Many offices are trying to use virtualization as a means to make running many aspects of their business faster, smoother, and simpler. Many are actually using VirtualBox as a means to accomplish this, and it’s important that you understand all of the techniques you can use in order to get the most from the platform. With the right tips at your command, you will be able to get much more out of the system. Let’s learn some of the best ways to get the most out of your hosting using VirtualBox for cloud hosting.
Learn the Built-In Commands
The platform has many built-in commands and shortcuts that will give you a greater command over the system. For example, the main command is VBoxManage. This will allow you to manage many different aspects of the platform very quickly including attaching storage and cloning hard drives. There are quite a few commands available, and each of them does something different. It’s a good idea to go through the manual that comes with the system to get familiar with these commands. In the beginning, it will be slow going, but the more you use the system the easier it will become.
Make Use of Virtual Appliances
With a virtual appliance, you can create a server that can perform specific tasks. Some of the most common types of these appliances include shopping carts and calendars. You can find a number of sites that have virtual appliances available. Use of these can provide more use and complexity for your system while still remaining very easy to install and set up.
You Need More RAM
If you want to have a virtual machine that really works well for your cloud hosting needs, then you have to make sure that you have enough resources to handle it. This means you need to have more RAM. Having more RAM means that the machine will function properly and users will not have slowdown or other issues. The more intensive the needs of your machine the more RAM you will need to have. The amount that you have should not be an arbitrary decision that you make. Instead, make sure that you speak with a professional about the proper amount of RAM.
Snapshots
Taking “snapshots” is a way to return a virtual machine to a previous state, and this is incredibly powerful. It means that if something were to go wrong with the virtual machine, you will still be able to roll it back to a time when everything was fine. VirtualBox makes it very easy to take a snapshot too. All you need to do is to click on the machine menu and then on Take Snapshot while the machine is running. Then, enter a name and date for the snapshot and save it.
Compress Images
Uncompressed images can take up a lot of space. In order to reduce the amount of space your images take up, all you need to do is compress the image. They offer compression commands and tools to help you save space on your virtual machine, but this is one of the tips that many users simply seem to forget.
VirtualBox is a great addition to your office when virtualization is the goal. It is powerful and has a number of advanced features and options in addition to the ones listed here. Make sure you know the ins and outs of the system so you can get the most mileage from it.