vmware player (free) - usefull for us?

[2fink]

http://www.vmware.com/products/player/

you can run any virtual-pc with it for free, but you cant build them.
but why dont download a test-version of virtual-pc or vmware, build the system and then let it run with the vmware-player?

will test it now :)<

[[XC]thewildblue]

Good find, keep us informed.

[2fink]

to bad, my win2k-virtualpc couldnt be started and i cant make a new one because my trial-time for virtual-pc2004 ended last week.
will search for a solution this evening!

[InSanCen]

Great find. Build the systems with my VMWare on the Main Cruncher, and stick this on the GF's rig when they're built.

[2fink]

Great find. Build the systems with my VMWare on the Main Cruncher, and stick this on the GF's rig when they're built.

everyone tried it allready? would be great for systems with very small hdd. they could start it over the network. :)

[InSanCen]

I aint tried it yet, but I *WILL* get it to work...

I take it I build the VM on the box with the Normal VM Install, and run it over the network, using the VMPlayer, using the Client's resources?

[2fink]

I aint tried it yet, but I *WILL* get it to work...

I take it I build the VM on the box with the Normal VM Install, and run it over the network, using the VMPlayer, using the Client's resources?

hopefully it will work. :)

keep us updated!

[[XC]thewildblue]

This could be real useful then and reduce disk swapping when running multi VMs thru the player. As then you dont need all the extra services vmware runs. The old boxes can really be pushed to the limit now if this all works out good !

[demonR6]

If anyone knows of a free VM please shoot me a line. I have one box albeit a slow processor but enough memory and nothing running on it but Dimes. I can probably run a second copy on VM and help our numbers as a community. :)

[[XC] DragonOrta]

do you think that someone could build a machine, and send it to other people that are having a real hard time getting a VM together?

[[XC]thewildblue]

Its going to be big ! But good idea, anyone have a good host with lotsa space and bandwidth ?

[2fink]

Its going to be big ! But good idea, anyone have a good host with lotsa space and bandwidth ?

building one and give it to another person is not as easy as it seems. the other person must have the a legal copy of the os with unused key!
edit: a small linux-distro with dimes already installed would be legal, or?

[InSanCen]

If someone builds a Linux Distro (No Hookey/Dodgy/Illegal Windoze Copies!), I'll host em for a while. Have 15Gig B/W for ya to play with.

Cool?

PM me with link to Distro, I'll get it on my server.

[[XC]thewildblue]

Well I had a quick go with knoppix, but i have no idea how to get dimes installed and started up. Anyone have any advice ? Once thats doen I will do a knoppix hdd install and save the vm. I reckon that we could get knoppix running on about 64mb. This could be good people.

[demonR6]

Cmon.. you guys can figure this out, I have faith in your skills! I have a machine chomping at the bit for more Dimes work. I need to get good use of my broadband, hell I am paying for it! :)

[Helheim]

Its going to be big ! But good idea, anyone have a good host with lotsa space and bandwidth ?

How big? I've got a host with 50GB/month bandwidth and 1GB of storage.

[[XC]thewildblue]

Dunno exactly on linux but my small 2000 pro image at work is about 900mb.

[[XC]thewildblue]

Well I managed to figure it out in Suse 10, its was easy, but my image is rather large at the moment.....err about 6.2 gig.

I will have anotehr play with knoppix.

[[XC]thewildblue]

Well Im still working on this guys, I havent had any luck installing the new knoppix version 4 in a VM, so Im looking for one that will. Once thats done I will try and get an image up. Ive got freebsd and some special small jobbie coming down at the moment. Found some interesting stuff out there, like some a free vmware equivalent for linux:

"Qemu with KQemu (Free)
Emulator for Win95 and Win98, WinME, Win2000, WinXP, Knoppix, lot's and lots of different OS's.

Note: This is the ONE.. this is what we will go through here. I tried this with Win98, Win2000, Knoppix and will continue to try different OS's here. It is not as fast as VMware with Win2000, but it's a good free alternative."


Found all that here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=39513

[InSanCen]

Good Find. If you can do another Walk-Through, as me, and I suspect others, are n00bs at Linux.

I have a basic Ubuntu system running on an old P3-550, but I'm damned If I can suss out anything but Mandrake (18yrs on the DOS/Windows Filesystem has me in a rut... apart from my brain is classed as home=dev/null or KernelPanic!)

[Ugly n Grey]

I am working on something like this too. I am also experiemnting with getting this working user XP fast user switching and that is starting to pay off.... will post when I have something concrete, I am working on this for all three teams

[[XC] moddolicous]

So thewildblue, any word on whether or not that free vm will work? Any write up on how it works?

[[XC]thewildblue]

I havent progressed any further to be honest at the moment, buts it something in the pipeline. I have been trying to find a nice lightweight linux distro to use aswell.

[Bloody_Sorcerer]

not to thread necro, but I've finally shown some interest in this and have spent some time playing with VMWare player. any progress on getting us a pre-made image of a linux distro to use? I've been trying to botch together my own, but my linux skills are... lacking :)

[[XC] moddolicous]

Are there any live-installers for linux?? If so, I would give it a try. I cannot get gentoo to work AT ALL! Maybe we can get kaptainblazzed interested in this.

[Haltech]

I havent played with it myself. I figure using the smallest linux foot print as possible.. Debian perhaps?

[Bloody_Sorcerer]

i've got a debian setup on VMWare player, but I'm too dumb to figure out how to get java and DIMES on it from BASH (i'm a linux n00b)

[[XC] moddolicous]

What about zipslack?? Says it only uses 100mb. Also, I think someone here said if you build bsd the right way, it would also work. Haltech, since you are gonna set up 40+ dime installs, why not give linux a try on like 2 of them?

[Haltech]

More like 100 dimes install.. I havent played with Linux in years. Hell, i dont know how far i would even be able to get with it to be honest.

[InSanCen]

IIRC, Gentoo is compiled specifically for your hardware, so although small, and really quick, not good for re-distributing for DIMES.

I'll have a crack, but my Linux skills(?) are weak... I've asked a few friends howwver, and will have a play with either DSL (Damn Small Linux) or ZipSlack... you might be waiting a while though.

[[XC]thewildblue]

I have been fiddling with damm small and it seemed pretty good, but my linix skills are lacking and Ive been out of time lately with setting a new business and spending time with the family as well.

[Bloody_Sorcerer]

DSL is fun, but i can't get DIMES for linux to actually download... every time i try to, the download crashes at 3.4-3.6 megs.

[[XC]thewildblue]

I can get the download, just cant work out java, from what I remember.

[Bloody_Sorcerer]

ironic, cause i got the java to work but couldn't get it to download :)

[Bloody_Sorcerer]

UPDATE: I got Java installed and DIMES running! It's not the most efficient thing ever, but its workin :)
I'll make a guide for it soon. currently running one with 128 megs of ram for it, but thats way more than needed.
setting up DSL and DIMES is awesome; it is so fast! I just did another one start to finish (96 megs of ram this time) in <10 minutes :)
ohhh yeah, 3 clients... I feel awesome :)

[[XC] moddolicous]

Good to hear bloody sorcerer. I'm installing gentooth right now and I'll see how it works.

[[XC]thewildblue]

Nice one , bloody sorcerer, is there anychance that you can create an ISO/VDK/VM that can be downloaded by others and installed. This would also need to be at the point in the install when you can enter your own username and password and choose the team.

From what I remember on DSL I got it down to 80mb and it was quite happy.

I might be able to host this as well.

[Bloody_Sorcerer]

sure, I'll whip that up tonight maybe (if i have time).
I'll see how low i can push harddrive space and ram requirements. My current 2 machines are each on 1 gigs of drive space and 96 megs of ram, but i can probably do <256 megs HD and maybe as low as 64 megs ram.

[Bloody_Sorcerer]

UPDATE: finished a VM up to the point of DIMES prompts for user information. It is on a 256meg IDE drive and 96 megs of ram (tried 64 but instabilities while installing java caused it to be not happy; could *probably* run DIMES stable with 64 megs but it's not worth it to me to risk)
So um... what should i do with it all now? I'll write a quick readme and then archive it all up, but I don't have anywhere to host this :) I assume someone else does?

EDIT: The archive is 88 megs.

mwahahaha... I now have 4 of these bad boys running on 1 gig of ram and i could probably safely add at least 1 more, if not 2 or 3 :D

If anyone has any questions/comments/concerns/whatev, feel free to drop me a line on AIM or MSNM!
On RAM usage:
I have one VM using 150 megs (its my sandbox and has some extra stuff going on)
One using 61 megs
one using 52 megs
and somehow, one using 22 megs
They're all set for 96 megs, but i'm not complaining :) pretty good if you ask me

[[XC]thewildblue]

Pm me the writeup and give me a link for the install and I will try and sort out hosting. Thanks Bloody Sorcerer.

[[XC] moddolicous]

If you have a hard time sending it to thewildblue, use yousendit.com

[InSanCen]

I'll host it if you want...

same deal applies, I assume? Only given to people who have proven themselves at DIMES? If so, gimme linky, and I'll slap it on my Server.

[Bloody_Sorcerer]

InSanCen, thewildblue: YGPM

[Haltech]

Send it to me as well. I can host it.. Ive got a fat pipe :)

[Bloody_Sorcerer]

YGPM too :)

[[XC]thewildblue]

Wow that works really nice bloody sorcerer. I have it running on just 80mb of ram at the moment and its pretty responsive. Any chance that you could email me the instructions on how to setup Java as your readme was very good.

Thanks

Edit Now running on 64mb!

[[XC] moddolicous]

Couldn't you just emerge java?

[Bloody_Sorcerer]

Wow that works really nice bloody sorcerer. I have it running on just 80mb of ram at the moment and its pretty responsive. Any chance that you could email me the instructions on how to setup Java as your readme was very good.

Thanks

Edit Now running on 64mb!
sure thing, I'm going to write a walkthrough on setting it up all on your own.

[Haltech]

64mb is pretty damn good. Whats the total footprint of the drive its on now? less than 300 megs of hd space?

[Bloody_Sorcerer]

256 megs HD allocated; even less used, and all my machines are currently using <50 megs ram (wow) but at startup they use more, so i allocate 96 megs for them (which is really just me being lazy; thats just how much they needed when i was installing the jre on them) and I love VMWare :) (the one using lots of ram is one i just set up like 30 seconds before this screenshot; they always take most at setup) note: this is on a machine with only 1 gig of ram thats not dedicated or anything (and is also docking) :)
As i type this my ram VM usage is:
149,384K, 40,896K, 39,650K, 27,676K, 26,072K, 25,776K, 25,556K
I wish i knew how i got some of them to use so damn little RAM, but i'm not complaining :)
http://img222.imageshack.us/img222/4677/ilovevmware3nq.th.jpg (http://img222.imageshack.us/my.php?image=ilovevmware3nq.jpg)