openSUSE:How to use downloaded SUSE Studio appliances

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Overview

SUSE Studio appliances can be used in many ways, depending on the formats chosen. Some formats can be copied to hard drives, USB sticks, CDs, and DVDs. Other formats are intended to be run inside of virtual machines.

If you’re looking for a way to quickly and easily run Linux on your computer, we suggest building a Live CD / DVD or a VMDK (VMware / VirtualBox) appliance. Both of these formats can be used to run a SUSE-based Linux operating system while preserving the existing software on your computer. A live disc boots on an actual computer (from the DVD drive) while virtualization formats (such as VMDK) are similar to running a software-based computer inside of a computer.

Working with Archives

How do I extract compressed archive files?

When the file has been downloaded, most desktop environments (Gnome, KDE, and Mac OS X) provide a way to uncompress the archive by right-clicking the file (in the file manager) and selecting an “Extract here…” option.

Those using a terminal to extract files can use programs such as gunzip and tar.

VMware & VirtualBox (VMDK/VMX)

The downloaded file: .vmx.tar.gz. After extraction you will see a new subdirectory with 2 files: .vmdk and .vmx

VMware Player (Linux & Windows)

VMware Player is needed to start using this appliance format. Download it from VMware’s website. Once installed, the .vmx file should be associated and your appliance will start with a double-click.

VirtualBox (Linux, Windows, Mac OS X, Solaris)

VirtualBox is another popular solution for using the VMDK appliance format. It is free software (GPL) and available on most popular platforms.

Virtualbox needs .ovf file to import virtual machines. SUSE Studio built VMs contains vmdk and vmx files. To use your VMs in Virtualbox perform these steps:

  1. Download and extract the archive;
  2. Start Virtualbox. Open File->Virtual Media Manager;
  3. Choose Add and point to the previously extracted vmdk file;
  4. Create a new virtual machine;
  5. Do the routine steps (choose name, memory and OS type) until Virtual Hard Disk section;
  6. In the Boot Hard Disk section choose "Use existing hard disk" and select the disk from step 3;
  7. In the Summary screen recheck if you got your vmdk file as Boot Hard disk;
  8. Click Finish and start your VM.

Xen guest

  • Extension of downloaded file: .xen.tar.gz
  • After extraction you will see a new subdirectory with 2 files: .raw and .xenconfig

Note: Xen only works with Linux systems.

Using Xen guests

You will need a Xen host system. This is a machine running the Xen domain 0 kernel. In other words the machine must be booted with a special Xen-enabled kernel. To check this run the command:xm list The result should be at least one line starting with Domain–0

Edit xenconfig configuration file you find in downloaded appliance: 

disk=[ "tap:aio:/root/xen/appliance.raw,xvda,w" ]

where /root/xen/appliance.raw is path to place where you unpacked downloaded appliance.

Also 

vif=[ "bridge=xenbr0" ]

should be replaced by 

vif=[ "bridge=br0" ]

On a Xen server, the following command needs to be called to activate the guest system: 

xm create -c file-with-suffix.xenconfig

Please note not all Xen kernel versions and guest/Domain–0 combinations work well. So far we recommend to use SLE11 Xen servers along with SLE11 Xen guests

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