Vitual Box with Domain Users

[ashima]

Hi,

I have two machines :

1st machine running MS Windows Server 2003
2nd machine running Ubuntu 14.04 host and Win XP as guest.

I want all my domain users to log in Ubuntu host and use virtual Win Xp. I need to do 2 things :

1) I want the virtual machine to be available for all users. I don't want to manually import VM for all the users (around 50 of them).
2) My virtual machine (win XP) should automatically start as soon as the domain user logs in. I am using pbis for active directory login.

Please help... as I am new to ubuntu and virtual machines.

regards
Ashima

[socratis]

I'm afraid VirtualBox has nothing to do with your question. VirtualBox provides the "hardware" not the user logging and/or sharing are different topics. Think of your XP VM as another physical system on your network. How would you do it?

[ashima]

I think I am bit confused.

I have 1 single Windows Server.
and 50 ubuntu desktops with ubuntu 14.04 host and Win XP guest.

I have around 50 users who can use any of the 50 ubuntu desktops. These users are not familiar to linux. They are used to windows. They login as domain users in the ubuntu desktop and work on virtual XP.

For these 50 users do I have to create seperate XP VM in each of the 50 machines. (50users X 50machines).
That means in each machine I have to keep 50 copies of XP VM. What about disk space ?
What I want is in each machine there should only one XP VM and any user can login and use it.

I am new to ubuntu and VM. Please help.
regards
Ashima

[noteirak]

Your description is very unclear... So let's first try to clear this up :

1. I don't understand why you mention the machine running Windows Server 2003 - how is this machine relevant to the story?
2. The WinXP VM, should the VM remain in the Ubuntu host?
3. Do you want more than one user using the VM at the same time?
4. Do you want the users to see each other's changes in the VM, or each User has its own isolated VM?
5. How would the user connect to the VM? Connect to the Ubuntu host than launch the VM process with some remote desktop protocol of Ubuntu (VNC?)? Or directly connect to the WinXP via native RDP protocol?
6. Should the user be auto-logged in the WinXP using the Windows credential of the host?
7. If the VM is unique per user, do you want the user dedicated VM to be seen on all hosts?
8. Are the VMs like a host - anyone can connect and you use the AD profile?

[ashima]

Hi Mr Noteirak,

I want the XP VMs to act like host and any user can log in with AD credential.
this is exactly what I want. Is it possible to do so ?

Also is it possible to auto-log in the WinXP using windows credential of the host.

Thanks for your support.
Regards
Ashima

[noteirak]

this is exactly what I want. Is it possible to do so ?

Yes, it is totally possible. Create a single user on the linux host. Every user should use that single user, not another one! Disable user creation as well.
Create a login script that start the desired VM using vboxmanage.

Also is it possible to auto-log in the WinXP using windows credential of the host.

The host is linux, so your question doesn't make sense.

[ashima]

Thank You Mr Noteirak. I'll create a single user with login script that start XP VM
I guess that should solve the purpose.
I would also like to know

7. If the VM is unique per user, do you want the user dedicated VM to be seen on all hosts?

How do I Do this ?

Thanks a lot
With warm regards,
Ashima

[noteirak]

Well you would need some kind of central management directory using LDAP and a home directory via NFS, but that's asking for troubles, you'll run into many issues.
Keep it to a standard VM that is copied to all hosts where every user login, and the actual user management is done inside the VM.
This is the best and easiest

[ashima]

Thanks Mr Noterick,

Just want to ask how do you copy XP VM which is global. i.e all the users who login in ubuntu host can use a common XP VM.

As of now when I run virtualbox command as user1 and install XP VM it is accessible only to the user1. If I login as user2 I have to either import from user1 or install fresh XP.
Is it possible to have XP VM accessible to all users who login to my host machine i.e they are all sharing same XP VM . At a time their will be only one instant of XP VM running on the host.

I guess i have made the situation clear.

Thanks for all your help
regards
ashima

[noteirak]

From what we discuss, you have a single user per linux host, not serveral. Therefore, you have only a single XP VM in which the users log in with their domain accounts.

[ashima]

yes, but things are slightly changed now. My boss want any user to be able to login in ubuntu host and use the local XP VM of that machine.
Is it possible ?

regards,
Ashima

[noteirak]

These are two separate problems then. As far as Virtualbox is concerns, Virtual Machines are not meant to be shared across users. It is technically possible, but you could run into some issues. And of course, cannot run the same VM twice.
From the host point of view, that's not in scope of Virtualbox.

Regardless of how you do it, the VM needs to be stored on the host, or you'll run into heavy performance issues.

[ashima]

As far as Virtualbox is concerns, Virtual Machines are not meant to be shared across users. It is technically possible.

How do I do this ?

but you could run into some issues.

What are the issues I have to take care.

And of course, cannot run the same VM twice.

Yes, I understand I cannot run the smae VM twice.

Regardless of how you do it, the VM needs to be stored on the host, or you'll run into heavy performance issues.

yes, The VM will be stored on local machine.

Thanks a lot for all your support.

regards
Ashima

[noteirak]

How do I do this ?

Register the VM under each user's account, in the Virtualbox Manager.

What are the issues I have to take care.

Things like:
- Permissions - Virtualbox changes them to the user that starts the VM.
- one user leave its session open (but disconnected) and another user tries to start the VM.
- one user could change the settings of the VM, and it impacts all the others.

[ashima]

Register the VM under each user's account, in the Virtualbox Manager.

How do I register the VM. I tried using following command where MSWinXP is the name of the XP VM

vboxmanage registervm MSWinXP

It gives couple of errors. I don't know what does it do.

Things like:
- Permissions - Virtualbox changes them to the user that starts the VM.
- one user leave its session open (but disconnected) and another user tries to start the VM.

How do I take care of this part.

Regards
Ashima