Distro for VMWare Host

[mike james]

Seems to run fine on a full version of Ubuntu edgy.

But if you really want DSL with more hardware support you could try DSL-Not

Its a bit bigger, with a newer kernel version and more hardware support.

mike


Haarsma, Michael (SAPOL) wrote:
> G'Day Scott,
>
> I run dozens of VM's on both RHEL/Centos and SUSE Server 10. 
> Just do minimal installs, with gcc and kernel-sources and that's all you
> need. Running a super cut down distro doesn't _really_ make much
> difference to speed or functionality. Only benefits are less patching
> and less disk space, but the 1GB a stripped 'full' distro needs is
> pretty trivial.
>
>
> Go and check out
> http://pubs.vmware.com/server1/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm Admin
> Guide -> Chapter 1 - > Host System Requirements -> Linux Host System
> Requirements and run one of the supported platforms.
>
>
> I have copied the contents below if you cant work out my directions...
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------------------------------------------
> Linux Host Operating System Requirements
> Supported distributions and kernels are listed in this section. VMware
> Server might not run on systems that do not meet these requirements.
> Platforms that are not listed are not supported.
> 64-bit host computers can run the following operating systems for 64-bit
> extended systems:
> * Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 AS, ES, and WS, stock 2.4.21, update
> 2.4.21-15, and updates 6 and 7 
>
> * Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 AS, ES, and WS, update 8 (experimental
> support) 
>
> * Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.0 AS, ES, and WS, including update 3 
>
> * Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.0 update 4 (experimental support) 
>
> * SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 (experimental support) 
>
> * SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9, including SP1, SP2, and SP3 
>
> * SUSE Linux 10 
>
> * SUSE Linux 10.1 
>
> * SUSE Linux 9.3  
>
> * SUSE Linux 9.2, including SP1 
>
> * SUSE Linux 9.1 stock 2.6.4-52 
>
> * Mandriva Linux 2006 
>
> * Ubuntu Linux 5.04 and 5.10 
>
> * Ubuntu Linux 6.06 (experimental support) 
>
> 32-bit host computers can run the following operating systems:
> * Mandriva Linux 2006 
>
> * Mandrake Linux 10.1 
>
> * Mandrake Linux 9.0 stock 2.4.19 
>
> * Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.0 AS, ES, and WS, including updates 1,2,
> and 3 
>
> * Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.0 update 4 (experimental support) 
>
> * Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0, updates 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7 
>
> * Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3.0 update 8 (experimental support) 
>
> * Red Hat Enterprise Linux 2.1stock 2.4.9-e3 
>
> * Red Hat Linux 9.0, stock 2.4.20-8 and upgrade 2.4.20-20.9 
>
> * Red Hat Linux 8.0 stock 2.4.18 
>
> * Red Hat Linux 7.3 stock 2.4.18 
>
> * Red Hat Linux 7.2, stock 2.4.7-10 and upgrades 2.4.9-7, 2.4.9-13,
> 2.4.9-21, and 2.4.9-31 
>
> * SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 (experimental support) 
>
> * SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9, including SP1, SP2, and SP3 
>
> * SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 8 stock 2.4.19 
>
> * SUSE LINUX 9.3  
>
> * SUSE LINUX 9.2 
>
> * SUSE Linux 10 
>
> * SUSE Linux 10.1 
>
> * SUSE LINUX 9.1 stock 2.6.4-52 
>
> * SUSE LINUX 9.0 stock 2.4.21-99 
>
> * SUSE Linux 8.2 stock 2.4.20 
>
> * SUSE Linux 7.3 
>
> * Ubuntu Linux 5.04 and 5.10 
>
> * Ubuntu 6.06  
>
> Note  As new Linux kernels and distributions are released, VMware
> modifies and tests its products for stability and reliability on those
> host platforms. VMware makes every effort to add support for new kernels
> and distributions in a timely manner, but until a kernel or distribution
> is added to the list, its use is not supported. Look for newer prebuilt
> modules in the Download section of VMware Web site. Go to
> http://www.vmware.com/download.  
>
> Other Linux host operating system requirements include:
> * Linux kernel 2.2.14-5.0 is not supported. 
>
> * Standard Linux server installation is required with glibc version 2.1
> or higher and libXpm.so. 
>
> * The inetd process must be configured and active for VMware Server
> Console and VMware Management Interface connections. 
>
> * Version 2.1.36 of the SCSI Generic (sg.o) driver is required to use
> generic SCSI devices in virtual machines. 
>
> * Perl 5.005x or higher is required to use VmPerl API. 
>
> * X server is required to run the VMware Server Console. 
>
> The VMware Management Interface requires one of these browsers: 
> * Firefox 1.x 
>
> * Mozilla 1.x 
>
> * Netscape Navigator 7.0 
>
> Note  As new browser versions are released, VMware tests the VMware
> Management Interface for stability and reliability with these versions.
> VMware makes every effort to add support for new browser versions in a
> timely manner, but until a browser is added to the above list, its use
> with the product is not supported. 
>
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> --------------------------------------------
>
>
>   
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: linuxsa-bounces at linuxsa.org.au 
>> [mailto:linuxsa-bounces at linuxsa.org.au] On Behalf Of Scott Chamings
>> Sent: Thursday, 26 April 2007 11:53 PM
>> To: linuxsa at linuxsa.org.au
>> Subject: Distro for VMWare Host
>>
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Any ideas on a good distro for hosting VMWare?
>>
>> Looking for something lightweight, possibly stripped to the 
>> bone but with enough to run VMWare Server to host some VMs.
>>
>> Would also love it if it contains some basic autodetect of 
>> hardware, the idea being it would act as a base for VMs of 
>> some actual servers, both *nix and windows flavoured.  I am 
>> looking at VMWare so the servers can be easily transported 
>> between boxes, hence the autodetect of the HW would be useful.
>>
>> Idea being if one physical hardware fails, the VM could just 
>> be moved to another host, I dont mind 1/2 hour outage as I 
>> can afford VMWare ESX but would like to try a poor mans 
>> version of this.
>>
>> I have had a play with DSL,  thought I better clarify as Damn 
>> Small Linux before David gets excited 8-)  It fitted the bill 
>> as reasonably lightweight, good HW support but no built in 
>> Vmware support and I couldnt get a compiler to happen (even 
>> after HDD install and enabling
>> apt-get....)
>>
>> My first experiment will be a basic linux base with a Ubuntu 
>> Feisty VM and a Windows XP VM.  Then will look at actual 
>> server combos, such as 2 x Server 2003 VM's on  a box and 
>> another with a combo of Fedora Core and Win2003 server.  Also 
>> got a couple of VM Applicances to host as well (the VMTN is 
>> filled with really cool looking appliances these days!).
>>
>>
>> Thanks for any help!
>>
>>
>> Scott
>> -- 
>> LinuxSA WWW: http://www.linuxsa.org.au/ IRC: #linuxsa on 
>> irc.freenode.net To unsubscribe or change your options:
>>   http://www.netcraft.com.au/mailman/listinfo/linuxsa
>>
>>     
>
>