Re: GNUstep distro

[Richard Stonehouse]

On Thu, 9 May 2013 17:56:38 +0100, Liam Proven <lproven@gmail.com>
wrote:
> On 9 May 2013 16:34, Richard Stonehouse <richard@rstonehouse.co.uk> 
> wrote:
> > > On 9 May 2013 08:27, Riccardo Mottola <riccardo.mottola@libero.it> 
> > > wrote:
> >
> > > > Richard Stonehouse provides a bootable VM image
> > >
> > > It will not import into VirtualBox, nor can VBox mount its hard 
> > > disk on its own.
> >
> > It used to work in VirtualBox under Linux - see:
> >    www.rstonehouse.co.uk/extras/GNUstep-VM-0.9
> > You need to download both the .ovf and the .vmdk file, probably the 
> > .mf file too.

> Yes, I downloaded all 3 and put them in a directory of their own and
> tried to import them as described, although I used the "import
> appliance" menu option rather than the CLI.

I use the menu.

I've now installed VirtualBox (4.2.12 r84980) from the RPM onto the 
openSUSE 12.3 system on my 64-bit machine, and imported the VM into 
it. There were two problems to do with the Appliance Import Settings; 
is either of them what you're getting?

1. When I changed the VM name from 'vm' to 'VM-0.9', VirtualBox
    failed to import because it was looking for a file with extension
    '.VM-0.9dk' instead of '.vmdk'. I suspect this is a bug in Virtual
    Box; it surely shouldn't be messing about with the file extension.
    When I changed the VM name back to 'vm', VB found the '.vmdk'
    file OK.

2. Forgetting to read my own instructions :-) (see
       http://www.rstonehouse.co.uk/extras/GNUstep-VM-0.9/vbimport.html)
    I omitted to disable the DVD, and VirtualBox failed to import the
    VM because it thought it already had a DVD connected. You have to
    disable the DVD in the Appliance Import Settings, then connect
    a real DVD or ISO image later if you want one. Again, I think this
    is a VirtualBox bug.

After working around these two problems, VirtualBox imported the VM 
successfully and it appears to run OK.

> When importing, I get an error that the VMDK file is already 
> attached.

Are you sure it's the hard disc it's complaining about and not the 
DVD?

> > Can you tell me what version of VBox you're using and what platform 
> > you're running on?
>
> Latest VBox (4.2.12 r84980) on the latest Ubuntu (13.04), 64-bit, on 
> a Core 2 Quad Extreme with 8GB RAM, 1TB HD. So plenty of room.
>
> > As a possible alternative, I've had it working under a recent 
> > VMware Player (though only tried under MS Windows).
>
> [Nod] I have not yet reinstalled VMware Player - I prefer to use FOSS
> tools if possible

Likewise. I originally developed and tested this VM under both VMware 
and VirtualBox. Mostly VMware because its performance was more 
acceptable; however on my new machine VirtualBox seems to be fine.


On Fri, 10 May 2013 13:20:00 +0100, Liam Proven <lproven@gmail.com>  
wrote:
> On 9 May 2013 16:34, Richard Stonehouse <richard@rstonehouse.co.uk> 
> wrote:
> > As a possible alternative, I've had it working under a recent VMware Player
> > (though only tried under MS Windows).
>
> Just for the record - I tried last night with VMware Player.
>
> Your instructions are a little out of date.

Thanks for the info, I'll look into that.
> The VM runs rather nicely under VMware, but unfortunately, I can't
> `sudo` (don't know the root password) and so I can't install the
> VMware guest additions, meaning that I can't reset the screen
> resolution or anything.

The root password is 'linux' (without the quotes). Full instructions 
for installing or upgrading the VMware Tools are at
     http://www.rstonehouse.co.uk/extras/GNUstep-VM-0.9/vm-tools.html
> I found it slightly odd that, in a desktop with a Dock included, you
> made all the app launchers desktop icons - that's one of the things
> the Dock is for, isn't it? :?)

As one of the purposes of this VM was to show off the features of 
GNUstep, it was set up to use the GWorkspace desktop rather than the 
WindowMaker desktop. GWorkspace has its own dock and its desktop hides 
the WindowMaker dock. If you prefer the WindowMaker desktop, you can 
disable the GWorkspace desktop (GWorkspace Tools menu, 'Hide Desktop' 
command) and enable the WindowMaker dock (WPrefs utility, 'Workspace 
Preferences' pane, click on the upper of the two icons under 
'Dock/Clip' at the right hand side). However, it is not possible to 
drag and drop files from GWorkspace onto WindowMaker dock icons; you 
can only drag and drop onto GWorkspace icons.

--
     Richard Stonehouse