Index: vws.mkd ================================================================== --- vws.mkd +++ vws.mkd @@ -65,10 +65,25 @@ vws. User is allowed to alter **qemu** parameters directly in the **vws**-generated startup scripts and connect to monitor typing monitor commands by hand. Copying virtual workstation from one host to another is just a matter of transferring several files. +It is designed to be friendly with traditional unix behavior. Virtual +machines are started with normal user rights, there is no daemon running +to control them. Instead, there is UNIX sockets in the file system, +which allows to control machines. + +Spice protocol is used for GUI. It allows seamless desktop integration +(i.e. mouse moving in and out VW window) and clipboard sharing. + +By default, our VWs are accessible from localhost only, but it is easy +to set up password which lets to connect them via network. + +It is allowed to redirect USB devices either via SPICE (i.e. from the +user workplace), or from host where VW is running. ISO images can be +mounted as CDROMs only from host. + VW CREATION ----------- **vws create** command creates basic layout of the virtual machine - virtual disk image and startup script and optionally starts installation @@ -138,16 +153,79 @@ have DHCP running. STARTING AND STOPPING --------------------- + +**vws start** \[ **--cdrom** _iso-image_\] \[**--snapshot**\] \[ --no-gui \] *vw-name* + +Starts virtual machine. Optionally, connects specified *iso-image* to +its CD-ROM drive. If **--no-gui** is not specified, starts spice client +(remote-viewer) to connect to this machine. If **--snapshot** is +specified, starts machine in the snapshot mode, i.e. nothing is written +into drive images. You need a lot of space in the */tmp* to run in +snapshot mode. + +IF **--args** option is specfied, that its arguments are passed as +additional arguments to **qemu**. + +If virtual machine is started already, and **--no-gui** is not +specified, than just starts remote viewer. Mnemonic *make machine +visible on your screen*. If **--cdrom** is specified, than it is +equivalent of **vws cdrom** described below. Snapshot mode and qemu args +cannot be changed on running machine. + +**vws stop** [ **--hard** ] *machine* + +Stops the virtual machine. If machine is running in the snapshot mode, +than it is stopped unconditionally, because nothing can be destroyed on +the disk images. Otherwise ACPI powerdown request is send to the guest +OS unless **--hard** is specified. With **--hard** machine is always +terminated immediately. + +**vws save** *machine* + +Saves virtual machine state into first disk image. Subsequent **start** +command would restore this state. + +**vws reset** *machine* + +Requests the reboot of guest OS via ACPI. + REMOVABLE DEVICE MANAGEMENT --------------------------- +**vws cdrom** *machine* [ **--eject** | *iso-image* ] + +«Inserts» specified image into virtual machine's CD-ROM ejecting old one +if any. If **--eject** is specified instead of image, current image is +ejected. + + +**vws usb list** + +Lists USB devices which can be attached to virtual machine. + +**vws usb attached** *machine* + +Lists USB devices which are currently attached + +**vws usb attach** *machine* [ *pattern* | **--address** *bus.device* ] + +Attach given devices to the virtual machine. *pattern* is some regexp +which device description output by **vws usb list** should match. Or, +optionally you can specify exact address as bus number and device number +on this bus. + +**vws usb detach** *machine* [ *pattern* | **--address** *bus.device* ] + +Detaches USB device. + SNAPSHOTS --------- + MISCELLANEA ----------- **vws** allows to take virtual machine screenshot or record sound,