giovedì 14 aprile 2011

Virtual Machines

Today I want to talk about Virtual Machines, or VMs.
Wikipedia tells us that a VM is a "completely isolated operating system installation within your normal operating system".

In layman terms, it means you can have whatever operating system run as a program within watever operating system you might have. So you can run OSX on your Windows 7 or Windows XP on your Linux.

Technology has also made it possible for VMs to run on the background and when you execute a program installed on that VM (let's say you have a Mac, and 3ds max installed on your Windows 7 VM), it'll only launch 3ds max on its own window, without you noticing that there's a whole operating system behind. You can treat then 3ds max as a normal window and even dock it.

It's useful if you don't want to multiboot (I'll do a nice article on running Mac OSX natively on PCs one day) and must run software designed for other OSs.

Try the VMware for free!
For Mac OSX (install any OS on the VM): VMware Fusion
For Windows 7 (any OS, instructions to install OSX) : VMware Workstation
For Linux (almost any OS): VirtualBox

I'll post some more renders later this week, I've been working on some...

51 commenti:

  1. I tried this before, but I never got it working... Wanted to try linux out

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  2. This is excellent, I've done a lot of work with VMware ESX (server install), I didn't know they finally had OSX running smoothly on it.

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  3. nice that it is possible, but i dont really need it though..

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  4. Okay that is useful, now I can run windows 7 on my mac amirite?

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  5. Good thing I run Windows 7 and thus everything I need actually works natively on my OS and there's no reason for me to use a different operating system ;)

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  6. nice post, keep it coming im just following

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  7. hehehe

    http://tinyurl.com/3r7a3n9

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  8. i have windows 7 on a virtual box within lucid lynx as we speak.

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  9. I'll check the VMware out followed

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  10. VM for life, test, break, reboot to default.
    The amount of load balancing and clever little bits is mind blowing

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  11. I've been meaning to do this!
    I want to learn how to make some apps for OSX on my Windows machine, so thanks for the guide!

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  12. Will give this a try, thanks a lot for the info

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  13. I prefer using only Windows 7, but I guess for those Mac users who like gaming this could come in handy. +followed

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  14. cool! if i ever get a mac, ill be sure to use these!

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  15. So what is the difference between a VM and a VPN? I should use this on my mac for playing with Inventor. Thanks for the info!

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  16. Some brilliant information here always looking to get the best out of my pc. Use it waaay too much!

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  17. Tommy: A VM is installing an operating system on your current OS as a program, to run programs specifically designed for the OS in the VM

    A VPN is a Virtual Private Network. In simple terms is like creating a small computer network no matter how far away the computers are. It's also interchangeable with a technology that allows a computer to access another with almost no delay or limitations.

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  18. Tried doing this before, it didnt go to plan lol. Il follow this, hopefully i can do it next time

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  19. Thanks for good information my friend.

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  20. I'm going to get that for sure man! Thanks for informing me i'll be sure to check back here again! - Followed

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  21. I like the idea, but I found it easier to use dual boot, though maybe I just didn't configure the VM right

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  22. thanks for the links, i'll check it out. :D

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  23. Great post! I use Parallels and it works well.

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  24. I want to get OSX on my laptop. Very good find.

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  25. im Dualbooting Linux and W7 ;) should mabye get OSX on it 2 hehe

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  26. Hah i had a friend who did this, he was really happy with it. Thanks for the post!

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  27. very informative, thanks for sharing !

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  28. Good post dude, thanks!

    I have to use VM at work, as I work in Email Marketing I need to run VM's to test emails in Outlook 2003/2007 to make sure it views correctly, so I am aware of the hassle running a VM saves me!

    Thanks! :D

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  29. A roommate of mine used this to play wow on a macbook pro. I've never seen someone beat a machine more to shit than that guy.

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  30. VMs are fun to play with. They allow you to run linux as your main os yet still be able to get work done.

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  31. It's a nice prog but i'm using the W7 possibility

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  32. I just got one of these for windows 95 so I could play interstate 76. Then I found out i can run it with just a wrapper, and it's hardware accelerated!

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  33. This is actually new to me. Might have to look into it further always interested in expanding my technological knowledge.

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  34. I rarely use VMs anymore, I struggle to find a use, still, good to be getting the knowledge out there.

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  35. Great, I wanted to try running OSX na Windows before buying Mac.

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  36. I want to learn how to use VM's one day. Maybe I'll do some research into it.

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