Maher's Digital World

Computing => Programs => Topic started by: humbert on May 08, 2023, 06:48 AM

Title: Virtual Machines
Post by: humbert on May 08, 2023, 06:48 AM
The other day I saw a new copy of VMWare on the torrents to I decided to bring down a copy and test it. This thing is great. Guests run much faster and are more stable than on VirtualBox. Yet I'm having more trouble with Linux Mint than with Windows.

I'm wondering: When configuring a guest, VMWare wants to know the number of processors and cores. I'm not too clear as to what to put down. My i9-10890K is 1 processor with 10 cores, 20 threads. I'm noticing that on VMWare any number of processors and cores that adds up to 16 or less will work. Shouldn't VMWare detect my configuration and act accordingly? VirtualBox allows me to put down as many as 10 cores and doesn't ask about processors. I'm not too clear why this is even on there at all. Can anyone explain?

It took a real weird hack to get Mint to see my network drives, no issue on Windows. Also, copy/pasting between host and guest isn't working on Mint, and neither is the sound card. This despite both being enabled in the VM's configuration. No issue on Windows.

Who can give me some help on this?
Title: Re: Virtual Machines
Post by: scarface on May 08, 2023, 08:46 PM
Quote from: humbert on May 08, 2023, 06:48 AM1 processor with 10 cores, 20 threads
It seems you have more than enough.

Quote from: humbert on May 08, 2023, 06:48 AMVirtualBox allows me to put down as many as 10 cores and doesn't ask about processors. I'm not too clear why this is even on there at all. Can anyone explain?
Weirdly enough I can set 32 cores (with Vwmare player), even if I have far fewer cores. I just keep the configuration by default with 2 cores...
Title: Re: Virtual Machines
Post by: humbert on May 09, 2023, 04:59 AM
Quote from: scarface on May 08, 2023, 08:46 PMWeirdly enough I can set 32 cores (with Vwmare player), even if I have far fewer cores. I just keep the configuration by default with 2 cores...

I just tested that. It gives me an error message that the VM may not work correctly with this setting (anything above 16 cores). Why do you give the VM only 2 cores if your CPU has more? It's not like the cores are "locked in" to the VM. The host OS keeps working OK. Also, I can't understand why the settings on the main program (not the player) let's you choose how many processors and how many cores, yet the player only shows cores.

Do you or anyone else play around with distros of Linux on VMware? I like Linux Mint. I'm asking because I can't copy/paste from host to guest, and the sound card doesn't work either. This despite the fact that both settings are correct. With Windows hosts everything works. I would guess distros of Linux would be less of a problem on VM's. It works OK on VirtualBox. Let me keep Googling, I might find an answer somewhere.
Title: Re: Virtual Machines
Post by: Vasudev on May 21, 2023, 09:09 PM
Quote from: humbert on May 09, 2023, 04:59 AM
Quote from: scarface on May 08, 2023, 08:46 PMWeirdly enough I can set 32 cores (with Vwmare player), even if I have far fewer cores. I just keep the configuration by default with 2 cores...

I just tested that. It gives me an error message that the VM may not work correctly with this setting (anything above 16 cores). Why do you give the VM only 2 cores if your CPU has more? It's not like the cores are "locked in" to the VM. The host OS keeps working OK. Also, I can't understand why the settings on the main program (not the player) let's you choose how many processors and how many cores, yet the player only shows cores.

Do you or anyone else play around with distros of Linux on VMware? I like Linux Mint. I'm asking because I can't copy/paste from host to guest, and the sound card doesn't work either. This despite the fact that both settings are correct. With Windows hosts everything works. I would guess distros of Linux would be less of a problem on VM's. It works OK on VirtualBox. Let me keep Googling, I might find an answer somewhere.
Both VBox and VMware needs drivers which they used to try installing automatically post OS install, now you need manually trigger Vmware tools install and Vbox Tools for video and sound drivers which are basic.
Another thing is use WSL2 with GUI following the guide here https://medium.com/@japheth.yates/the-complete-wsl2-gui-setup-2582828f4577 (https://medium.com/@japheth.yates/the-complete-wsl2-gui-setup-2582828f4577)
The author used Ubuntu image from Windows Store,you can replace with Linux Mint main edition and swap this step (sudo tasksel install xubuntu-desktop) with (sudo tasksel install mint-desktop) which install linux mint DE.
Title: Re: Virtual Machines
Post by: humbert on May 22, 2023, 04:45 AM
Quote from: Vasudev on May 21, 2023, 09:09 PMBoth VBox and VMware needs drivers which they used to try installing automatically post OS install, now you need manually trigger Vmware tools install and Vbox Tools for video and sound drivers which are basic.

I aware of that. In fact if you don't install VMware Tools or VirtualBox extension pack, there's not much you can do. The only issue that remains is copying/pasting to and from Linux Mint. It works OK with Win11 under VMWare.

Quote from: Vasudev on May 21, 2023, 09:09 PMAnother thing is use WSL2 with GUI following the guide here https://medium.com/@japheth.yates/the-complete-wsl2-gui-setup-2582828f4577 (https://medium.com/@japheth.yates/the-complete-wsl2-gui-setup-2582828f4577)
The author used Ubuntu image from Windows Store,you can replace with Linux Mint main edition and swap this step (sudo tasksel install xubuntu-desktop) with (sudo tasksel install mint-desktop) which install linux mint DE.

I've been having trouble with Windows11 WSL2 or anything else that comes from the Windows Store or Windows Update. When updating and/or installing installing something from the Windows Store, I've had to do it manually. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I'd love to stick with Win10 forever that but, as usual, that's virtually impossible. The lappie alone has newer hardware not supported by Win10.

Let me see if I understand you correctly. Are you able to run a full, graphical copy of Ubuntu under WSL2 without needing a VM program? I'm asking because so far I've haven't been able to get past the terminal.
Title: Re: Virtual Machines
Post by: Vasudev on June 08, 2023, 07:16 PM
Quote from: humbert on May 22, 2023, 04:45 AM
Quote from: Vasudev on May 21, 2023, 09:09 PMBoth VBox and VMware needs drivers which they used to try installing automatically post OS install, now you need manually trigger Vmware tools install and Vbox Tools for video and sound drivers which are basic.

I aware of that. In fact if you don't install VMware Tools or VirtualBox extension pack, there's not much you can do. The only issue that remains is copying/pasting to and from Linux Mint. It works OK with Win11 under VMWare.

Quote from: Vasudev on May 21, 2023, 09:09 PMAnother thing is use WSL2 with GUI following the guide here https://medium.com/@japheth.yates/the-complete-wsl2-gui-setup-2582828f4577 (https://medium.com/@japheth.yates/the-complete-wsl2-gui-setup-2582828f4577)
The author used Ubuntu image from Windows Store,you can replace with Linux Mint main edition and swap this step (sudo tasksel install xubuntu-desktop) with (sudo tasksel install mint-desktop) which install linux mint DE.

I've been having trouble with Windows11 WSL2 or anything else that comes from the Windows Store or Windows Update. When updating and/or installing installing something from the Windows Store, I've had to do it manually. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I'd love to stick with Win10 forever that but, as usual, that's virtually impossible. The lappie alone has newer hardware not supported by Win10.

Let me see if I understand you correctly. Are you able to run a full, graphical copy of Ubuntu under WSL2 without needing a VM program? I'm asking because so far I've haven't been able to get past the terminal.
Graphically I haven't tried in WSL2. I usually use terminal cmds for docker and that's it. Then in case if cmds are really complicated, I use Vscode's remote dev tools.
Have you tried doing repair install of Win11? WSL2 uses windows update as it downloads the images and kernel updates.
Title: Re: Virtual Machines
Post by: humbert on June 09, 2023, 04:39 AM
Quote from: Vasudev on June 08, 2023, 07:16 PMHave you tried doing repair install of Win11? WSL2 uses windows update as it downloads the images and kernel updates.
Every troubleshooter I've tried has failed. The ones included in the settings menu simply go off on a tangent and never address the problem itself. It's so bad that it even prompts you do download updates that are already installed. To make the problem worse, both WSL2 and the Store go through Windows update. I've managed to install some (but not all) updates and store programs manually. If you know of another troubleshooter out there that I haven't tried, I'm listening.
Title: Re: Virtual Machines
Post by: Vasudev on June 25, 2023, 10:31 PM
Quote from: humbert on June 09, 2023, 04:39 AM
Quote from: Vasudev on June 08, 2023, 07:16 PMHave you tried doing repair install of Win11? WSL2 uses windows update as it downloads the images and kernel updates.
Every troubleshooter I've tried has failed. The ones included in the settings menu simply go off on a tangent and never address the problem itself. It's so bad that it even prompts you do download updates that are already installed. To make the problem worse, both WSL2 and the Store go through Windows update. I've managed to install some (but not all) updates and store programs manually. If you know of another troubleshooter out there that I haven't tried, I'm listening.
Even I haven't found a reliable foolproof ones. Its a 50/50 chance of fixing it or makes it worse. Are you applying any Windows Firewall rules that blocks MSFT urls?
Title: Re: Virtual Machines
Post by: humbert on June 26, 2023, 05:03 AM
Quote from: Vasudev on June 25, 2023, 10:31 PMEven I haven't found a reliable foolproof ones. Its a 50/50 chance of fixing it or makes it worse. Are you applying any Windows Firewall rules that blocks MSFT urls?

Good question. I checked the firewall rules. The ones that were manually put in are those for cracked apps and the ones installed by W10Privacy. From what I'm seeing these are designed to block telemetry. I'm don't see MSFT anywhere unless I'm looking in the wrong place. How would I know if any of these are being blocked in the firewall?
Title: Re: Virtual Machines
Post by: Vasudev on July 07, 2023, 09:07 PM
Quote from: humbert on June 26, 2023, 05:03 AM
Quote from: Vasudev on June 25, 2023, 10:31 PMEven I haven't found a reliable foolproof ones. Its a 50/50 chance of fixing it or makes it worse. Are you applying any Windows Firewall rules that blocks MSFT urls?

Good question. I checked the firewall rules. The ones that were manually put in are those for cracked apps and the ones installed by W10Privacy. From what I'm seeing these are designed to block telemetry. I'm don't see MSFT anywhere unless I'm looking in the wrong place. How would I know if any of these are being blocked in the firewall?
I use Windows Firewall control by binisoft/malwarebytes it can control which apps to allow/block.
Title: Re: Virtual Machines
Post by: humbert on July 08, 2023, 05:49 AM
Quote from: Vasudev on July 07, 2023, 09:07 PMI use Windows Firewall control by binisoft/malwarebytes it can control which apps to allow/block.

Thanks for the tip. I had no idea this thing existed. Let me check it out.
Title: Re: Virtual Machines
Post by: humbert on January 24, 2024, 06:43 AM
Have any of you guys played around with Hyper-V? I started doing that today, The setup menu is relatively easy but I could not get any VM to work. I'm seeing it can't be resized on the fly and I see no way to share a folder with the host OS.

Any ideas?
Title: Re: Virtual Machines
Post by: Shadow.97 on January 27, 2024, 09:46 PM
Quote from: humbert on January 24, 2024, 06:43 AMHave any of you guys played around with Hyper-V? I started doing that today, The setup menu is relatively easy but I could not get any VM to work. I'm seeing it can't be resized on the fly and I see no way to share a folder with the host OS.

Any ideas?

Did you follow any guides?

Normally you would just follow the setup guide and then unmount the iso after OS is installed.

For folder access you enable guest services after installing guest tools. Then when connecting and selecting resolution you attach the drive you are looking for.

What are you using the hypervisor for?

Title: Re: Virtual Machines
Post by: humbert on January 29, 2024, 05:03 AM
Quote from: Shadow.97 on January 27, 2024, 09:46 PMDid you follow any guides?
Normally you would just follow the setup guide and then unmount the iso after OS is installed.
I didn't see a setup guide. Installing a VM is pretty straight forward. In fact it's not all that different from how it's done in VirtualBox or VMWare. It's just doesn't work unless I'm doing something wrong. I even Ubuntu under those preconfigured VM's they have. It appeared to install but when booted up got just a green screen.

Quote from: Shadow.97 on January 27, 2024, 09:46 PMWhat are you using the hypervisor for?
Just testing it. Not only did I not get it to work, it's garbage when compared to Vbox or VMware. You can't resize the screen on the fly, nor access a network drive, nor create a shared folder. It's garbage. Uninstalling.

Title: Re: Virtual Machines
Post by: Shadow.97 on January 29, 2024, 09:14 PM
Quote from: humbert on January 29, 2024, 05:03 AM
Quote from: Shadow.97 on January 27, 2024, 09:46 PMDid you follow any guides?
Normally you would just follow the setup guide and then unmount the iso after OS is installed.
I didn't see a setup guide. Installing a VM is pretty straight forward. In fact it's not all that different from how it's done in VirtualBox or VMWare. It's just doesn't work unless I'm doing something wrong. I even Ubuntu under those preconfigured VM's they have. It appeared to install but when booted up got just a green screen.

Quote from: Shadow.97 on January 27, 2024, 09:46 PMWhat are you using the hypervisor for?
Just testing it. Not only did I not get it to work, it's garbage when compared to Vbox or VMware. You can't resize the screen on the fly, nor access a network drive, nor create a shared folder. It's garbage. Uninstalling.



What about it is garbage?
In my experience it's godtier compared to vbox. I'd not touch vbox unless I am using a pc that doesnt have vtx or vtd enabled.

You can resize the screen on the fly after guest tools is installed, same goes for network drive if you set up a network connection for the VM.

Shared folder would be using the remote tool you use to connect.

But yes, in my experience it is not really worth using linux in it unless you plan on using CLI.
Title: Re: Virtual Machines
Post by: humbert on January 30, 2024, 06:02 AM
Quote from: Shadow.97 on January 29, 2024, 09:14 PMWhat about it is garbage?
In my experience it's godtier compared to vbox. I'd not touch vbox unless I am using a pc that doesnt have vtx or vtd enabled.
You can resize the screen on the fly after guest tools is installed, same goes for network drive if you set up a network connection for the VM.
Shared folder would be using the remote tool you use to connect.

Interesting. It's clear I'm doing something wrong. You mentioned some guides. Is there a link to a good guide? Based on what you're saying it's worth a second look.

I had no idea Hyper-V had guest tools. In the program's walk-thru they're not mentioned anywhere -- unless I was looking in the wrong place.

Did you manage to install a downloaded ISO as a VM under Hyper-V (Linux or Windows) and get the damn thing to work? Or did you use one of the "pre-loaded" VM's on the quick start menu?

Quote from: Shadow.97 on January 29, 2024, 09:14 PMBut yes, in my experience it is not really worth using linux in it unless you plan on using CLI.

On WSL, CLI is pretty much all you've got (i.e, no GUI). You use it to install Linux apps. For example, I typed "sudo apt install gedit" and it downloaded and installed a fully working copy. I'm not seeing an icon anywhere, so just type "gedit" at the prompt to launch it.
Title: Re: Virtual Machines
Post by: Vasudev on February 16, 2024, 06:44 PM
Hyper V is quite different from VirtualBox. Most of the times I used UI to add disk space as VHD or even use premade HyperV images. It didn't slow my old dual core machine almost 6 years ago while testing Ubuntu VM. Hyper V does use a lot of disk space though. VBox can use Hyper V in case you have HyperV installed.
Title: Re: Virtual Machines
Post by: humbert on February 17, 2024, 04:36 AM
Quote from: Vasudev on February 16, 2024, 06:44 PMHyper V is quite different from VirtualBox. Most of the times I used UI to add disk space as VHD or even use premade HyperV images. It didn't slow my old dual core machine almost 6 years ago while testing Ubuntu VM. Hyper V does use a lot of disk space though. VBox can use Hyper V in case you have HyperV installed.

So you got the damn thing to work? I've been unable to unless, of course, I'm doing something wrong. Not even those that it downloads so you can try them out will work. Oh well.. at least VirtualBox works OK
Title: Re: Virtual Machines
Post by: Vasudev on February 18, 2024, 07:14 PM
Quote from: humbert on February 17, 2024, 04:36 AM
Quote from: Vasudev on February 16, 2024, 06:44 PMHyper V is quite different from VirtualBox. Most of the times I used UI to add disk space as VHD or even use premade HyperV images. It didn't slow my old dual core machine almost 6 years ago while testing Ubuntu VM. Hyper V does use a lot of disk space though. VBox can use Hyper V in case you have HyperV installed.

So you got the damn thing to work? I've been unable to unless, of course, I'm doing something wrong. Not even those that it downloads so you can try them out will work. Oh well.. at least VirtualBox works OK
Oh I remember, if you have previously applied telemetry blocking rules via firewall try disabling them and re-run hyper V setup ie remove all existing OS virtual images and allocated disks. Some components gets downloaded via MSFT domain.
Not sure why its buggy on your end with Win 11 provided you have supported hardware.
Title: Re: Virtual Machines
Post by: humbert on February 19, 2024, 05:59 AM
Quote from: Vasudev on February 18, 2024, 07:14 PMOh I remember, if you have previously applied telemetry blocking rules via firewall try disabling them and re-run hyper V setup ie remove all existing OS virtual images and allocated disks. Some components gets downloaded via MSFT domain.
Not sure why its buggy on your end with Win 11 provided you have supported hardware.

I use Windows 10 Privacy to block telemetry through the firewall and the hosts file. I can't understand why only Hyper-V would be affected. This given the fact that their other VM's (Windows system for Android and Linux) run with no issues. I'm probably doing something wrong somewhere. Even so I decided not to bother with it. VirtualBox runs great. The only thing I've been unable to do with it is install MacOS as a VM. I downloaded a copy with instructions but unfortunately I couldn't get the damn thing to work.

When you say "virtual OS images" do you include those that run under VirtualBox as well? I don't have any under Hyper-V.

Incidentally, have you guys tried Windows system for Android? This thing is truly a piece of work! You can run Android apps in separate windows as if they were native Windows apps themselves. You can sideload any apk and even talk to the subsystem using Google's platform tools. If you have an Android phone this thing is a must. BTW I use a rooted modded copy and it works great. It includes Magisk for root and Gapps with Google Play Store and anything Google.
Title: Re: Virtual Machines
Post by: Vasudev on February 22, 2024, 06:39 PM
Quote from: humbert on February 19, 2024, 05:59 AM
Quote from: Vasudev on February 18, 2024, 07:14 PMOh I remember, if you have previously applied telemetry blocking rules via firewall try disabling them and re-run hyper V setup ie remove all existing OS virtual images and allocated disks. Some components gets downloaded via MSFT domain.
Not sure why its buggy on your end with Win 11 provided you have supported hardware.

I use Windows 10 Privacy to block telemetry through the firewall and the hosts file. I can't understand why only Hyper-V would be affected. This given the fact that their other VM's (Windows system for Android and Linux) run with no issues. I'm probably doing something wrong somewhere. Even so I decided not to bother with it. VirtualBox runs great. The only thing I've been unable to do with it is install MacOS as a VM. I downloaded a copy with instructions but unfortunately I couldn't get the damn thing to work.

When you say "virtual OS images" do you include those that run under VirtualBox as well? I don't have any under Hyper-V.

Incidentally, have you guys tried Windows system for Android? This thing is truly a piece of work! You can run Android apps in separate windows as if they were native Windows apps themselves. You can sideload any apk and even talk to the subsystem using Google's platform tools. If you have an Android phone this thing is a must. BTW I use a rooted modded copy and it works great. It includes Magisk for root and Gapps with Google Play Store and anything Google.
Yep For instance there are Win 11 Development Image https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/downloads/virtual-machines/ (https://developer.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/downloads/virtual-machines/)
Android and other Linux Distros for Vbox (https://www.osboxes.org/virtualbox-images/)
This is for consistent experience as per minimum system reqmts.