Changes between Version 26 and Version 27 of VmServer

Timestamp:

Feb 4, 2008, 11:14:35 AM (16 years ago)

Author:

davea

Comment:

--

VmServer

@@ -1 +1 @@
 = Linux Virtual Machines for use with BOINC =
 
-== Pros and Cons of using VMs ==
-Probably only a small percent of BOINC Servers ever need to be run in a VM. The cost of spare and scrap computer hardware is so low that this approach need only be used by a small number of server users. The VMs are intended to get in touch with the BOINC infrastructure without the need to buy dedicated hardware.
+Linux Virtual Machines (VMs) are useful for several purposes in BOINC:
 
-== Virtual server == #server
+ * Running a BOINC server in a VM.  Use a 'BOINC virtual server' VM for this (see below).
+ * Compiling applications so that they will run on older Linux versions.  Use a 'compatibility VM' for this (see below).
+ * Applications that run in a VM on the client.  This is an object of research.
 
-These VMs are for use as BOINC servers '''for testing purpose only'''. Please don't use VMs on your desktop computer as real, productive BOINC servers!
+== The BOINC virtual server == #server
 
+These VMs are for use as BOINC servers.
 They have all the BOINC prerequisites installed, the BOINC software installed and compiled, and user accounts and permissions set up.
-
 They're ready to run [MakeProject make_project] and go.
 
 Instructions and more information is in the {{{readme.html}}} file on boincadm's desktop.
 The passwords can be found in the file {{{README-vmware-image}}} that is part of the zip file.
+On all these systems, the `root` (or sudo) password is 'rootpw'.
+There is a user account 'boincadm' with password 'boincadmpw'; build software under this account.
+'''Change these passwords if you're concerned about security.'''
 
 The BOINC software on these VMs is not necessarily the latest version.
 If you want the latest version, run {{{update_latest.sh}}} and then `configure`/`make`.
 
-== VMs ==
-These files are large (~1 GB). Please download them as seldom as possible.
-
-On all these systems, the `root` (or sudo) password is 'rootpw'. There is a user account 'boincadm' with password 'boincadmpw'; build software under this account. '''Change these passwords if you're concerned about security.'''
+The Linux/PHP/MySQL/Apache software on these VMs is not necessarily the latest version.
+If you want the latest version, use 'yum' or other distro-specific tool.
 
 These are VMWare virtual machines;
 you'll need the [http://www.vmware.com/download/player/ VMWare player] (freeware).
+These files are large (~1 GB). Please download them as seldom as possible.
 
 The following versions are available:
@@ -55 +58 @@
 With this you can connect a client from your host machine to your VM. If you're using a proxy to access the internet you should add 'debian.localdomain' to your list of exceptions in your browser. You won't need a proxy to resolve a local address.
 
-== Virtual machines for building and testing apps == #compatibility
+== The 'compatibility' VM for building and testing apps == #compatibility
 
-These are based on [http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/ Microsoft Virtual PC]. (VMWare can reportedly also run these files, though this feature is just experimental at the moment. You'll need the [http://www.vmware.com/download/converter/ VMware Converter] to convert a VirtualPC image to VMware).
+This VM is based on [http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtualpc/ Microsoft Virtual PC].
+(VMWare can reportedly also run these files, though this feature is just experimental at the moment.
+You'll need the [http://www.vmware.com/download/converter/ VMware Converter] to convert a VirtualPC image to VMware).
 
  * [http://boincdl.ssl.berkeley.edu/dl/BOINC-Build-Compat.zip Compatibility] system. This is an old Debian system with old gcc, and recent versions of various libraries and GNU tools. Use it for [CompileApp compiling BOINC applications]. The username and password are both boincadm.