Re: [PLUG] File sharing with virtualization

[JP Vossen <jp@jpsdomain.org>]

> Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2011 11:42:24 -0400
> From: "Eric H. Johnson"<ejohnson@camalytics.com>
> I guess a little more explanation is required. I have created a Live
> CD for a presentation I am giving where I have pre-installed and
> configured many of the applications I intend to talk about. I will be
> giving a stripped down version of the presentation at the upcoming
> August North meeting and the September West meeting.

How about another preso on how to create a custom LiveCD?!  I'd be 
really interested in that!


> Date: Fri, 29 Jul 2011 10:36:12 -0400
> From: "Eric H. Johnson"<ejohnson@camalytics.com>
> Anyone know any easy ways, and by easy ways I mean something
> relative novices can handle, of sharing files between a host and a
> virtualized client running on the host. Specifically I have Windows
> as the host and Ubuntu running under VirtualBox. So far I have found
> setting up a share to be quite difficult requiring the installation
> of host and client add-ons for VirtualBox, installing packages
> including header files on Ubuntu, and then doing a mount.
[...]

IIRC VirtualBox uses Samba behind the scenes to do this, so that's
probably all the additional parts and config.  Though I dunno why you'd 
need headers for that.  Can anyone correct me?

In theory, I prefer VirtualBox since it has the OSE.  I was also really 
worried about Oracle killing VB off in favor of its solution, but since 
that hasn't happened yet I've relaxed a bit.  I still don't really like 
or trust Oracle though.  In practice, for me, VMware is easier, has more 
mind-share, familiarity and corporate warm-fuzzies.  So you may want to 
consider that.

The free (as in beer, not freedom) VMware Player has a build-in "Shared 
Folders" feature.  I am using it to host the XP VM that I actually use 
on top of the Win7 PC supplied by work and everything Just Works (XP Z: 
drive maps to shared folder on Win7).

Hosting on Windows and connecting an Ubuntu guest may Just Work, if you 
can map via the Gnome/Nautilus "Connect to server" feature.  However, 
I've not had much luck trying to use a share thus connected from the 
command line.  So it may require the Samba client on the Ubuntu side. 
Still, that may be 50% less work than VirtualBox (and no header files). 
 And depending on your final audience, "VMware" may provide more 
warm-fuzzies than Oracle/VirtualBox.

Looking forward to the preso...

$0.02,
JP
----------------------------|:::======|-------------------------------
JP Vossen, CISSP            |:::======|      http://bashcookbook.com/
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