Distributing updates to VirtualBox images with bandwidth efficiency
Clash Royale CLAN TAG#URR8PPP
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
I'm currently responsible for a lab of machines that all need to run the same virtual machines. I want to automate my current setup of distributing VirtualBox virtual machines via rsync (erasing any local changes and replacing the disks/snapshots that make up the virtual machine).
I'm thinking of doing something along the lines of making a snapshot for each change, copying the snapshot to the user's machine, and deleting the snapshot on the target ("flattening" it back to the starting disk). This allows me to patch each Virtual Machine with a minimum amount of bandwidth requirements.
The current environment consists of Fedora hosts, where rsync is used to copy the new disk images. The new solution needs to work on Linux/Windows/Mac as we are moving to a "bring your own device" environment.
Are there any already existing scripts/projects that address this issue? What should I be aware of before I start developing my own system to handle update management?
networking virtualbox performance administration
edited Sep 8 at 0:54
Jeff Schaller
33.1k849111
asked May 11 '13 at 3:28
AndrewX192
264
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
I'm currently responsible for a lab of machines that all need to run the same virtual machines. I want to automate my current setup of distributing VirtualBox virtual machines via rsync (erasing any local changes and replacing the disks/snapshots that make up the virtual machine).
I'm thinking of doing something along the lines of making a snapshot for each change, copying the snapshot to the user's machine, and deleting the snapshot on the target ("flattening" it back to the starting disk). This allows me to patch each Virtual Machine with a minimum amount of bandwidth requirements.
The current environment consists of Fedora hosts, where rsync is used to copy the new disk images. The new solution needs to work on Linux/Windows/Mac as we are moving to a "bring your own device" environment.
Are there any already existing scripts/projects that address this issue? What should I be aware of before I start developing my own system to handle update management?
networking virtualbox performance administration
edited Sep 8 at 0:54
Jeff Schaller
33.1k849111
asked May 11 '13 at 3:28
AndrewX192
264
What OS on the hosts and guests?
– Stéphane Chazelas
May 11 '13 at 7:57
2
Have a look at bittorrent
– Ulrich Dangel
May 11 '13 at 10:10
@StephaneChazelas I've updated the question to include the details about the hosts - the guests are Linux based (currently debian).
– AndrewX192
May 11 '13 at 19:54
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
up vote
4
down vote
favorite
I'm currently responsible for a lab of machines that all need to run the same virtual machines. I want to automate my current setup of distributing VirtualBox virtual machines via rsync (erasing any local changes and replacing the disks/snapshots that make up the virtual machine).
I'm thinking of doing something along the lines of making a snapshot for each change, copying the snapshot to the user's machine, and deleting the snapshot on the target ("flattening" it back to the starting disk). This allows me to patch each Virtual Machine with a minimum amount of bandwidth requirements.
The current environment consists of Fedora hosts, where rsync is used to copy the new disk images. The new solution needs to work on Linux/Windows/Mac as we are moving to a "bring your own device" environment.
Are there any already existing scripts/projects that address this issue? What should I be aware of before I start developing my own system to handle update management?
networking virtualbox performance administration
edited Sep 8 at 0:54
Jeff Schaller
33.1k849111
asked May 11 '13 at 3:28
AndrewX192
264
I'm currently responsible for a lab of machines that all need to run the same virtual machines. I want to automate my current setup of distributing VirtualBox virtual machines via rsync (erasing any local changes and replacing the disks/snapshots that make up the virtual machine).
I'm thinking of doing something along the lines of making a snapshot for each change, copying the snapshot to the user's machine, and deleting the snapshot on the target ("flattening" it back to the starting disk). This allows me to patch each Virtual Machine with a minimum amount of bandwidth requirements.
The current environment consists of Fedora hosts, where rsync is used to copy the new disk images. The new solution needs to work on Linux/Windows/Mac as we are moving to a "bring your own device" environment.
Are there any already existing scripts/projects that address this issue? What should I be aware of before I start developing my own system to handle update management?
networking virtualbox performance administration
networking virtualbox performance administration
edited Sep 8 at 0:54
Jeff Schaller
33.1k849111
asked May 11 '13 at 3:28
AndrewX192
264
edited Sep 8 at 0:54
Jeff Schaller
33.1k849111
asked May 11 '13 at 3:28
AndrewX192
264
edited Sep 8 at 0:54
Jeff Schaller
33.1k849111
edited Sep 8 at 0:54
Jeff Schaller
33.1k849111
edited Sep 8 at 0:54
Jeff Schaller
33.1k849111
33.1k849111
asked May 11 '13 at 3:28
AndrewX192
264
asked May 11 '13 at 3:28
AndrewX192
264
asked May 11 '13 at 3:28
AndrewX192
264
264
What OS on the hosts and guests?
– Stéphane Chazelas
May 11 '13 at 7:57
2
Have a look at bittorrent
– Ulrich Dangel
May 11 '13 at 10:10
@StephaneChazelas I've updated the question to include the details about the hosts - the guests are Linux based (currently debian).
– AndrewX192
May 11 '13 at 19:54
add a comment |Â
What OS on the hosts and guests?
– Stéphane Chazelas
May 11 '13 at 7:57
2
Have a look at bittorrent
– Ulrich Dangel
May 11 '13 at 10:10
@StephaneChazelas I've updated the question to include the details about the hosts - the guests are Linux based (currently debian).
– AndrewX192
May 11 '13 at 19:54
What OS on the hosts and guests?
– Stéphane Chazelas
May 11 '13 at 7:57
What OS on the hosts and guests?
– Stéphane Chazelas
May 11 '13 at 7:57
2
2
Have a look at bittorrent
– Ulrich Dangel
May 11 '13 at 10:10
Have a look at bittorrent
– Ulrich Dangel
May 11 '13 at 10:10
@StephaneChazelas I've updated the question to include the details about the hosts - the guests are Linux based (currently debian).
– AndrewX192
May 11 '13 at 19:54
@StephaneChazelas I've updated the question to include the details about the hosts - the guests are Linux based (currently debian).
– AndrewX192
May 11 '13 at 19:54
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
You may want to check Vagrant. It is a tool that allows you to manage virtual machine setups across several computers.
From their website:
Vagrant provides easy to configure, reproducible, and portable work
environments built on top of industry-standard technology and
controlled by a single consistent workflow to help maximize the
productivity and flexibility of you and your team.
Vagrant supports VirtualBox out of the (virtual) box.
answered May 11 '13 at 15:37
Damien
488513
add a comment |Â
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
1 Answer
1
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
2
down vote
You may want to check Vagrant. It is a tool that allows you to manage virtual machine setups across several computers.
From their website:
Vagrant provides easy to configure, reproducible, and portable work
environments built on top of industry-standard technology and
controlled by a single consistent workflow to help maximize the
productivity and flexibility of you and your team.
Vagrant supports VirtualBox out of the (virtual) box.
answered May 11 '13 at 15:37
Damien
488513
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
You may want to check Vagrant. It is a tool that allows you to manage virtual machine setups across several computers.
From their website:
Vagrant provides easy to configure, reproducible, and portable work
environments built on top of industry-standard technology and
controlled by a single consistent workflow to help maximize the
productivity and flexibility of you and your team.
Vagrant supports VirtualBox out of the (virtual) box.
answered May 11 '13 at 15:37
Damien
488513
add a comment |Â
up vote
2
down vote
up vote
2
down vote
You may want to check Vagrant. It is a tool that allows you to manage virtual machine setups across several computers.
From their website:
Vagrant provides easy to configure, reproducible, and portable work
environments built on top of industry-standard technology and
controlled by a single consistent workflow to help maximize the
productivity and flexibility of you and your team.
Vagrant supports VirtualBox out of the (virtual) box.
answered May 11 '13 at 15:37
Damien
488513
You may want to check Vagrant. It is a tool that allows you to manage virtual machine setups across several computers.
From their website:
Vagrant provides easy to configure, reproducible, and portable work
environments built on top of industry-standard technology and
controlled by a single consistent workflow to help maximize the
productivity and flexibility of you and your team.
Vagrant supports VirtualBox out of the (virtual) box.
answered May 11 '13 at 15:37
Damien
488513
answered May 11 '13 at 15:37
Damien
488513
answered May 11 '13 at 15:37
Damien
488513
answered May 11 '13 at 15:37
Damien
488513
488513
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
StackExchange.ready(
function ()
StackExchange.openid.initPostLogin('.new-post-login', 'https%3a%2f%2funix.stackexchange.com%2fquestions%2f75412%2fdistributing-updates-to-virtualbox-images-with-bandwidth-efficiency%23new-answer', 'question_page');
);
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Post as a guest
Sign up or log in
StackExchange.ready(function ()
StackExchange.helpers.onClickDraftSave('#login-link');
);
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
Sign up using Google
Sign up using Facebook
Sign up using Email and Password
What OS on the hosts and guests?
– Stéphane Chazelas
May 11 '13 at 7:57
2
Have a look at bittorrent
– Ulrich Dangel
May 11 '13 at 10:10
@StephaneChazelas I've updated the question to include the details about the hosts - the guests are Linux based (currently debian).
– AndrewX192
May 11 '13 at 19:54