Virtualization - minios-linux/minios-live GitHub Wiki

MiniOS Virtualization Guide

This guide covers running MiniOS in virtual machines, optimizing performance, and using MiniOS as a virtualization host. MiniOS is based on Debian 13 "Trixie" and includes built-in virtualization drivers and guest tools for optimal performance.

MiniOS Specific Virtualization Features

MiniOS includes built-in support for virtualization detection and automatic resolution adjustment. The system includes the minios-virtreschange script, which automatically detects virtual environments (VirtualBox, VMware, KVM, QEMU, Xen, Hyper-V) and adjusts the screen resolution accordingly.

Automatic Resolution Management:

  • Kernel parameter: virtres=WIDTHxHEIGHT (e.g., virtres=1920x1080)
  • Disable auto-adjustment: novirtres kernel parameter
  • Default resolution: 1280x800 (if virtres parameter is not specified)
  • Detection: Automatically detects VM environments and adjusts accordingly

Running MiniOS as a Guest System

General VM Configuration

Recommended settings (all platforms):

  • Memory: 2 GB minimum, 4 GB recommended (Standard edition: 1 GB minimum)
  • Processors: 2 cores minimum
  • Storage: 4 GB minimum (8 GB recommended for persistence)
  • OS Type: Linux 64-bit / Other Linux 64-bit

Disk Controller Selection:

  • VMware: Use SCSI controller for better performance
  • VirtualBox: Use SATA controller with AHCI
  • QEMU/KVM: Use VirtIO block devices
  • Hyper-V: Use SCSI controller

Network Adapter Selection:

  • VMware: Use VMXNET3 for better performance
  • VirtualBox: Use Intel PRO/1000 MT Desktop
  • QEMU/KVM: Use VirtIO network interface
  • Hyper-V: Use synthetic network adapter

Installing Guest Tools

VMware (VMware Workstation/Player): In MiniOS Toolbox and Ultra editions, open-vm-tools is pre-installed. For Standard edition:

sudo apt update
sudo apt install open-vm-tools open-vm-tools-desktop

VirtualBox:

# Insert Guest Additions CD and install
sudo mount /dev/cdrom /mnt
sudo /mnt/VBoxLinuxAdditions.run
sudo reboot

QEMU/KVM: In MiniOS Toolbox and Ultra editions, qemu-guest-agent is pre-installed. For Standard edition:

sudo apt install qemu-guest-agent
sudo systemctl enable qemu-guest-agent

Hyper-V: Integration components are pre-installed in MiniOS. For advanced features:

sudo apt install linux-cloud-tools-generic linux-tools-generic

Using MiniOS as a Virtualization Host

MiniOS includes built-in support for running containers and virtual machines in Toolbox and Ultra editions. The Ultra edition provides full Docker and KVM/QEMU support, while Toolbox only includes virtualization tools.

Docker Support

Ultra Edition: Docker is pre-installed, including lazydocker - a UI for managing Docker

Other editions: Docker can be installed manually:

# Install from Debian repositories
sudo apt update
sudo apt install docker.io docker-compose

# Or install the official version
curl -fsSL https://get.docker.com -o get-docker.sh
sudo sh get-docker.sh

KVM/QEMU Support

Toolbox and Ultra Editions: KVM tools are pre-installed, including virt-manager - a GUI for managing virtual machines

Other editions: Virtualization tools can be installed manually:

# Install KVM tools
sudo apt update
sudo apt install qemu-kvm libvirt-daemon-system virt-manager

VirtualBox Support

VirtualBox is not included in the official Debian 13 repositories, but can be installed via official Oracle packages:

# Download deb-package from https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads
# and install
sudo apt install ./virtualbox-*.deb

Users are automatically added to the vboxusers group to access VirtualBox features.