VMware

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VMware (Workstation, Player, Server) is a commercial virtualization system that emulates hardware resources allowing one computer to host a number of x86 architecture-compatible operating systems. The Player and Server versions are distributed free of charge (gratis). It runs on either Win32 or Linux host machines, allowing you to run OLPC images within the virtual machine. A Mac version is also available, VMWare Fusion, however this is not provided free of charge (a free 30-day evaluation is available).

How to Make Emulation Files for running SUGAR Desktop

• VMWorkstation 6.5.2 with Fedora-11-Preview-i386-netinst.iso
• Settings for VMWorkstation: (1)create new virtual machine(2)Typical(3)Installer Disk image file (iso):(Fedora-11-Preview-i386-netinst.iso)

(4)Linux(5)other linux 2.6xx kernel 8Gib disk(6)Max Disk Size (GB) 8.0(7)Split disk into 2GB files(8)512 memory.

• net install with network connection
• use entire disk
• deselect Gnome Desktop
• customize now
• select Sugar Desktop (Only selection entered)
• Set root password(sugarroot?) and time zone
• when finished (about 45 min on cable)
• Reboot set user password(sugaruser?) Shut down.
• Clone and save clone on Desktop and use to load on 4GiB SD or USB or make DVD (3.2Gib files)

(#)see note below to remove sugar user info and make ready for first user login.
Original Passwords for root and user(sugarroot/sugaruser?)entered during install remain and are needed for Login & Administration
This needs to be done so copies will have different identities.

Comments

• Run on FREE VMPlayer loaded on any SchoolPC with 512 Memory (requires 256 for VMplayer) [updated satellit 05/06/2009]
• ADVANTAGE: No Need to boot USB Stick on problem machines
• Same machine can be used by a succession of students with their own copy of sugar
• Students can take USB/SD home and run on their own PC's
• Disadvantage: Have to install VMPlayer on PC's

2 emulations on different PC's each running NAT on same network seem to cause "collisions" in jabber (Neighborhood View gets depopulated on both ???) [satellit 05/05/2009]

(#) Fix From davb VirtualBox/Preparing_a_disk_image
1. Open Terminal
2. Terminal
3. rm -rf ~/.sugar (if distributing image)
4. su -
5. shutdown -h now 
[satellit 05/05/2009]

Logon screen allows user to  switch session types:
*Default *Custom *KDE KDE(failsafe session) *Metacity(previous) *Sugar *Failsafe
(It is Fedora 0.93 on startup bar) Applications in KDE  include:*Firefox 3.5 beta*Groupware Suite (evolution mail and calendar)
and a lot of other applications and Utilities...[satellit 05/06/2009]

Running VMPlayer Appliance using 2 USB Boot Sticks

Ubuntu 9.04 has a "USB Startup Disk Creator". A real "user" created on a USB stick Created by "USB Startup Disk Creator" with persistence will not display the install to hard disk icon on the desktop but rather moves it to Administration. I used a 2 GB USB Stick with 650mb persistence file.

VMPlayer WILL INSTALL on Ubuntu unlike F11.

METHOD:

• In PC running Ubuntu 9.04 (or running in VMworkstation6.5.2.)
• Run "USB Startup Disk Creator" create USB ( 2 GB with 650mb persistence file)

• ReBoot PC with USB Stick
• Run "Users and Groups"
• Create new "user" and set password
• Give root a password (has to be given given a password in "Users and groups" while logged in as "live user")
• Log in to "User"
• Start Firefox and download VMPlayer (free) Linux.bundle
• Place .bundle file in /tmp
• su - command in /tmp
• enter password for root

Install:( bundle in /tmp( ./ command as administrator. )

• Insert 2nd USB Fat 16/32 (4GB or larger)

Transfer Appliance files to USB from DVD or sugarlabs web site (pending)
Be sure to change the files' properties

• Run VMPlayer Program as "user"
• Insert 2nd USB Fat 16/32 (4GB or larger) with SUGAR APPLIANCE
• choose 2nd USB stick and open VM Appliance file
• choose Gnome or SUGAR as login enter password

 Initial Password sugar = sugaruser (change user name and password in live user)
                    root=sugarroot        

Have Fun (Fedora 11 0.93 0.84-2)

The Sugar Appliance runs nicely on a EeePC900

Thus with a starter USB stick and a second one with the Appliance, a Student can Carry the OS and a full copy of SUGAR on 2 USB Sticks.... It is complicated but it works.

Windows XP SP2

Loads and runs emulation files in windows XP SP2 {Dell 2350 Tower}
Appliance(Emulation) transfered by DVD and loaded on Hard Disk
[satellit 05/04/2009]

Ubuntu 8.04 Hardy

VMworkstation 6.5.2 can make emulation files in Ubuntu 8.04 {Dell 530n tower} & run only on:{hp e-pc}
can run files with free VMPlayer, (available on line)
distribute them with DVD, 4 Gib SD, 4Gib USB or Future downloads from sugarlabs server?
[satellit 05/05/2009]

Fedora 11

VMPlayer will not load in Fedora 11 beta or Fedora Preview
loaded with sh command; Gets Unable to modify kernel error and quits 
[satellit 05/04/2009]

Resources

• http://www.vmware.com/
• OLPC:VMware