Difference between revisions of "Category:Virtual Machines (VMs)"

CS Now Hosts VMs For Educational Use

CS operates a Virtual Machine (VM) server for educational use and some light research. CS faculty, instructors, and students may request a VM be created for CS class use and CS-related school projects.

(NOTE: The VM services that CS IT offers are not for production systems, but only for projects as described above.)

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.)

Please see the "Pages in category..." list below for pages to help you request and set up a VM on our CS VM server.

NOTE: Our VM resources will not allow for a full class of VMs. This service is geared towards individual students wanting to use a VM to help with their schoolwork and will be granted as VM computing resources will allow. Alternatively, a course could have one single VM that multiple students can access, but again, resource-dependent.

IMPORTANT Guidelines/Policies For Running A Virtual Machine On CS's VM Server

• Our VM service is for CS class use and CS-related school projects. Certain exceptions might be made for short-term, light research VMs.

• Our VM service is not for production systems.

• You will need a CS Faculty "sponsor" for your VM. The list of CS Faculty members can be found here. If your instructor is not on the list at that link, you will still need to get approval from someone specifically at that link.

• You will supply the CS IT staff with the OS disc (on CD or DVD) that you want installed. Alternatively, you may provide us a link to download the ISO for the OS you need 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/administrator 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/administrator password.
  • You may create accounts as needed, however, we must retain a copy of the root/administrator 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.