Virtualbox + image for programming classes

[fiza]

Pygame on our sandbox with no issues.

Have you got instructions on how to get this installed please?

[fiza]

I've been asked to add Unity but haven't yet. Not looking forward to it. The VM is already a 25GB file.

 

Does Unity require Internet access once it is installed?

 

It seems Unity only comes in 64bit flavour whereas for some reason our VB install of Windows 7 is 32bit!! Not sure why it was built as 32bit.

[kennysarmy]

Have you got instructions on how to get this installed please?

 

From memory it was just an MSI, downloaded and installed - no special instructions needed.

 

Maybe you need to match the version of Python with the correct version of Pygame though.

[mrbios]

I'm revisiting my virtualbox image as they want some things adding to it, but I'm just short of throwing my computer out the window in frustration....

 

I can't remember any of the commands for this, I've got a Win7VM.vdi and a {32375285728975} etc differencing .vdi file. I go to media manager, change the Win7VM.vdi from immutable to normal, and as soon as i shut it down all changes are lost. Where am i going wrong? I think i had to do it all with vboxmanage commands before, but for the life of me i can't remember what those were

 

EDIT: Nevermind, i just cloned the disk and made a new VM around it, modified that then changed to immutable. Seems a lot quicker and simpler than trying to change my existing one back to normal again.

Edited May 22, 2018 by mrbios

[fiza]

@Steve21 mentioned VboxSDL way back in this thread. I am trying to use it to launch the Virtualbox VM without using the Virtualbox Manager but get the same message as others;

 

SDL Error: 'DirectInputDevice::SetDataFormat: Invalid parameters"

Anyone know how to get around this please?

[Arthur]

Anyone know how to get around this please?

See bottom two posts for a workaround.

 

www.virtualbox.org/ticket/11517

[Steve21]

@Steve21 mentioned VboxSDL way back in this thread. I am trying to use it to launch the Virtualbox VM without using the Virtualbox Manager but get the same message as others;

 

SDL Error: 'DirectInputDevice::SetDataFormat: Invalid parameters"

Anyone know how to get around this please?

 

Assuming your command is all correct, it's properly the old bug from years ago (Bearing in mind this was a long time ago I wrote it )

 

If you got a test machine, set SDL_VIDEODRIVER to windib (Windows Environment Variable style) and restart it and try again. (I think it was demoted from a valid extension a little back so obviously test machine it out first)

 

- Edit - Didn't notice arthurs reply, that's the bug!

 

 

Steve

Edited October 31, 2018 by Steve21

[fiza]

Perfect, that worked!

[fiza]

So now I have deployed a new exe which loads the VM using VboxSDL but now users are complaining that the arrow keys in the VM no longer function. With num lock off the arrow keys work. Put num lock on so you can use the number keypad then the arrow keys print numbers instead of navigating up/down left/right.

 

Any ideas how to fix this please?

[fiza]

I think I found the answer, will try it tomorrow.

 

https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=17218

[fiza]

I think I found the answer, will try it tomorrow.

 

https://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=17218

 

Ok that didnt work. Looks like it is an Unbuntu command in that article.

 

Anyone have any ideas please?

[Steve21]

Haven’t used virtualbox recently in this setup but if I remember right it’s due to the bios that stores the numlock setup, as it’s not passed its effectively always off at boot and thus inverted in Windows vm

 

You “can” bodge it by setting numlock forced on within the Windows VM using InitialKeyboardIndicators (regkey), but again in that case you’ll find the opposite issue if the keyboard has it turned off first, then you turn it on for pc and it’s turn off in vm etc

 

Steve

[fiza]

Has anyone installed XAMPP in their Windows VM on Virtualbox?

[Steve21]

We did use WAMP on one before, but in the end decided there was little point. As it's not programming wise etc it's just as easy to let them run it locally.

 

For anything big project wise, we had a separate server that ran proper PHP/SQL off-domain and just gave them logins to that so it could be backed up etc, but wouldn't cause any harm if somethings run on it

 

Steve

[fiza]

In Virtualbox we have the home drives mapped for students. This works well but for the fact that we run FSRM and stop exe files from being saved. When the students want to compile and save their VB stuff they cant save to their home drives as saving of exe files is blocked for obvious reasons. They can save their project files but not the compiled version. We are being asked to come up with a solution to this issue. What do you guys do?

 

Is there a way to have a drive mapped in Virtualbox that the students normally dont have access to in Windows? I was thinking we could allow the saving of exe files in this mapped drive that then only appears in Virtualbox. Is that doable? Is that advisable?

[kennysarmy]

In Virtualbox we have the home drives mapped for students. This works well but for the fact that we run FSRM and stop exe files from being saved. When the students want to compile and save their VB stuff they cant save to their home drives as saving of exe files is blocked for obvious reasons. They can save their project files but not the compiled version. We are being asked to come up with a solution to this issue. What do you guys do?

 

Is there a way to have a drive mapped in Virtualbox that the students normally dont have access to in Windows? I was thinking we could allow the saving of exe files in this mapped drive that then only appears in Virtualbox. Is that doable? Is that advisable?

 

Rename off the .exe before saving?

[fiza]

Rename off the .exe before saving?

They won't be able to run the exe once its renamed.

[kennysarmy]

They won't be able to run the exe once its renamed.

 

you want them to be able to run executables?

 

can't they do that in the VirtualBox environment?

[fiza]

you want them to be able to run executables?

 

can't they do that in the VirtualBox environment?

 

Yes, you know they can and I know they can but I have been asked the question of can they save and then run the exe without going into VB.

[fiza]

Some further info on this. When you use Visual Studio and start a blank project without any content it already has some exe files in it. Students cannot save exe files to their home drives so have no way of building the project and saving it as they go. If they keep it in virtual box then they.lose it when they exit due to the immutable disks.

 

Other Schools must be using Visual Studio in virtual box . How do you do it?

[Steve21]

You don’t block exes being saved normally, you just block execution from home drives

 

So saving it isn’t a problem that way

 

Steve

[fiza]

You don’t block exes being saved normally, you just block execution from home drives

 

So saving it isn’t a problem that way

 

Steve

We are using FSRM with file screening so exe saving does get blocked.

[Steve21]

Aye you may but you said how were others running it

 

I mean either you’re blocking exes or you’re allowing them. The alternative but it starts getting messy is getting involved with giving each user a virtual disk that they can attach to the VM when they load it and getting them to save their projects into that rather than their normal home drive but really it will confuse them more thans needed

 

Steve

[synaesthesia]

I'd be asking the question why; if the projects can be saved, surely that should be all that is required. Here for instance, our IT lead is perfectly happy to use VirtualBox herself to load the projects, check the code, compile & run etc. She's happy, the students are happy and not confused about it all, and there's no risk from students knocking up some Python that shoots a keylogger or something into the system.

[db2995]

We have just recently switched to VirtualBox after previously using VirtualPC. What is the best way to replace and update the VHD for multiple workstations?

 

FYI, we have immutable disks.

 

Thanks