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1 virtual machine used by multiple physical machines

mike -  
 mike -
Hello everyone,

I have a question: is it possible to use a VM on multiple physical machines?
Let me explain:
I am using Oracle VirtualBox, on which I have installed a Windows XP VM to use an old version of a business management software. I would like this software via the VM to be usable by several people (multiple physical machines) so that it can be updated and modified by/for everyone.

Any ideas??
Thank you.

3 answers

  1.
    avion-f16 Posted messages 19182 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   4 511
     
    Hello,

    You can enable Remote Desktop from the virtualized operating system (RDP on Windows), which will allow other people to take control of the virtual machine over the network, which will remain running on a single physical machine. On other computers, you just need the appropriate software to access RDP. Problem: only one person can use it simultaneously.

    The other solution: it is possible to copy the virtual disk image to other computers and install VirtualBox on them, so each computer will run its own copy of the virtual machine.
    1
    1. mike
       
      Hello,
      Thanks for your reply, I’ll try solution 1 and keep you updated!
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  2. mike
     
    Sure, it works! Thank you.
    But for my use, I don't think it's ideal...
    I was considering cloud solutions... so that it could be used by multiple physical machines at the same time.
    Do you think that's possible?
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    1. Judge_DT Posted messages 27651 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention   10 013
       
      Hi,

      What do you mean by "cloud solutions"?

      Because it doesn't mean anything, put it this way... And cloud solutions are very broad.
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      1. mike > Judge_DT Posted messages 27651 Registration date   Status Moderator Last intervention  
         
        Hi,
        Nothing very specific! I just wanted to throw out an additional idea... but I think airplane-f16 has better targeted my "wish" in their response below... "but" how to allow multiple users to log into my Windows XP system simultaneously." I don't think Windows XP allows that." I will look for ways it's feasible... I'm still open to suggestions..????
        Thank you
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    2. avion-f16 Posted messages 19182 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   4 511
       
      The "cloud" helps address certain issues (redundancy/high availability), and since the virtual machine is located on the Internet rather than in your LAN, it will be accessible "anywhere."

      Even if your VM is hosted on a "cloud" provider or a dedicated server on the Internet that you manage yourself (non-cloud), it will not help you create a VM that is accessible simultaneously by multiple users.

      Multi-user access to the virtualized system is managed at the level of the virtualized system itself. The question does not concern virtualization or the network. You should not be asking "how to allow multiple users to use my VM at the same time" but rather "how to allow multiple users to connect to my Windows XP system simultaneously." I don't think Windows XP allows that.

      If your wish is to make the VM available from the outside via RDP, then the question concerns the network and not virtualization or the virtualized system (Windows XP). See "port forwarding."

      If your goal is to create multiple identical virtual machines on a single host server, you can do this with a local server, a dedicated server on the Internet, or with a cloud service. However, I don't see the point in using a cloud service or a dedicated online server if the local solution works perfectly fine.
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      1. mike > avion-f16 Posted messages 19182 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention  
         
        Thank you very much for your response! You have well understood my problem.
        Indeed: "how to allow multiple users to connect to my Windows XP system simultaneously." I don't think Windows XP allows that.
        I will look into this direction... if you have any ideas, I am interested!
        Thank you
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      2. avion-f16 Posted messages 19182 Registration date   Status Contributor Last intervention   4 511 > mike
         
        Technically, the Windows kernel allows simultaneous multi-user access, and RDP also supports multiple concurrent sessions.
        The limitation (only one user session, whether RDP or local) is due to licensing reasons and not technical reasons.

        A Windows Server system can provide multiple simultaneous RDP "desktops," provided you have the appropriate licenses (which are expensive for an individual...).

        However, there is a project that allows this with "consumer" versions of Windows:
        https://github.com/stascorp/rdpwrap

        But as you can read on this link:
        Windows 2000, XP and Server 2003 will not be supported
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  3. mike
     
    Hello,

    Sorry for the late reply, thank you very much for your feedback on the F16 aircraft!
    It's for a company, so I will look into the Windows Server solution.
    Thanks again! I'll keep you updated.
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