Re: [Gmod-ajax] [Gmod-schema] [Gmod-gbrowse] Creating a 'complete' GMOD virtual machine for distribution

[andy l. \(RI\) <and...@bb...>]

>=20
> Can I ask why use VMware instead of e.g. a liveCD or Knoppix=20
> type arrangement?


In our experience there are several advantages and one disadvantage to
using VMWare.

As Scott has mentioned, the ability to create and distribute VMWare
images is a significant plus, although the images are (or can be) large
and take time to move around even on a LAN. Another significant plus is
the ability to take snapshots and rollback to them in the event of a
disaster (or other reason). For example, you could set up a group of
machines, run a course that involved all the users installing stuff
within the machine and then roll each machine back in a matter of
seconds to restore each virtual machine to its pristine state ready for
the next group. I often use a VM to try out a new configuration safe in
the knowledge that I can go back to where I started with *no* pain at
all.

It is possible to run the virtual machines as separate servers (i.e.
separate from the host OS IP address) too, although our sysadmins are
not keen on us doing that using DHCP-allocated addresses for some reason
which makes our management a bit harder (we have to configue each
machine with a unique hard-coded IP address which makes the distribution
more complicated than it should be).

With the VMPlayer, there is also no need to buy licenses for every
client machine either, so the costs are now pretty reasonable.


The main disadvantage in our hands is performance. I get reasonable
performance (as good as I would expect given the processor) on my cra**y
laptop, but moving the same VM onto a higher specced desktop machine
does not - in our experience - give a proportionate increase in
performance. I have no idea why this should be the case.


Later,

Andy

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=20