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.)
  • See Requesting Open Ports on the JHU Firewall.

• 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:

CS Virtual Machine (VM) Request 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.