software virtualization (for advanced users)

[andy6387]

This was taken from another forum (http://forums.somethingawful.com/showth ... id=1835343 sometimes it'll let you view without being a member, YMMV), it is a utility that i have found absolutely amazing for my everyday use of a computer, however i will warn that it is geared to be more for advanced users.

I thought this could be especially useful for new Lenovo laptops because of all the crap they load in with it. With this, you can still have it but only enable it when you need it, increasing startup time but still allowing you to have the "useful" tools should you require them.

I'm not sure how many of you are aware of this technology, but I've been using it for the past couple of months and I really like it a lot!

Edit: Here is an article that explains what it does better than I can: http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,1895,1941377,00.asp

Where virtual machine utilities like VMware Workstation manage entire virtual computers, Altiris Software Virtualization Solution 2.0 virtualizes individual software installations. In the latest PC Magazine Technical Excellence Awards, we recognized the product based on a beta version. The utility can instantly wipe out a problem program, allow alternating use of incompatible applications, and make transferring software between computers a breeze.

...

Once installed on a system, SVS runs continually. If you install a program under it, SVS grabs all changes to the Registry and file system (including added and deleted files) that the installer makes and puts them in what Altiris calls a layer. Thereafter, the virtualization software directs file and Registry calls to the layer or to the base system as appropriate. The SVS-installed app looks perfectly normal, but disappears without a trace when you deactivate the layer. You can turn the app on and off like a light switch.

As a huge bonus, the software is FREE for personal use, so I recommend everyone at least try it. Plus, PC Magazine named this software co-winner of their Technical Excellence Award with Firefox. HOLY [censored] FIREFOX!!!

(Disclaimer: I work for the company who makes this software, but since it is free and I'm sure you will like it, I hope it doesn't matter. It should also put me in a position to answer questions better, so fire away.)

Enough talk already, here is how to do it:

1. Download Altiris SVS from download.com: http://www.download.com/Software-Virtua ... tag=button . Make sure you check the Install Admin Tool checkbox during installation.

2. Go to http://svsdownloads.com and download some layers. They will have .sva extensions.

If you need some suggestions, try:

- Firefox 1.5.0.1
- Azureus 2.4.0.2
- FileZilla 2.2.18
- GIMP 2.2.10
- Internet Explorer - Reset On Close (put this on your parent's computer)

3. Open the Software Virtualization Admin (Start > All Programs > Altiris > Software Virtualization > Admin)

4. In the Admin interface, click File > Import from Archive. Browse to your .sva to add it.

5. After it is imported, you can enable and disable it by right clicking.

Thats it! Feel free to ask questions and I'll try to answer them, and have fun. If this catches on, I'll explain how to capture layers later on.

I was not the author of this, but i have become pretty familiar with the program and will be happy to answer any questions

the thread i linked in the first sentence (HERE) is filled with very useful information about it.

[jdhurst]

Andy penned: "I thought this could be especially useful for new Lenovo laptops because of all the crap they load in with it."

Here we go again. Do you know ANYTHING about what goes into an IBM build?

You need: Audio driver, Video driver, Airbag software, Power Management, Wired NIC driver, Wireless NIC driver, Modem driver, Infrared driver, Bluetooth driver, Access Connections (in my opinion as well as that of many others). What is CRAP about this list?

The rest of it (Presentation director, Software installer, Easy Eject, ThinkPad config) ranges from very useful to OK. Of this list, don't use what you don't like.

I could care less what you use, but calling well-designed, reliable and efficient applications that use no CPU and not much memory CRAP borders on uninformed.

By the way, I am doing this in Ubuntu as a VMware guest. VMware still makes the best sandbox tool out there from my point of view (YMMV)
... JD Hurst

[andy6387]

i apologize if i rubbed you the wrong way, that was most certainly not my intention . perhaps i should've used the word "bloat" instead of "crap", perhaps that wouldn't have upset you so much? The *bloat* that i speak of comes from what i have read primarily in the T60 forum. i must've been mistaken that 90 processes running at start is just drivers and regular windows functions. many people have talked about completely wiping their harddrive because of all the processes that are bundled in with it. a few threads are here:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=22807
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=22225
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=22296

VMware is a hardware virtualization program, while this is a software virtualization program. You install a program, mozilla firefox for example, and it will be entirely self contained (registry entries, file locations, possible hidden spyware installs), however it will appear completely normal to the file system while enabled. Once it is disabled, it is as if the utility was never even there. If you do not like it, do not use it. However do not borderline flame me for trying to show people what is in my opnion a very good utility that quite a few people could benefit from.

[christopher_wolf]

i apologize if i rubbed you the wrong way, that was most certainly not my intention . perhaps i should've used the word "bloat" instead of "crap", perhaps that wouldn't have upset you so much? The *bloat* that i speak of comes from what i have read primarily in the T60 forum. i must've been mistaken that 90 processes running at start is just drivers and regular windows functions. many people have talked about completely wiping their harddrive because of all the processes that are bundled in with it. a few threads are here:

http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=22807
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=22225
http://forum.thinkpads.com/viewtopic.php?t=22296

VMware is a hardware virtualization program, while this is a software virtualization program. You install a program, mozilla firefox for example, and it will be entirely self contained (registry entries, file locations, possible hidden spyware installs), however it will appear completely normal to the file system while enabled. Once it is disabled, it is as if the utility was never even there. If you do not like it, do not use it. However do not borderline flame me for trying to show people what is in my opnion a very good utility that quite a few people could benefit from.

You aren't being flammed, for one; two, of what "amazing stupendous" use is this on Thinkpads? Including the T60. Yes, there is more "Stuff" that comes with the new T60s than with the T4X Series; i.e. Google Desktop (Which I dislike). For the better part, though, you get the necessary drivers and utilities to make it run. Compare this to my old HP, know what it came with? True bloatware *and* crap. Extra word processors, *several* trial versions for AOL, etc.

All that is doing is adding another layer of abstraction between the software and the goal and manages that. Should something go awry there, since you are seperating it from the registry, all hell can break loose. It can happen, I have seen it.

[andy6387]

while this really has no unique advantages for an IBM laptop over an HP or dell, i'm not a member of any dell or hp forums. It is simply an application that i tried out, really liked, and decided to share with others.

[jdhurst]

I am off-topic here because I will return to the process stuff.

We see in the forum, regularly, people who wander in and call processes *bloatware*, *crap* and all manner of other epithets. Quite a number go on to say "I have too many processes running" without knowing whether the number running is correct or not.

I don't have a T60, so I don't have any additional T60 software, just my T41 software.

There is nothing wrong with processes. My T41 has 77 processes running, my NetVista A30 has 60 processes running (no battery, no PCMCIA, no Access Connnections, no wireless, yada, yada, yada), and my Ubuntu Linux guest has 72 processes running (and he thinks he is a desktop machine).

Processes are a good thing in they are a reflection of services that have started outside of loggin on, and are available (a) to all users and (b) when you need them. My Windows and Linux processes consume very little CPU except and unless active. The processes *do* consume memory, but (a) that is what memory is for and (b) memory is cheap.

I am not flaming you and neither am I personally offended (I don't care what others do for themselves). Cheers. ... JD Hurst

[JHEM]

It is simply an application that i tried out, really liked, and decided to share with others.

Again, you're not being flamed, but you've hit on a sore point, just in case you hadn't already noticed.

Newbies who come on the Forum and decry "OMG all those running processes, what can I kill?" are clueless at best and dangerous at worst.

I've got 84 running processes at the moment, but a quick three finger salute will bring up the task manager where you can click on processes and then sort them by CPU demand.

Want to know the biggest CPU user? The Taskmanager itself! Followed by Acrobat. Almost everything else is at Zero for CPU demand and consists of drivers, etc. to keep my T41p humming reliably.

Half of my 1.5GB of RAM is in use by these processes (largest user being Firefox at 95MB), a further indicator that the easiest way to "upgrade" a laptop is by adding RAM. Pagefile is at 714MB with no calls at the present time, but that will change when I actually break down and start doing some work today in AutoCAD.

Running processes in and of themselves aren't "bad" nor do they, when correctly implemented, negatively affect a computer but rather augment it.

Regards,

James

[Kyocera]

wise man once said "one mans crap is another mans much need software to run his machine the way he needs it"

I did download that altiris and plan on trying it because i have to load a bunch of firmware updating tools on my lapper from different manufacturers, they have revisions every 90 days or so and a lot of times i have to painfully uninstall the older versions, regedit and so fourth. Seems worth a try anyway as i clean install often to keep this thing pristine

[epic]

I can see this tool used to seperate the base system from application beta/trial runs without inflicting any perminent damages to the core system.

However, using it to manage processes to free up kb's of memory (ie. thinkpads, etc...), would not be recommended. Most of the processes are much needed to operate, much less take up little if no memory.

Very useful, apart from VMware, and convenient.