Tools for managing virtual environments
Virtual Admin
![](/var/linux_magazin/storage/images/linux-magazine.com/issues/2009/98/virtual-admin/lmi-98-2.png/428344-1-eng-US/LMI-98-2.png_medium.png)
This month we examine techniques for deploying and managing virtual systems.
Given the rapid pace of IT evolution, virtualization is already yesterday's news. IT managers around the world are working out strategies for how to meet the virtualization challenge. You've tried all the leading tools – Xen, VMware, KVM, VirtualBox – and now you're ready to take the next step. This month we examine some techniques for deploying, configuring, and managing virtual environments.
We start with a study of MLN (Manage Large Networks), a powerful open source virtual machine management tool that lets you "build sophisticated, dynamic virtual infrastructures using freely available virtualization platforms." We'll show you how to use MLN to deploy and manage Xen, VMware, and User Mode Linux virtual environments.
Next we examine the world of virtual appliances. You'll learn what a virtual appliance is and why more admins are turning to the virtual appliance as a simple, efficient solution for running network services in Linux. We'll also show you two easy tools for creating your own virtual appliances: VMware Studio and SUSE Studio.
The next article in our virtualization set shows how to set up your own virtual cluster using the Rocks Linux distro. As you'll learn, NASA and other leading scientific institutions use Rocks clusters to perform complex calculations, but Rocks is simple enough even for casual users. And if you're still looking for more information on the art of deploying and managing virtual environments, turn to our Know-How section, where you'll find an article on automated installation with the Cobbler provisioning system.
If you're finished with the experiments and you want to get on with the real business of deploying virtual systems on a massive scale, you'll find lots of useful information up ahead on virtualization in Linux environments. And even if you're just getting started with your experiments, this issue highlights some handy apps you might want to integrate into your toolkit. We hope you enjoy this month's Virtual Admin cover story.
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.
![Learn More](https://www.linux-magazine.com/var/linux_magazin/storage/images/media/linux-magazine-eng-us/images/misc/learn-more/834592-1-eng-US/Learn-More_medium.png)
News
-
NVIDIA Released Driver for Upcoming NVIDIA 560 GPU for Linux
Not only has NVIDIA released the driver for its upcoming CPU series, it's the first release that defaults to using open-source GPU kernel modules.
-
OpenMandriva Lx 24.07 Released
If you’re into rolling release Linux distributions, OpenMandriva ROME has a new snapshot with a new kernel.
-
Kernel 6.10 Available for General Usage
Linus Torvalds has released the 6.10 kernel and it includes significant performance increases for Intel Core hybrid systems and more.
-
TUXEDO Computers Releases InfinityBook Pro 14 Gen9 Laptop
Sporting either AMD or Intel CPUs, the TUXEDO InfinityBook Pro 14 is an extremely compact, lightweight, sturdy powerhouse.
-
Google Extends Support for Linux Kernels Used for Android
Because the LTS Linux kernel releases are so important to Android, Google has decided to extend the support period beyond that offered by the kernel development team.
-
Linux Mint 22 Stable Delayed
If you're anxious about getting your hands on the stable release of Linux Mint 22, it looks as if you're going to have to wait a bit longer.
-
Nitrux 3.5.1 Available for Install
The latest version of the immutable, systemd-free distribution includes an updated kernel and NVIDIA driver.
-
Debian 12.6 Released with Plenty of Bug Fixes and Updates
The sixth update to Debian "Bookworm" is all about security mitigations and making adjustments for some "serious problems."
-
Canonical Offers 12-Year LTS for Open Source Docker Images
Canonical is expanding its LTS offering to reach beyond the DEB packages with a new distro-less Docker image.
-
Plasma Desktop 6.1 Released with Several Enhancements
If you're a fan of Plasma Desktop, you should be excited about this new point release.