Introduction
If you have never used a virtual machine before, the setup may be slightly disorienting. You should think of the VM as a real physical computer that you just can't see—its behaviour should be exactly the same as physical hardware.
The difference is that instead of physically going to the machine and working at the console, you will access the console remotely with the VMware Console. Think of what you see in the Console as the display on the computer's monitor, and you'll have the right idea.
Connecting to your console
Connecting from CSIL
Chingtai Wong has helpfully posted a video showing the steps below.
On a CSIL Windows machine, you can start the VMware Console by selecting Start → Programs → Tools_RemoteAccess → CS-Lab Console.
At the “Remote Programs” window, log in with your usual SFU account.
For the VMWare client, set the “IP Address/Name” to “cslab” and use “adsfu/UNIXID” as your User name. (For example, my user name would be “adsfu/apike”.) You should see your group's VM in the inventory on the left of the window. Open the VM console by right-clicking the VM name and selecting “Open Console”.
Connecting from elsewhere
You can use rdesktop (or any other RDP client) to connect to the terminal server leto.csil.sfu.ca. From there, you can follow the “from CSIL” instructions above.
If you're using Windows, you can also install the CS-Lab Console. If you install this locally on your computer, you can use it to connect and proceed as in the “from CSIL” instructions.
Getting started with your Console
There will be a Linux install CD (Ubuntu 11.04 Server) in the (virtual) drive. You cannot yourself change the disc: with the ability to change CDs comes the ability to do other stuff you shouldn't really be allowed to do.
If you would like a different CD in the “drive”, you can email Greg and ask him to make the change.
Once you have installed the operating system, you can leave the installation CD in the drive: the VMs will boot from the hard drives if possible, even if there is a CD in the drive.
You can install your operating system just like you would on a real computer.
Working with your Console
For the most part, your virtual machine works just like a real physical computer, with the console simply displaying what's on the “screen”. A few notes:
- When the VM “captures” the cursor, you can release it by pressing Control and Alt simultaneously.
- The Power, Suspend, and Reset buttons in the Console are configured to do a “soft” reset of the VM, which likely won't work on your setup. To force the machine to reset, select VM → Power → Reset. (But, you shouldn't have to use this, except to power the machine on and maybe during the initial install if you want to start over.)
- When you're done working with the console do not suspend or shut down your VM. Just close the Server Console. This will let the VM keep running (serving web pages, allowing remote logon, etc.).
- Other than the initial installation, you shouldn't need to use the VMware Server Console. You can connect remotely with SSH.