Virtual Windows in Linux host without X

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BearZDefect

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How does one run Windows as a guest OS in a Linux host where the Linux host has no graphical desktop? The Windows instance would then be accessed via RDP only, no console.

I imagine Xen and VirtualBox are contenders. An ability to use or import a vhd is helpful. The host hardware has an Intel E5 series (Sandy Bridge-EP) CPU with VT-x and VT-d.

While the Windows instance isn't mission critical, it is critical that this setup does not compromise the stability of the Debian Linux 7.x host.

Amazon appears to do something like this, but this case is a small business with one guest OS for internal use, not a huge infrastructure running multiple guests for clients.

TIA.
 
+1

I have VirtualBox on my Windows desktop. I don't think it's made to be used without a GUI.

I haven't personally tried ESXi without any GUI, but once it's set up it sure looks like the console could be plain text/serial port only. During setup there's nothing I remember that needs a graphics card. Of course, your BIOS needs to support console I/O. Seems like most PC-based stuff at least wants a VGA to talk to.

This guy does it via console-only:
http://www.vmwareadmins.com/installing-esxi-serial-console-headless-video-card/

Looks like more of a headache than a salvaged VGA, but hey.
(Solaris-SPARC, on the other hand, nothing wrong with installing text-only via their console port, but not many people installing new Solaris nowadays.)
 
Check and see if Debian supports the free KVM. It will run Windows and allow you to connect to that instance via Spice, VNC, or even using Windows' remote desktop. KVM runs over QEMU so you can use the standard tools to manage it.
 
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Originally Posted By: spackard
I have VirtualBox on my Windows desktop. I don't think it's made to be used without a GUI.


I don't know much about "made to" but it'll certainly run headless as well and as easily as with a GUI.
 
Thank you for the helpful replies. I need to study more.

It looks like Xen and KVM are the open source options. Any experiences or opinions comparing these two?
 
VirtualBox is easy to set up headless and use RDP with. I just did this a few Weeks ago. I am willing to help if you go that route.
 
Thank you ABerns.
If you know of a web page outlining the process for me to read that would be great. Otherwise I don't want to take up your time yet, unless/until I decide to use VirtualBox.
 
I think it will help if I describe the scenario:

The business currently has two old Dell PowerEdge servers with CPUs from the dark days of Intel Netburst - one running Debian Linux (64 bit), the other running Windows Server 2003 R2 (32 bit).

A new PowerEdge server running Debian Linux (64 bit) is going up to replace both of the old servers. They are moving away from depending on a Windows server. The new Linux server can do everything the old Linux server did. But there are a few functions on the Windows server that are handy to keep.

It is possible to simply keep the old Windows server as-is on its hardware. But I was considering running it as a virtual machine on the new server after making a VHD out of it. The benefit would be consolidation on the new hardware.
 
Definitely doable, I have an old VMWare Server setup running on an RHEL box that does exactly what you are describing. I can RDP into it to manage it. The system is headless and doesn't run X.
 
If that's the case, just setup Win 2003 for RDP in Remote Admin mode unless they have a TS license. Install and run virt-p2v (http://libguestfs.org/virt-v2v/) and convert away. Fire it up in KVM and RDP into it to control it. With KVM you don't need GUI to manage it - it can all be done via the virsh console.

I'd use KVM as it is the way the Linux kernel is moving and Xen is pretty much a proprietary Citrix thing now. KVM will be baked into all future Linux kernels so you can be assured it will be supported for a while to come.

I'm just curious as to what they want to keep from the Windows server? Active Directory is about the only thing Windows has that is "better". (I'm all for removing Windows (and Dell equipment) in every place everywhere.
smile.gif
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The Windows server has proper RDP licenses allowing 10 concurrent RDP logins. What some users like most about it is being able remote control (shadow) each other during live collaboration. There are many ways to do such collaboration, but none they have found to be as fast, seamless, convenient, and devoid of hiccups as Windows' native remote control/shadow feature.

Those two particular old Dell servers (a PE 1850 and a PE SC1425) have been very reliable. Both have only had one disk refresh in their lifetime, not because of a crash but as a proactive update that also improved performance.

itguy08, what are your preferred small biz server brands/models and why?

Thanks!
 
Older RHEL supported Xen and then moved to KVM; Oracle Linux uses Xen as their virtualization, so we have a mix of pretty much everything where I work. I don't have enough experience to compare them.

virt-manager is a great tool that primarily supports KVM.

http://virt-manager.org/
 
Thanks again.

What I haven't found is anything specific about using an existing Windows VHD with KVM, for example. I am sure some experimenting would get me there.
 
Originally Posted By: BearZDefect
Thanks again.

What I haven't found is anything specific about using an existing Windows VHD with KVM, for example. I am sure some experimenting would get me there.


VMWare has the ability to convert a live physical machine into a virtual machine.
 
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