[conspire] "KVM" on Linux ...

Sat Sep 24 10:36:52 PDT 2016

This discussion is getting rather tangled.  Let me start at the beginning.

I bought a laptop because I occasionally need to run certain Windows applications.  Some of them use unique USB dongle thingies.  At the time, I expected I could set the machine to dual boot either Linux or Windows as I had done numerous times in the past.
Then I discovered EFI. Part of a CABAL was spent figuring out the BIOS settings to be able to execute a live linux on a USB stick.  

Then the discussion continued online at: http://linuxmafia.com/pipermail/conspire/2016-March/008356.html
The thread touched on the relative merits of virtualization vs dual boot, grumblings about lack of install media, and a suggestion of how to convert my Windows 8.1 installation to run under VirtualBox.
I now have a .vmdk file generated from my 8.1 install.   Next is to confirm that this file will really run under VB.  I asked some question to the group and the discussion redirected to KVM.  

What I think I will do next will be to install VB on a different machine that is running Debian.  I will see what VB does with the .vmdk file and also test usage of the USB dongles.  Then I will know if VB is a viable solution.
Plan B will be to install Linux on a USB drive and use it with the laptop.   I mean actually install to the USB/SSD, not just copy a .iso file.  Then I will have dual boot but with an extra dongle.

Can  someone suggest why I should restart my project with KVM and searching for install media?  Will KVM allow the guest to have access to USB devices?

      From: Michael Paoli <Michael.Paoli at cal.berkeley.edu>
 To: conspire at linuxmafia.com 
 Sent: Saturday, September 24, 2016 9:49 AM
 Subject: Re: [conspire] "KVM" on Linux ...

> 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

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