't require activation, you just need a license key. I have
>> it installed on a system.
>
> Hmm. Interesting.
Mailinator is a very useful service. I use it often for site
registration when I don't want to be spammed by the website. Very few
reject mailinator.com e-mail addresses, but I have run across a couple.
Jetable is another service that provides some obfuscation and temporary e-
mail addresses (but Jetable will forward stuff to you).
>> I would go with VMware Server for cross-platform support.
>
> In the end, I got to fed up I used my laptop instead. ;-) My bedroom is
> currently a tangle of Ethernet cables...
I know that feeling - though the bedroom hasn't been the place for that
in many years....my home office space currently is. Stupid cable
management stickies didn't stick to my glass desk very well.
Jim
Post a reply to this message
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
Orchid XP v8 wrote:
> The Wikipedia article suggests that it only gives you low-resolution
> 16-bit graphics,
The wikipedia article is incorrect. Oh, OK, 16 or 32 bit, but not 24 bit.
That's possible. My stuff is running at 32 bits.
OK, I just went into SuSE and set the color depth to 24 bits, no problem.
Gee, I guess since Microsoft never improves their products, the wikipedia
editors must not know wtf they're talking about, eh? Maybe they know less
about Linux than I do? ;-)
> and also that only certain OSes work. (E.g., not all
> flavours of Linux will install.)
I dunno. I haven't found any flavors of Linux that don't work. I'm pretty
sure I ran ubuntu on it, but give it a go and let us know. Note that
"Microsoft doesn't support running Linux under VirtualPC" is different from
"Linux doesn't run under VirtualPC".
The wikipedia article also says it runs 64-bit OSes, but that doesn't seem
to be the case here. Maybe I have a slightly different version, or maybe the
free one has some limitations.
Hmmm... Actually, yes, it looks like Ubuntu doesn't boot. Something about a
bad checksum on mumblefrob isapnp. (Funny enough, I can torrent down the ISO
faster than I can burn it to a real CD.) Oh, on second look, the CD doesn't
boot on either of the machines I have hooked up to screens here, so it
doesn't really look like it's definitely a problem with VirtualPC.
> I would expect a VM to either work
> properly, or not. It appears this one is "not".
It has some flakes, it seems. But I'm not sure how much I'd blame that on
VirtualPC and how much I'd blame it on Linux. Certainly if the CD doesn't
boot on the actual hardware, it's hard to say the emulated hardware will do
better. And it's not like there haven't been (for example) calls to boycot
certain manufacturers for making motherboards that only work with Windows,
only three months later to find out it's because the Linux kernel wasn't
actually following the standards and hence wasn't working with that
motherboard. :-)
I don't imagine you'll find other VMs that are perfect either.
I guess it depends on what you want it for. What kinds of things will you be
doing with Linux on a virtual machine where (say) 16-bit graphics wouldn't
be good enough for you? What do you do with Linux that makes Ubuntu
necessary where OpenSuSE wouldn't suffice?
--
Darren New, San Diego CA, USA (PST)
"Ouch ouch ouch!"
"What's wrong? Noodles too hot?"
"No, I have Chopstick Tunnel Syndrome."
Post a reply to this message
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |
| ![](/i/fill.gif) |
|
![](/i/fill.gif) |