Requesting A Virtual Machine
IMPORTANT NOTES (Please read before requesting a VM.)
- Our VM service is for CS class use and CS-related school projects. Certain exceptions might be made for short, light research VMs.
- Our VM service is not for production systems.
- You will supply the CS IT staff with the OS disc (on CD or DVD) that you want installed.
- We can support both Linux and Windows-based VMs. (Windows-based VMs might require you to obtain a license for the Windows OS version you plan to install.)
- In certain instances, e.g. Linux distributions, there are some versions we already have available.
- We will discuss with you what we need you to provide.
- You will be the root/super user/admin for your VM.
- We (the CS admins) will simply install the basic OS.
- We or both you and we will configure the networking on the VM.
- We will supply you with the root password.
- You may create accounts as needed, however, we must retain a copy of the root password for your VM.
- You are responsible for providing any additional OS patches or necessary software applications for your VM.
- You will need to arrange for any necessary port openings through the JHU Firewall (for connections from outside of JHU to your system within JHU.)
- We do not do regular backups of VMs.
- (We generally create a baseline backup of our VMs, and occasionally backup all VM images on the server.)
- You are responsible for backing up any system files or data created on your VM.
- When your VM is no longer needed (per the length of time info you provide when requesting the VM), we may remove the VM without additional notice.
- You are responsible for any security issues that arise due to your VM.
- We have the right to shut down a VM that is causing any security issues.
- JHU has the right to close any network ports for the IP for your VM.
- Occasionally, we have to do maintenance on the VM server, and we try to notify all VM owners when the server must go down. However, running a VM on our VM server is at your own risk, and there might be times when there is unannounced unavailability of the VM server and its VMs.
- Not all VMs may be approved for installation.
Requesting a VM
- To request a VM, please fill out the following online form:
- NOTE: Please make sure your instructor knows you are requesting a VM and an IP, as we will contact the instructor you list in these forms for authorization.
- Please allow at least 2 business days for your VM to be created.