Virtual WorkStation (or Vitus Wagner's Spice) is set of script wrappers to QEMU/KVM intened to use on notebooks or developer's workstations, where few virtual machines exist, these machines are seldom created and guest OS configurations are carefully tuned.

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Main objectives:

• If it doesn't run, it doesn't run. No daemon processes, no extra open ports, only one qemu process per running machine.
• Virtual machines should be kept as isolated as possible. One should be able to easily move them around, even to the hosts wbere no VWS installed.
• Most virtual machines are workstations, which means you need GUI, sound, USB devices etc on them.
• Use of our scripts shouldn't prevent users from operating directly with QEMU command line and monitor.
• Script layer should be as thin as possible, readable and understandable by almost anyoune
• No new hairy formats should be invented, just a simple conventions how to store VMs in filesystem to make in operable by scripts and how to put options into shell scripts to make them editable by wizard-like interface
• No attempt to support every virtualization technology out there. Concentrate on QEMU and do our best with it.

Project Phases

1. Collect Useful tips about QEMU
2. Write simple scripts
3. Write GUI to control virtual machine though monitor
4. Add graphic console to GUI using this widget

Current state

Now project reached stage, where simple scripts can be easily installed and manage collection of dozens of virtual machines.

See Concepts for whole picture how to use it.