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Thread: Best VM for running Windows Apps in Knoppix

  1. #1
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    Brisbane, Australia
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    Best VM for running Windows Apps in Knoppix

    As an exercise, I would like to see how well Windows XP and ReactOS perform running in a virtual machine in Knoppix. I have used Oracle Virtualbox to run WinXP in Linux Mint 13 Mate successfully (using 800 meg ram), but appreciate there are major differences between Mint 13 and Knoppix, and I have also read an old post where KVM was recommended over Virtualbox (several years old).

    I would appreciate any advice from anyone who is already doing this. Which is the best VM for Knoppix?

    Why? Well Wine doesn't run the apps I use, I prefer Linux as my main OS, and I want to try out Knoppix.

    Has anyone played with ReactOS in a VM with a Knoppix host? I'd love your feedback.

    thanks in advance,


    Peter Perros

  2. #2
    Senior Member registered user
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    I'm routinely running Windows (several variants) under VMware Workstation, currently 8.0.4. There will often be problems with compiling the kernel modules needed in new Knoppix versions, see other recent posts about this, but when it is up and running, it runs very well IMHO. You may use Player instead of Workstation, but as a long time Workstation user, I stick to that for now myself. Using the 64-bits kernel and a machine with 16GB RAM, I'm able to run several VMs simultaneously with little performance degradation on light loads.

    Qemu/KVM is also an alternative. Install qemu, and ensure that KVM is used, otherwise it will run only ordinary emulation, i.e. slowly. I have posted about this recently, too. For Linux VMs, I mostly use qemu, and a complete DVD remastering run in the VM did not take that long - so I think I would say it is effective enough.

  3. #3
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    So you don't like virtualbox?

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by wspc View Post
    So you don't like virtualbox?
    It has nothing to do with likes and dislikes, just that my present needs are very well covered by Workstation and qemu. And it doesn't seem to me that Virtualbox has a lot more to offer for me. Earlier technical problems with Virtualbox kept me from using it then, but I would have used it now if I had seen a distinct advantage. Many users find it has, YMMV.

    For working with Linux versions, I think it is hard to beat current qemu-kvm, and for general VM running, in particular Windows guests, Workstation is a tried and true solution. I perceive Virtualbox as somewhat between these "extremes".

  5. #5
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    Thank you.

  6. #6
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    VirtualBox under Knoppix 6.7.x/7.0.x CD as 64 bit

    I have been running win7/winXP as a guest (for my day job) with the 32bit (CDs) knoppix kernels just fine for quite a few years.

    Due to one box with 6GB, I have been recently been copying the DVD 64-bit /lib/modules into my /lib/modules area of mounted knoppix-data.img to run the 64-bit kernels with the CD iso's.
    (messing with grub's knoppix_dir, knoppix_name, kernel and initrd params to help with many knoppix versions in one decent sized boot partition).

    For example eg 6.7 is /lib/modules/3.0.4-64 so I can run a the CD's 64 bit kernel with a copy of the DVD's 3.0.4-64 module dir.

    To be able to apt-get install any virtualbox requires (for building the dkms parts with linux-headers):

    - add the virtualbox-repo to sources.list and ensure the standard knoppix alioth is apt-updated.
    - downloading the specific headers for that kernel note that linux-headers-3.0.4-64 is available for 6.7:
    apt-get install linux-headers-3.0.4-64

    Which has the two need files to modules_prepare the *source*:
    /usr/src/linux-headers-3.0.4-64/{.config,Module.symvers}

    Yes, you need to build the *source* - this is where I deviated from vbox docs as RTFM didnt work:

    - cd /usr/src && apt-get install linux-source-3.0.4
    - tar xvf linux-source-3.0.4.*
    - cp linux-headers-3.0.4-64/{.config,Module-symvers} linux-source-3.0.4
    - mv linux-source-3.0.4 linux-source.3.0.4-64 # not needed - just for consistency
    - cd !$ && make oldconfig && make prepare && make modules_prepare
    - ln -s linux-source.3.0.4-64 /lib/modules/3.0.4-64/build

    This causes a successful install of any 32 bit versions, eg:
    apt-get install virtualbox-4.2

    And it runs up to starting the VM and you get the dreaded -1912 error because you need a
    x86_64 virtualbox-4.2 to go with a 64 bit kernel (their amd64 == x86_64):

    dpkg -i virtualbox-4.2_4.2.4-81684~Debian~squeeze_amd64.deb # gives:

    Code:
    Preparing to replace virtualbox-4.2 4.2.4-81684~Debian~squeeze (using virtualbox-4.2_4.2.4-81684~Debian~squeeze_amd64.deb) ...
    Stopping VirtualBox kernel modules:.
    Unpacking replacement virtualbox-4.2 ...
    dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of virtualbox-4.2:
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libc6 (>= 2.6).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libcurl3-gnutls (>= 7.16.2-1).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libgcc1 (>= 1:4.1.1).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libpng12-0 (>= 1.2.13-4).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libpython2.6 (>= 2.6).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libqt4-network (>= 4:4.5.3).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libqt4-opengl (>= 4:4.5.3).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libqtcore4 (>= 4:4.6.1).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libqtgui4 (>= 4:4.6.2).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libsdl1.2debian (>= 1.2.10-1).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libssl0.9.8 (>= 0.9.8m-1).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libstdc++6 (>= 4.4.0).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libx11-6.
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libxcursor1 (>> 1.1.2).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libxext6.
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libxinerama1.
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libxml2 (>= 2.7.4).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libxmu6.
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libxt6.
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on zlib1g (>= 1:1.1.4).
     
    dpkg: error processing virtualbox-4.2 (--install):
     dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
    So my system is 99.9% i386 and I *need* the 64 bit virtualbox to run with my 64-bit kernel.

    for kicks I did a dpkg -i -force-depends # as above

    And it installs perfectly but of course virtualbox even execute with all the depends missing.
    It's a red file that just wont run...

    Looks like I am going to need another 64-bit chroot jail and install all those deps unless someone has a better idea. Dont want another 4GB iso to run a 4GB windows to run Citrix - and the new Windows only "security" app to go with it (I have been using straight linux Citrix until a new company windows only proggie is required to log in).

    Help!

  7. #7
    Senior Member registered user
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Posts
    423
    Quote Originally Posted by koolb View Post
    I have been running win7/winXP as a guest (for my day job) with the 32bit (CDs) knoppix kernels just fine for quite a few years.

    Due to one box with 6GB, I have been recently been copying the DVD 64-bit /lib/modules into my /lib/modules area of mounted knoppix-data.img to run the 64-bit kernels with the CD iso's.
    (messing with grub's knoppix_dir, knoppix_name, kernel and initrd params to help with many knoppix versions in one decent sized boot partition).

    For example eg 6.7 is /lib/modules/3.0.4-64 so I can run a the CD's 64 bit kernel with a copy of the DVD's 3.0.4-64 module dir.

    To be able to apt-get install any virtualbox requires (for building the dkms parts with linux-headers):

    - add the virtualbox-repo to sources.list and ensure the standard knoppix alioth is apt-updated.
    - downloading the specific headers for that kernel note that linux-headers-3.0.4-64 is available for 6.7:
    apt-get install linux-headers-3.0.4-64

    Which has the two need files to modules_prepare the *source*:
    /usr/src/linux-headers-3.0.4-64/{.config,Module.symvers}

    Yes, you need to build the *source* - this is where I deviated from vbox docs as RTFM didnt work:

    - cd /usr/src && apt-get install linux-source-3.0.4
    - tar xvf linux-source-3.0.4.*
    - cp linux-headers-3.0.4-64/{.config,Module-symvers} linux-source-3.0.4
    - mv linux-source-3.0.4 linux-source.3.0.4-64 # not needed - just for consistency
    - cd !$ && make oldconfig && make prepare && make modules_prepare
    - ln -s linux-source.3.0.4-64 /lib/modules/3.0.4-64/build

    This causes a successful install of any 32 bit versions, eg:
    apt-get install virtualbox-4.2

    And it runs up to starting the VM and you get the dreaded -1912 error because you need a
    x86_64 virtualbox-4.2 to go with a 64 bit kernel (their amd64 == x86_64):

    dpkg -i virtualbox-4.2_4.2.4-81684~Debian~squeeze_amd64.deb # gives:

    Code:
    Preparing to replace virtualbox-4.2 4.2.4-81684~Debian~squeeze (using virtualbox-4.2_4.2.4-81684~Debian~squeeze_amd64.deb) ...
    Stopping VirtualBox kernel modules:.
    Unpacking replacement virtualbox-4.2 ...
    dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of virtualbox-4.2:
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libc6 (>= 2.6).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libcurl3-gnutls (>= 7.16.2-1).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libgcc1 (>= 1:4.1.1).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libpng12-0 (>= 1.2.13-4).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libpython2.6 (>= 2.6).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libqt4-network (>= 4:4.5.3).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libqt4-opengl (>= 4:4.5.3).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libqtcore4 (>= 4:4.6.1).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libqtgui4 (>= 4:4.6.2).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libsdl1.2debian (>= 1.2.10-1).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libssl0.9.8 (>= 0.9.8m-1).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libstdc++6 (>= 4.4.0).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libx11-6.
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libxcursor1 (>> 1.1.2).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libxext6.
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libxinerama1.
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libxml2 (>= 2.7.4).
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libxmu6.
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on libxt6.
     virtualbox-4.2 depends on zlib1g (>= 1:1.1.4).
     
    dpkg: error processing virtualbox-4.2 (--install):
     dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
    So my system is 99.9% i386 and I *need* the 64 bit virtualbox to run with my 64-bit kernel.

    for kicks I did a dpkg -i -force-depends # as above

    And it installs perfectly but of course virtualbox even execute with all the depends missing.
    It's a red file that just wont run...

    Looks like I am going to need another 64-bit chroot jail and install all those deps unless someone has a better idea. Dont want another 4GB iso to run a 4GB windows to run Citrix - and the new Windows only "security" app to go with it (I have been using straight linux Citrix until a new company windows only proggie is required to log in).

    Help!
    I have tried doing what you wanted to do before but I finally gave up, because the amount of libraries needed are just too many, may as well start off with a true 64 bit OS.

    If I have such a need, I would run a true 64 bit OS.

    If my memory serves me right, VMware will have less problem in this aspect. I don't remember exactly why it was less painful, but I vaguely remember it is able to install 32 bit VMware on 64bit knoppix and run 64 bit guest or something like that.

    My preferred choice of virtualization is VirtualBox but I noticed that VirtualBox is weak in a few area. So I also have VMware installed side by side with VirtualBox.

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