Can Antix-19.2.1-x64-Base run a couple of VBox VMs smoothly?

[Member anilkagi]

Hello there,

The About page of antixlinux.com says;

The goal of antiX is to provide a light, but fully functional and flexible free operating system for both newcomers and experienced users of Linux. It should run on most computers, ranging from 256MB old PIII systems with pre-configured swap to the latest powerful boxes.

This is very pleasing and gladdening.

However, I have my doubts. So I am asking this to clarify them.

Can Antix-19.2.1-Base run a couple of VBox VMs smoothly?

I was thinking of installing VBox and a couple of VMs on my Antix-19.2.1-x64-Base system. My system is mid-range and has the space and required system configurations, I suppose. They are as below;

CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i3 M 380  @ 2.53GHz
Graphics card: Intel Core Processor Integrated Graphics Controller
Sound: Intel 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset High Definition Audio
Storage: Intel 5 Series/3400 Series Chipset 4 port SATA AHCI Controller
RAM: 3 GB
Network:
  Wireless: Broadcom BCM4313 802.11bgn Wireless Network Adapter
  Ethernet: Realtek RTL8111/8168/8411 PCI Express Gigabit Ethernet Controller
Bluetooth: Broadcom BCM2070 Bluetooth Device
Hard disk: SAMSUNG HM321HI 300 GB
CDROM: Slimtype DVD A DS8A5SH
BIOS: BIOS

Can a combination of this computer, with the above mentioned HW configurations and Antix-19.2.1-x64-Base OS, handle VBox and its couple of guest VMs of Windows 10 and Android?

Thanks & Regards

• This topic was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by anilkagi.

[Member sybok]

Helpful

Up

0

::

Assume you want to run both Win 10 and Android virtual machines (VMs) at the same time.
When creating each of the machines, you may set up maximal memory for each.
Try to set them up to leave enough for your system (it depends on whether you plan to do other work, e.g. browse the internet, while running the VM(s) or not).

1) Estimate the antiX system (would suggest 0.5G for bare system – no browsers running etc.).
2) Find minimal system requirements for each system to be used in the VM.
Win 10 page states 1GB (32-bit) and 2 GB (64-bit).
3) Sum it up and use free memory, if any, according to your best guess.

I am afraid it may exceed the 3GB you have available.

In order to minimize (at least partially) possible antiX system freeze, you may start the virtualbox from CLI as follows
nice virtualbox &

• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by sybok. Reason: Win 10 RAM added

[Member ModdIt]

Helpful

Up

0

::

Hallo anilkagi, a core i3 released 10 years ago and 3 gb of ram along with the (in modern terms very slow) Samsung harddisk will struggle to run win 10 and several applications directly.
Sorry: On the hardware you listed your expectations are unrealistic.

[Member anilkagi]

Helpful

Up

0

::

Hello sybok,

Thanks for the detailed guidance.

I’ll try and check that out.

[Member anilkagi]

Helpful

Up

0

::

Hi Moddit,

I used to run Windows 7 (not 10), on this machine, without any problems. However since Windows 7 has stopped updating, and I don’t need Windows much, (just occasionally when some exclusively windows only software doesn’t run properly on wine). So I was thinking of placing Windows 7 (not 10) on a VM in Linux, to be safe from web attacks. And then if possible upgrade to 10. I understand 10 doesn’t run on my system as a regular (I mean not on VB) OS, because I couldn’t upgrade it to 10. Windows simply refused to upgrade it, for lack of adequate HW. However, I was hoping, Antix host could handle that.

I will try and see as per sybok’s suggestions. Let’s see what happens.

Thank you.

[Moderator Brian Masinick]

Helpful

Up

0

::

You MAY be able to run or start a VM, but having more than one instance of a VM active at any given time is very likely to exceed your total available memory. IF you do have a nice, LARGE SWAP file, you may get away with running some images, but they are going to thrash and swap considerably unless you run most of your system with as much resource conservation as possible.

So rather than say “it’s IMPOSSIBLE”, it MAY be possible, but you will not be very impressed with the performance. Best case, it’ll work and if you conserve as many resources as possible, it may actually be usable, though pretty slow. Worst case, it’ll look like it’s going to invoke, but it will either hang or fail somewhere after initialization. That’s a pragmatic answer; it may be possible, but it won’t be pretty.

If you had 8-16 GB of memory PLUS a large swap disk, that might help. Does your computer have any slots where cheap memory could be added, or memory with higher capacity per chip could be added/replaced from what you have now and still be compatible with your hardware?

Places like
https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=pc+memory+upgrade
https://www.googleadservices.com/pagead/aclk?sa=L&ai=DChcSEwi7h_a3uebqAhWMjsgKHQpqAdMYABACGgJxdQ&ohost=www.google.com&cid=CAESQOD2xec5McAUcrOOuK-VrZX4FMEXpU-pCpGeOGz62rY4XWHXV0nnBH49rHreH-7A95gQPikaKZGNt1q8G3vZhIM&sig=AOD64_265DfjHvf5vsektcaZUETPzU52GA&q=&ved=2ahUKEwjUy-23uebqAhVuknIEHZg_AGkQ0Qx6BAgPEAE&adurl=

may help. Give it a try and see if it works out, if you can afford it.

--
Brian Masinick

[Member seaken64]

Helpful

Up

0

::

anilkagi wrote:

Can Antix-19.2.1-Base run a couple of VBox VMs smoothly?

I would say no. I have tried running VB VM’s on similar hardware and the results are not good. There is not enough RAM or CPU power. Windows really runs best in 4GB or more. It can run in 2GB but it will bog down eventually.

You might be able to run Windows on the hardware and then run antiX and Android in VM’s. Both antiX and Android can run fine with 1GB of RAM and single processor (although Android won’t like it as much as antiX)

You don’t need Windows 10. Windows 7 can be setup to run securely. That hardware won’t work well beyond Windows 7 anyway. And running Windows 7 in a VM won’t be a good experience. If I needed a VM on that hardware I would go with Windows XP.

It is a fallacy that Windows 7 or XP are dangerous to use. Just takes some care and a little bit of know-how, which you can learn. Especially if you do not need to use web-enable apps. Use antiX for the web and Win7 or XP for the windows programs where needed.

Seaken64

[Member anilkagi]

Helpful

Up

0

::

Brian Masinick wrote:

So rather than say “it’s IMPOSSIBLE”, it MAY be possible, but you will not be very impressed with the performance. Best case, it’ll work and if you conserve as many resources as possible, it may actually be usable, though pretty slow. Worst case, it’ll look like it’s going to invoke, but it will either hang or fail somewhere after initialization. That’s a pragmatic answer; it may be possible, but it won’t be pretty.

That says it all, Masinick.

[Member anilkagi]

Helpful

Up

0

::

Seaken64,

That was a tremendously informative post and heartening too. Thanks.

seaken64 wrote:

It is a fallacy that Windows 7 or XP are dangerous to use. Just takes some care and a little bit of know-how, which you can learn

Can you suggest some links or other informative sources?

[Member seaken64]

Helpful

Up

0

::

Here’s a few to get you started

https://retrosystemsrevival.blogspot.com/p/resources.html
https://msfn.org/board/
https://www.windowsforum.org/

[Member anilkagi]

Helpful

Up

0

::

Seaken64, thanks for the links. These are interesting communities. 🙂 I didn’t expect such communities to exist!

[Member seaken64]

Helpful

Up

0

::

anilkagi wrote:

Seaken64, thanks for the links. These are interesting communities. I didn’t expect such communities to exist!

The general knowledge is that “old computers” are bad and should be replaced with new shiny Windows 10 or MAC OS machines. But there are a lot of us who disagree with that and keep using old computers.

Seaken64

• This reply was modified 2 years, 9 months ago by seaken64.

[Moderator Brian Masinick]

Helpful

Up

0

::

seaken64 wrote:

anilkagi wrote:

Seaken64, thanks for the links. These are interesting communities. I didn’t expect such communities to exist!

The general knowledge is that “old computers” are bad and should be replaced with new shiny Windows 10 or MAC OS machines. But there are a lot of us who disagree with that and keep using old computers.

Seaken64

I’m one of ’em, Seaken64! On one hand, a shiny new system might be “appealing”, but shelling out four figures or more to get a good one is beyond what my retirement income can bear without denying me more important essentials – like keeping my home, my eye ointment to keep my eyes functioning, food and drink, etc. My 3-5 year old (newest) and 10-20 year old (reclamation projects) work just fine and they “keep me off the streets and content in COVID-19 seclusion, though I do wish I could go to a lap swimming pool 3-4 days a week and trim this body a bit better!

Hopefully that will be a “new year” present – a return to weekly or every other day water stretching and/or water aerobics!
Otherwise it’s “work out those aging computers”!

--
Brian Masinick

[Author]

Posts