Using Virtualization in the Classroom

Using Virtualization in the Classroom Session Objectives Define virtualization Compare major virtualization programs Define virtualization terminology Discuss virtualization benefits List requirements of virtualization Demonstrate the use of virtualization (Note that the presentation used at the conference contains a number of Flash movie demonstrations)

What is Virtualization? Allows multiple operating systems to run on the same physical computer at the same time A software environment that emulates a computer’s hardware and BIOS Virtual machine software creates this environment

Virtual Machine Software In this presentation, I will discuss: VMWare Workstation Microsoft Virtual PC Microsoft Hyper-V (briefly) Other products not discussed Parallels (Mac) and VMWare Fusion (Mac), VirtualBox (open source)

What Does Virtualization Look Like? Running Windows 7 in VMWare on a Vista Host

Running Windows 2000 in Microsoft Virtual PC on a Vista Host

Virtualization Terminology Host machine or host computer The computer on which the virtual machine software is installed (Virtual PC or VMWare, e.g.) Virtual machine (VM) or Guest OS The operating system that runs in virtual machine software on the host computer Comprised primarily of a configuration file and one or more virtual hard drive files

Virtualization Terminology (cont’d) Virtual disk One or more files that reside on the host computer that make up the VM’s hard disk Virtual network The network configuration used by the VM Options include: bridged, host only, NAT and none VMs behave like just another computer on the network

Virtualization Terminology (cont’d) Snapshot A partial copy of a VM at a particular moment in time. Allows you to ‘go back’ to the VM at that particular state. Some programs allow saving multiple snapshots.

Virtualization Benefits Teach multiple operating systems with a single host computer Students can ‘own’ their VM while having minimal access to the host computer Multiple VMs can run simultaneously on one host, networked and all (for example, a client and a server or two servers)

Virtualization Benefits (cont’d) Easy maintenance and testing VM won’t boot or got deleted or corrupted? Copy another one. Snapshots allow unlimited ‘try this…’ scenarios with a quick return to the system state before you ‘tried it’.

Virtualization Benefits (cont’d) Run multiple versions of software Teach Office 2007 while previewing Office 20xx by using two different VMs. For programming and database; write an application in one version and easily test on another version

Virtualization Benefits (cont’d) Isolate your OS from the campus network and host computer For programming and networking, run services and write software which might normally interfere with the host computer or the campus network

Virtualization Requirements Supported host operating system (Windows XP Pro, Vista, Server 2003/2008, Linux) Sufficient RAM on your host computer to accommodate the host OS and the guest OSs you wish to run Sufficient CPU power Sufficient hard drive space to accommodate the stored VMs

Virtualization Recommendations Minimum 1 GB RAM, 2+ GB recommended for Vista and Server 2008 virtual machines Minimum 3.0 GHz P4, recommended 2.4+ GHz dual-core CPU Separate hard drive (80 GB+) for the VMs

VMWare VMWare was the first serious virtualization software Around since mid-90s The leader in server and desktop virtualization

VMWare (cont’d) Free products VMWare Player – runs existing virtual machines but cannot create a new VM VMWare Server – can create and run VMs; better suited for low-end server applications

VMWare (cont’d) VMWare Workstation Flagship desktop product Create and run VMs Import VMs (including physical to virtual) Has all of the bells and whistles including unlimited snapshots, screen capture to create movies, jpgs Costs: $189 retail

VMWare (cont’d) VMWare Academic Alliance Free to join – fill out an application online Unlimited VMWare Workstation licenses for classroom use

VMWare VM on the Host Hard Drive

Microsoft Virtual PC Virtual PC purchased by Microsoft around 2005. A basic desktop virtualization program No bells and whistles compared to VMWare Works well but not as flexible as VMWare Current version is Virtual PC 2007 Free to download

Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V Hyper-V is Microsoft’s newest virtualization product Meant to compete with VMWare’s server virtualization products Excellent performance and reliability Comes with Windows Server 2008 Server 2008 may become my next desktop OS

Networking with Virtual Machines Virtual Machine Networking Each VM has its own virtual network adapter (NIC) Multiple network adapters are possible Several modes for the virtual network Bridged NAT/Shared Local/host only None

Networking Modes Bridged networking The VM acts like any other computer on the network Each VM network adapter gets its own IP address and physical address VMs can communicate with other VMs and other physical computers on the network including the Internet Most flexible configuration

Networking Modes (cont’d) Network Address Translation (NAT)/Shared Networking VM ‘shares’ IP address with host computer Host computer acts like router/firewall VM can access other computers on the network including the Internet Other computers cannot access the VM directly More secure configuration than bridged Won’t work if the VM is to be a server

Networking Modes (cont’d) Local/Host only networking VMs can communicate with only other VMs (Virtual PC) or other VMs and the host PC (VMWare) No communication with other physical computers or the Internet Ideal for doing activities that might interfere with the classroom network

Networking Modes (cont’d) No network connection Most secure configuration Best when no interaction with other computers, including the host, is desired

VMWare/Virtual PC Comparison VMWare Workstation Pros Better Linux support USB device support Multi-CPU support VM Teams Snapshots Better guest OS documentation VMWare Workstation Cons $189 license without membership More features mean more complex user interface

VMWare/Virtual PC Comparison (cont’d) Virtual PC Pros Free to download – no membership required Simple user interface Virtual PC Cons Skimpy documentation No USB device support Fewer advanced features

Links and Such VMWare Virtual PC Comparison VMWare/Virtual PC www.vmware.com Academic program http://www.vmware.com/partners/academic Virtual PC http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/virtualpc/ Comparison VMWare/Virtual PC http://www.petri.co.il/virtual_vmware_virtualpc_compared.htm Comparison VMWare/Virtual PC/Parallels/VirtualBox http://www.wilderssecurity.com/archive/index.php/t-168825.html

The End Questions and Answers Thanks for coming!