User running VMs philosophy

This is for discussing general topics about how to use VirtualBox.
Post Reply
stefluik
Posts: 6
Joined: 22. Oct 2013, 21:43
Primary OS: Ubuntu 12.04
VBox Version: OSE Debian
Guest OSses: WinXP/Win7/Ubuntu/OS/2

User running VMs philosophy

Post by stefluik »

Hello,
I am running a virtualbox in a headless server with ubuntu 20.04 LTS.
No really problems.
The VMs are running under user vbox.
What is the real philosophy about the users, who can run VMs?
Are all users possible to run a VM?
Or shall it be only one, recommended the vbox-user?
or any other ideas, about this thought?
Thanks
Stefan
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: User running VMs philosophy

Post by mpack »

Are you asking if it is ok to share VMs with other users?

Legally it's fine, provided each user has a license for the guest OS.

Practically: that's up to you, i.e. are you happy to let someone else mess with the files on your PC.

Technically: you can't share disks between two VM instances, so only one instance can run on one PC at a time.
stefluik
Posts: 6
Joined: 22. Oct 2013, 21:43
Primary OS: Ubuntu 12.04
VBox Version: OSE Debian
Guest OSses: WinXP/Win7/Ubuntu/OS/2

Re: User running VMs philosophy

Post by stefluik »

Thanks for the reply,
no its not a question about sharing the VMs data.

Just question, if there are normally all VMs created in one user?
Or possible or reasonable that some users have there own VMs in there user directories?
Stefan
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: User running VMs philosophy

Post by mpack »

By default VirtualBox stores a separate VM list for each user, and new VMs are created in the document space of that user and so are not available to other users. See user manual section 10.1 Where VirtualBox Stores its Files.

It is however possible for the VM to be relocated to a common public folder where it can then be registered by multiple users. Howto: Move a VM.
Post Reply