IST346: LabLast Update: 1/13/2010 1:33 PM

L01 Introduction to Virtual Machines

Overview

This lab will give you the foundation you need to complete subsequent labs in this course. You will learn how to obtain virtual machines from the iSchool Virtual Machine Garden using the VMGet command and how to use VMware to control and manage your virtual environment.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this lab, you should be able to

  • Demonstrate how to use vmget to download virtual machines from the iSchool VM Garden.
  • Describe and explain the basic concepts of virtual machines and how they work.
  • Operate and use the VMware server software application for managing your virtual machines.

Lab Breakdown

This lab consists of 4 parts:

  1. Learn about virtual machines and the virtual machine garden.
  2. Setup theiVMG client and use the vmget utility to download virtual machines to your portable storage device.
  3. Learn how to run the virtual machines in VMware server.
  4. On your own

Requirements

Before you start this lab you will need:

  1. A copy of VMWare Server 1.X or VMWare Workstation 6.X software installed on your computer.
    Note: If you are doing this lab in the iSchool facilities the software has been installed for you.
  2. Your portable storage device, initialized and ready to go.
    IMPORTANT! If you have not yet obtained your portable storage device, you may use the local drive on the computer to complete this lab. Please be aware that under these circumstances your changes will not be saved and you will have to complete this lab again.

Part 1 – Virtual Machines and the VM Garden

What isvirtualization /a virtual machine?

There are lots of types of virtual machines and virtualization. As a matter of fact virtualization has been around since the mainframe days. The virtualization we’re talking about here is known as Full /hardware / system virtualization. This type of virtualization permits you to run multiple “virtual computers”, complete with their own operating system, applications and hardware setups on one physical computer. In the world of VMware, the physical computer’s operating system is known as the host, and the virtual machine operating system is known as the guest.

Stories of IT shops running 20+ servers as virtual machines on a single physical host computer are quite common. Think about it… ONE physical computer in your data center is now doing the work of what used to be 20 physical computers! When you consider the cost savings in power consumption, cooling, and hardware maintenance, you can see why IT professionals get excited about virtualization.

What is the virtual machine garden?

This blog entry answers this very question:

Then watch the VM Garden Overview Screen cast. This will help give you the big picture:

Questions

Q1.1 what is a virtual machine?

Q1.2 what is an ISO file?

Q1.3 InVMWare nomenclature, what is a host?A guest?

Q1.4what advantage does a virtual machine library have over building your own?

Q1.5 how does the VM Garden address the issue of VM deployment?

Part 2 – Using the VMGet Utility

First, watch this screencast on the vmget utility:

Now you try it!

Next, try to use the vmget utility to download the winxp1 virtual machine to your portable drive. It might take a while with everyone attempting to do this task at the same time. So once the download begins, feel free to continue the lab while the download progresses.

Questions

Q2.1which command do you type to into the vmgetutility to accomplish this task?

Q2.2 which vmget command lists the virtual machines on the server and on in your VM garden install folder?

Q2.3which vmget command lists the ISO packages on the server?

Q2.4 which vmget command would you type to download the winxppro ISO package?

Part 3 – Using VMware

First, watch this screen caston getting around the VMware product.

Now you try it!

  1. Open the VMs folder in your VM Garden install folder. In this folder you should see the winxp1 virtual machine shortcut.
  2. Double-click on the shortcut to open the virtual machine in VMware
  3. Start the virtual machine by clicking the power on icon:
  4. The Windows XP Virtual Machine will start. When the logon screen appears, enter the password SU2orange! to logon
  5. Try using the other features described in the screen cast, like suspend and snapshot.
  6. When you’re done, power off the virtual machine. You can do this by either shutting down the guest operating system, or clicking the stop icon:

Questions

Q3.1 what does it mean to suspend a virtual machine?

Q3.2 what is a snapshot?

Q3.3 How many snapshots can you take in VMware Server?

Q3.4 What key combination transfers mouse and keyboard control from the guest VM to the host?

Part 4 – On your own

As homework, you should download these virtual machines and ISO packages to your portable drive. By taking the time to download them now, you will get a jump-start on the remaining labs for this course.

While you’re downloading the VM’s / ISO’s here’s some additional reading for you:

  • Understanding the different types of virtualization

Use the vmgetutility to download the following virtual machines to your portable drive:

  • winxp1
  • vista1
  • win2008
  • centos5
  • vyatta

Use the vmget utility to download these ISO packages to your portable drive:

  • winxppro
  • vistaent
  • win2008std
  • centos5

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