Using Virtualization in the Classroom

Using Virtualization in the ClassroomSession Objectives

• Define virtualization

• Compare major virtualization programs

• Define virtualization terminology

• Discuss virtualization benefits

• List requirements of virtualization

• Demonstrate the use of virtualization

What is Virtualization?

• Allows multiple operating systems to run on the same physical computer at the same time

• A software environment that emulates a computer’s hardware and BIOS

• Virtual machine software creates this environment

Virtual Machine Software

• In this presentation, I will discuss:• VMWare Workstation• Microsoft Virtual PC• Microsoft Hyper-V (briefly)

• Other products not discussed• Parallels (Mac) and VMWare Fusion (Mac),

VirtualBox (open source)

What Does Virtualization Look Like?

Running Windows 7 Beta in VMWare on a Vista Host

What Does Virtualization Look Like?

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Running Windows 2000 in Microsoft Virtual PC on a Vista Host

Running Windows 2000 in Microsoft Virtual PC on a Vista Host

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Virtualization Terminology

• Host machine or host computer• The computer on which the virtual machine

software is installed (Virtual PC or VMWare, e.g.)

• Virtual machine (VM) or Guest OS• The operating system that runs in virtual

machine software on the host computer• Comprised primarily of a configuration file

and one or more virtual hard drive files

Virtualization Terminology (cont’d)

• Virtual disk• One or more files that reside on the host

computer that make up the VM’s hard disk

• Virtual network• The network configuration used by the VM• Options include: bridged, host only, NAT

and none• VMs behave like just another computer on

the network

Virtualization Terminology (cont’d)

• Snapshot• A partial copy of a VM at a particular

moment in time. Allows you to ‘go back’ to the VM at that particular state. Some programs allow saving multiple snapshots.

Virtualization Benefits

• Teach multiple operating systems with a single host computer• Students can ‘own’ their VM while having

minimal access to the host computer• Multiple VMs can run simultaneously on

one host, networked and all (for example, a client and a server or two servers)

Virtualization Benefits (cont’d)

• Easy maintenance and testing• VM won’t boot or got deleted or corrupted?

Copy another one.• Snapshots allow unlimited ‘try this…’

scenarios with a quick return to the system state before you ‘tried it’.

Virtualization Benefits (cont’d)

• Run multiple versions of software• Teach Office 2007 while previewing Office

20xx by using two different VMs.• For programming and database; write an

application in one version and easily test on another version

Virtualization Benefits (cont’d)

• Isolate your OS from the campus network and host computer• For programming and networking, run

services and write software which might normally interfere with the host computer or the campus network

Virtualization Requirements

• Supported host operating system (Windows XP Pro, Vista, Server 2003/2008, Linux)

• Sufficient RAM on your host computer to accommodate the host OS and the guest OSs you wish to run

• Sufficient CPU power• Sufficient hard drive space to

accommodate the stored VMs

Virtualization Recommendations

• Minimum 1 GB RAM, 2+ GB recommended for Vista and Server 2008 virtual machines

• Minimum 3.0 GHz P4, recommended 2.4+ GHz dual-core CPU

• Separate hard drive (80 GB+) for the VMs

VMWare

• VMWare was the first serious virtualization software

• Around since mid-90s

• The leader in server and desktop virtualization

VMWare (cont’d)

• Free products• VMWare Player – runs existing virtual

machines but cannot create a new VM• VMWare Server – can create and run VMs;

better suited for low-end server applications

VMWare (cont’d)

• VMWare Workstation• Flagship desktop product• Create and run VMs• Import VMs (including physical to virtual)• Has all of the bells and whistles including

unlimited snapshots, screen capture to create movies, jpgs

• Costs: $189 retail

VMWare (cont’d)

• VMWare Academic Alliance• Free to join – fill out an application online• Unlimited VMWare Workstation licenses for

classroom use

VMWare Demonstration

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VMWare VM on the Host Hard Drive

Microsoft Virtual PC

• Virtual PC purchased by Microsoft around 2005.

• A basic desktop virtualization program• No bells and whistles compared to

VMWare• Works well but not as flexible as VMWare • Current version is Virtual PC 2007• Free to download

Microsoft Virtual PCDemonstration

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Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V

• Hyper-V is Microsoft’s newest virtualization product

• Meant to compete with VMWare’s server virtualization products

• Excellent performance and reliability• Comes with Windows Server 2008• Server 2008 may become my next

desktop OS

Hyper-V Demonstration

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Networking with Virtual Machines

• Virtual Machine Networking• Each VM has its own virtual network adapter

(NIC)• Multiple network adapters are possible

• Several modes for the virtual network• Bridged• NAT/Shared• Local/host only• None

Networking Modes

• Bridged networking• The VM acts like any other computer on

the network• Each VM network adapter gets its own IP

address and physical address• VMs can communicate with other VMs and

other physical computers on the network including the Internet

• Most flexible configuration

Networking Modes (cont’d)

• Network Address Translation (NAT)/Shared Networking• VM ‘shares’ IP address with host computer• Host computer acts like router/firewall• VM can access other computers on the

network including the Internet• Other computers cannot access the VM

directly• More secure configuration than bridged• Won’t work if the VM is to be a server

Networking Modes (cont’d)

• Local/Host only networking• VMs can communicate with only other VMs

(Virtual PC) or other VMs and the host PC (VMWare)

• No communication with other physical computers or the Internet

• Ideal for doing activities that might interfere with the classroom network

Networking Modes (cont’d)

• No network connection• Most secure configuration• Best when no interaction with other

computers, including the host, is desired

VMWare/Virtual PC Comparison

• VMWare Workstation Pros• Better Linux support• USB device support• Multi-CPU support• VM Teams• Snapshots• Better guest OS documentation

• VMWare Workstation Cons• $189 license without membership• More features mean more complex user

interface

VMWare/Virtual PC Comparison (cont’d)

• Virtual PC Pros• Free to download – no membership

required• Simple user interface

• Virtual PC Cons• Skimpy documentation• No USB device support• Fewer advanced features

Web Links

• VMWare• www.vmware.com• Academic program

http://www.vmware.com/partners/academic• Virtual PC

• http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/winfamily/virtualpc/

• Comparison VMWare/Virtual PC• http://www.petri.co.il/virtual_vmware_virtualpc_compared.ht

m• Comparison VMWare/Virtual PC/Parallels/VirtualBox

• http://www.wilderssecurity.com/archive/index.php/t-168825.html

The End

Thanks for coming!