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 and an Appliance using a Single 8 GB USB Boot Stick

Ubuntu 9.04 has a "USB Startup Disk Creator". I used a 8 GB USB Stick with 2 Partitions to Run a VMPlayer Appliance on the Same Stick

VMPlayer WILL INSTALL on Ubuntu unlike F11.

METHOD:

In PC running Ubuntu 9.04 (or running in VMworkstation6.5.2.)

Start Partition Manager

delete existing partitions on USB [sdb?]

(BE CAREFUL TO BE LOOKING AT USB and not your Hard Disk)

Create a fat16 2 GB Primary Partition set boot flag and label it Ubuntu
Create a fat34 primary partition with the remaining unformatted space on the USB, set boot flag and label VM_Apps
exit Partition Manager

Run "USB Startup Disk Creator

create USB select: /dev/sdb1 "Ubuntu"
Select "Other" and find Fedora.iso (not live install) previously downloaded to Desktop
Run USB Startup Disk Creator

Remove and reinstall USB stick

Two USB icons will appear
cut and paste previously obtained VMPlayer Appliance to VM_Apps

ReBoot PC with USB Stick

Start Firefox and download VMPlayer (free) Linux xxxx.bundle
Place .bundle file in /tmp
su - command in /tmp
enter password for root

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

Run VMPlayer Program

Start VMPlayer
chooseVM_apps 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 one 8 GB USB stick loaded with Ubuntu 9.04 and VMPlayer plus the Appliance, a Student can Carry the OS and a full copy of GNOME Desktop and SUGAR on a single USB Stick It is complicated to make but simple to use and 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]
See above VMPlayer USB Boot Stick to run Fedora [satellit 05/14/2009]

Resources