[conspire] "KVM" on Linux ...

[Michael Paoli]

> Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2016 22:16:42 +0000 (UTC)
> From: Paul Zander <paulz at ieee.org>
> Cc: "conspire at linuxmafia.com" <conspire at linuxmafia.com>
> Subject: Re: [conspire] (forw) Re: (forw) Re: VirtualBox

> If there was such a thing as a live Linux ISO with KVM, I could skip VB.

Hmmmm, why exactly again the need/reason/desire to have KVM on a live  
Linux ISO?
Anyway, if that doesn't already exist (it may?), rather easy to effectively
have that.  Many "live" Linux ISOs allow one to install software, e.g. from
the distribution's repository(/ies).  Some/many live Linux ISOs also have the
capability of using/attaching some non-volatile storage, and reusing that upon
subsequent reboots of the "live" image, so one then *also* has the updates one
did "on" the "live" image, e.g. installing additional software, updates, etc.
E.g. I think for some distributions live image(s), that can all be  
done on, e.g.
a USB (e.g. flash) drive - or similar rw media (e.g. USB spinning rust - but
not CD/DVD/BD, as that's mostly a write the whole thing at once type  
of media).

> Date: Sat, 24 Sep 2016 07:12:29 +0000 (UTC)
> From: Paul Zander <paulz at ieee.org>
> To: Dana Goyette <danagoyette at gmail.com>
> Cc: "conspire at linuxmafia.com" <conspire at linuxmafia.com>
> Subject: Re: [conspire] (forw) Re: (forw) Re: VirtualBox
>
> I can download the debian KVM packages, which I think is usually  
> better than downloading from a 3rd party.

Yes, use the software from one's distribution and the official  
repository(/ies)
of one's distribution.  That's always best bet, at least for starting point.
Don't go outside of / beyond that with installations of software,  
unless you have
darn good reason to, and well understand the risks and what you're  
doing and why
you're choosing to do so.  Most distributions have the relevant "KVM"  
package(s),
Debian sure as heck does - I use it quite continuously ... matter of fact,
the entire [www.]sf-lug.org infrastructure (except for list, hosted by Rick
on linuxmafia.com) all runs on a virtual machine under qemu-kvm -  
that's Debian's
name of the package ... the KVM project merged with the QEMU project  
some years
back - so the "KVM" part is just an extension utilizing, where available in
hardware, (much) more efficient virtualization - where the hardware supports
such.

> Beyond that I don't have much info on KVM.

> Can KVM process a VMDK file??

Yes, I believe so.  I think it's packaged with the QEMU stuff or related
utilities/packages.  I did convert formats before ... fairly sure it was
VMDK ... took some image - mostly just to show it could be done - from
modern.ie - inspected it under VirtualBox - notably just to look at how
the image's virtual hardware was configured ... then converted format,
pulled out the raw disk image portion, built a VM under qemu-kvm setting
the virtual hardware configuration based upon what I'd seen, fired it up
under qemu-kvm, and worked perfectly fine, looked, of course Windows 8 was
ugly as hell abomination ... but it ran (at least long enough to see how
sh*tty it was), then I shut it down and got rid of it - having effectively
proved the exercise (and seen enough ugliness for a while).  I think I even
demonstrated this at BALUG.org meeting presentation some years back, if I
recall correctly.

> Where can I find documentation on KVM?? http://www.linux-kvm.org/ is  
> not very helpful.

I don't recall exactly where, but there's certainly enough findable good
documentation out there.  Pretty much all my KVM and qemu-kvm knowledge and
experience is self-taught.  I didn't have any great difficulties finding
relevant information.  Heck, even enough to go on and do presentation at
BALUG.org on virtual machines, with emphasis/demonstration on, or mostly
on qemu-kvm.
Let's see ...
http://lists.balug.org/pipermail/balug-announce-balug.org/2013-July/000438.html
https://www.archive.balug.org/2013/2013-07-16/Linux_and_Virtual_Machines,_etc.odp