[gentoo-user] Access Windows XP running in VirtualBox

[gentoo-user] Access Windows XP running in VirtualBox

[Joseph]

I need a solution to access Windows XP program running on VirtualBox.

I've Windows XP running via VB and I need to run one of Windows XP program from few other machines.
I was thinking maybe I'll install run LTSP but I'm not sure it will work. I
think I could create VPN between Windows and Linux but in this case I need
to run full OS on other machines.
What are my other options?

-- 
#Joseph
GPG KeyID: ED0E1FB7

Re: [gentoo-user] Access Windows XP running in VirtualBox

[Roy Wright]

Joseph wrote:
> I need a solution to access Windows XP program running on VirtualBox.
> 
> I've Windows XP running via VB and I need to run one of Windows XP 
> program from few other machines.
> I was thinking maybe I'll install run LTSP but I'm not sure it will work. I
> think I could create VPN between Windows and Linux but in this case I need
> to run full OS on other machines.
> What are my other options?
> 

* Install cygwin's openssh server
* Write a web app to launch the programs
* VNC?

You will need bridge networking or some port forwarding rules 
(http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/wiki/Virtualbox) to allow connection to the VM.

Now a days, web apps can be pretty easy.  Personally I probably create a 
merb very flat app assuming all you are wanting is to launch a few known 
programs.

HTH

[gentoo-user] Re: Access Windows XP running in VirtualBox

[Nikos Chantziaras]

Joseph wrote:
> I need a solution to access Windows XP program running on VirtualBox.
> 
> I've Windows XP running via VB and I need to run one of Windows XP 
> program from few other machines.
> I was thinking maybe I'll install run LTSP but I'm not sure it will work. I
> think I could create VPN between Windows and Linux but in this case I need
> to run full OS on other machines.
> What are my other options?

VirtualBox supports RDP.  You can connect to it with any RDP client.

I use KRDC for this.  I start the XP virtual machine with:

   VBoxHeadless -startvm "Windows XP" &

This will run the VM but will not display anything.  You connect to it 
through RDP.

Read the VirtualBox manual for more info (like like to configure which 
port to use if you don't want the default one.)

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Access Windows XP running in VirtualBox

[Joseph]

On 03/14/09 21:05, Nikos Chantziaras wrote:
> Joseph wrote:
>> I need a solution to access Windows XP program running on VirtualBox.
>> I've Windows XP running via VB and I need to run one of Windows XP program 
>> from few other machines.
>> I was thinking maybe I'll install run LTSP but I'm not sure it will work. 
>> I
>> think I could create VPN between Windows and Linux but in this case I need
>> to run full OS on other machines.
>> What are my other options?
>
> VirtualBox supports RDP.  You can connect to it with any RDP client.
>
> I use KRDC for this.  I start the XP virtual machine with:
>
>   VBoxHeadless -startvm "Windows XP" &
>
> This will run the VM but will not display anything.  You connect to it 
> through RDP.
>
> Read the VirtualBox manual for more info (like like to configure which port 
> to use if you don't want the default one.)

The computer is running Gentoo and Windows XP in VirtualBox.
I need to run Windows XP :-( (no choice) 

The program I'm running is a dental program that stores images, I need to have an access to these images from different rooms; so I have to have access to VM 
Windows XP in order to start the Windows XP program that will allow me to view those pictures (mostly X-rays images).

If I start VB with:
VBoxHeadless -startvm "Windows XP" will I be able to run it in foreground and access it via KDRC?

-- 
#Joseph
GPG KeyID: ED0E1FB7

[gentoo-user] Re: Access Windows XP running in VirtualBox

[Nikos Chantziaras]

Joseph wrote:
> On 03/14/09 21:05, Nikos Chantziaras wrote:
>> [...]
>> VirtualBox supports RDP.  You can connect to it with any RDP client.
>>
>> I use KRDC for this.  I start the XP virtual machine with:
>>
>>   VBoxHeadless -startvm "Windows XP" &
>>
>> This will run the VM but will not display anything.  You connect to it 
>> through RDP.
>>
>> Read the VirtualBox manual for more info (like like to configure which 
>> port to use if you don't want the default one.)
> 
> The computer is running Gentoo and Windows XP in VirtualBox.
> I need to run Windows XP :-( (no choice)
> The program I'm running is a dental program that stores images, I need 
> to have an access to these images from different rooms; so I have to 
> have access to VM Windows XP in order to start the Windows XP program 
> that will allow me to view those pictures (mostly X-rays images).
> 
> If I start VB with:
> VBoxHeadless -startvm "Windows XP" will I be able to run it in 
> foreground and access it via KDRC?

To run it in foreground, you can start it just as before (that is, 
without using VBoxHeadless) but you need to enable RDP in VirtualBox's 
settings.  VBoxHeadless is only for the case where you don't want to run 
it in the foreground on the PC VBox is running but only to access it 
through RDP.

Note that RDP is not supported in the Open Source Edition ("ose") of 
VirtualBox.  Only the non-free version (but it's still "free as in beer".)

You can also enable the built-in RDP of Windows XP if you need 
multi-user support.

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Access Windows XP running in VirtualBox

[Joseph]

On 03/14/09 21:54, Nikos Chantziaras wrote:
[snip]
> To run it in foreground, you can start it just as before (that is, without 
> using VBoxHeadless) but you need to enable RDP in VirtualBox's settings.  
> VBoxHeadless is only for the case where you don't want to run it in the 
> foreground on the PC VBox is running but only to access it through RDP.
>
> Note that RDP is not supported in the Open Source Edition ("ose") of 
> VirtualBox.  Only the non-free version (but it's still "free as in beer".)
>
> You can also enable the built-in RDP of Windows XP if you need multi-user 
> support.

Well, it works I can even start the Virtualbox-ose and control the Windows XP (that is good), but:
1.) the terminal I'm connecting to has to accept my connection, is it possible to set it up so I connect to it automatically.
2.) I'm taking control of the mouse and keyboard of the remote workstation (in this case my server).

What I need is to connect to the server being able to use it without taking control of the desktop mouse or keyboard.

-- 
#Joseph
GPG KeyID: ED0E1FB7

[gentoo-user] Re: Access Windows XP running in VirtualBox

[Nikos Chantziaras]

Joseph wrote:
> On 03/14/09 21:54, Nikos Chantziaras wrote:
> [snip]
>> To run it in foreground, you can start it just as before (that is, 
>> without using VBoxHeadless) but you need to enable RDP in VirtualBox's 
>> settings.  VBoxHeadless is only for the case where you don't want to 
>> run it in the foreground on the PC VBox is running but only to access 
>> it through RDP.
>>
>> Note that RDP is not supported in the Open Source Edition ("ose") of 
>> VirtualBox.  Only the non-free version (but it's still "free as in 
>> beer".)
>>
>> You can also enable the built-in RDP of Windows XP if you need 
>> multi-user support.
> 
> Well, it works I can even start the Virtualbox-ose and control the 
> Windows XP (that is good), but:
> 1.) the terminal I'm connecting to has to accept my connection, is it 
> possible to set it up so I connect to it automatically.
> 2.) I'm taking control of the mouse and keyboard of the remote 
> workstation (in this case my server).
> 
> What I need is to connect to the server being able to use it without 
> taking control of the desktop mouse or keyboard.

Then you need to enable the "terminal client" service of Windows XP 
instead (XP Professional has this).  For this to work, you need to 
disable the RDP of VirtualBox or use another port.  Also, since XP's RDP 
is a service, you need port forwarding if you're using NAT networking in 
VBox.

You can Google on how to enable RDP/terminal services inside XP.

Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Access Windows XP running in VirtualBox

[Joseph]

On 03/15/09 00:59, Nikos Chantziaras wrote:
[snip]
>> XP (that is good), but:
>> 1.) the terminal I'm connecting to has to accept my connection, is it 
>> possible to set it up so I connect to it automatically.
>> 2.) I'm taking control of the mouse and keyboard of the remote workstation 
>> (in this case my server).
>> What I need is to connect to the server being able to use it without 
>> taking control of the desktop mouse or keyboard.
>
> Then you need to enable the "terminal client" service of Windows XP instead 
> (XP Professional has this).  For this to work, you need to disable the RDP 
> of VirtualBox or use another port.  Also, since XP's RDP is a service, you 
> need port forwarding if you're using NAT networking in VBox.
>
> You can Google on how to enable RDP/terminal services inside XP.

I'm trying now nxserver-freenx but it is giving me problem with configuration; do you know anything about setting up freenx?
when I run:
nxsetup --install --setup-nomachine-key --clean --purge
...

----> Testing your nxserver connection ...
Permission denied (publickey,keyboard-interactive).
Fatal error: Could not connect to NX Server.

Please check your ssh setup:

The following are _examples_ of what you might need to check.

         - Make sure "nx" is one of the AllowUsers in sshd_config.
     (or that the line is outcommented/not there)
         - Make sure "nx" is one of the AllowGroups in sshd_config.
     (or that the line is outcommented/not there)
         - Make sure your sshd allows public key authentication.
         - Make sure your sshd is really running on port 22.
         - Make sure your sshd_config AuthorizedKeysFile in sshd_config is set to authorized_keys2.
     (this should be a filename not a pathname+filename)
   - Make sure you allow ssh on localhost, this could come from some
     restriction of:
       -the tcp wrapper. Then add in /etc/hosts.allow: ALL:localhost
       -the iptables. add to it:
          $ iptables -A INPUT  -i lo -j ACCEPT
          $ iptables -A OUTPUT -o lo -j ACCEPT

my sshd.conf:

Port 22
Protocol 2
PermitRootLogin no
AuthorizedKeysFile      authorized_keys2
AllowUsers      nx
AllowGroups     nx
PasswordAuthentication no
UsePAM no
Subsystem       sftp    /usr/lib/misc/sftp-server



-- 
#Joseph
GPG KeyID: ED0E1FB7

[gentoo-user] Re: Access Windows XP running in VirtualBox

[Nikos Chantziaras]

Joseph wrote:
> On 03/15/09 00:59, Nikos Chantziaras wrote:
> [snip]
>>> XP (that is good), but:
>>> 1.) the terminal I'm connecting to has to accept my connection, is it 
>>> possible to set it up so I connect to it automatically.
>>> 2.) I'm taking control of the mouse and keyboard of the remote 
>>> workstation (in this case my server).
>>> What I need is to connect to the server being able to use it without 
>>> taking control of the desktop mouse or keyboard.
>>
>> Then you need to enable the "terminal client" service of Windows XP 
>> instead (XP Professional has this).  For this to work, you need to 
>> disable the RDP of VirtualBox or use another port.  Also, since XP's 
>> RDP is a service, you need port forwarding if you're using NAT 
>> networking in VBox.
>>
>> You can Google on how to enable RDP/terminal services inside XP.
> 
> I'm trying now nxserver-freenx but it is giving me problem with 
> configuration; do you know anything about setting up freenx?

I use x2go (it's also based on NX and is in the "nx" overlay).  But you 
can't connect to Windows XP with NX.