Virtual Machine

Nitin V. Choudhari, Page 1 of 19

Nitin V. Choudhari
Date: 06 April 2013
Virtual Machines
I am presenting equally technical as well as usage of the best
implemented scientific concept of Virtualization for E-Gov Projects
through Virtual Machine. Basic concept of Virtual Machine is running
multiple Operating Systems (including client as well as server) at a time
simultaneously on single Computer. I have used this concept of Virtual
Machine

particularly

for

client

Server

Based

Land

Record

Computerization project related applications like LMIS, Agri Census, eChawdi and 7/12 data uploading on website. Basically in order to
optimize and effective use of the Hardware/Software Resources and
technical efforts and exercises to achieve goal in targeted time
configured Virtual Machine of Red Had Linux Server 7.2 and Windows
Client on the same computer system running simultaneously at a time
and then by copying readily tested Virtual Machines to Large Number of
Machines between host servers ,on Various Old, New Computer System
and Laptops, for saving the Server hardware Cost per location, backup
and Disaster Recopy, Easy and quick Testing and R & D, new effortless
deployments and basic system administration tasks and get the Client
Server based E-Gov. activities through minimum trained staff. By
running Linux Server and Windows Client simultaneously on Single
Computer, Server Hardware cost for 7/12 and Property Card per LRC
location at District and Tahsil (Block) level is saved. Implemented
Virtual Machines for LRC from around ten years for testing, entry of
7/12

and

Property

backups, disaster

Card.

recovery,

Used
new

Virtual

Machines

deployments

and

to

simply

basic

system

administration tasks and get the Client Server based E-Gov activities
through minimum trained staff. Secured ftp server configured and Ready
Usable Virtual Machines of Red Hat Linux Server 7.2, Windows XP client

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Nitin V. Choudhari, Page 2 of 19
for 7/12 RCIS, Property Card (PCIS), Windows XP and Windows 7 with
common usable softwares, kept on NIC Akolas ftp server 10.152.73.6
user: nicakolaftp password: nicakolaftp accessible on NIC network.
Districts in Maharashtra have downloaded Virtual Machines and using it
smoothly and saved Server Hardware cost per location with optimal use
of hardware software resources with minimal technical efforts and
exercises. I want to share my practical experience of scientific analysis
and findings as below which hoped to be useful for proper technical
Usage and E-Gov implementation.

Project Details are available on the District Website of Akola Titled as

Virtual Machine : NIC Akola in E-Governance menu, with the link
http://akola.nic.in/vm1.html

Virtual Machine:
The original meaning of Virtual Machine, sometime called
hardware Virtual Machine is that number of discrete identical
execution of environments (instances) on a single computer, each of
which runs an Operating System(OS). Basic use of Virtual Machine is
running multiple Operating Systems at a time Simultaneously on single
computer System.
Virtual Machine Logically divide the single Computer System
and resources into several isolated different sizes same like the
slices of the bread each of which works and feels as a separate

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computer System / Server of different client / server Operating
System and simultaneously run different isolated processes.

More than one instance of that operating system run on the same
hardware at the same time

Another operating system can run in that simulated hardware

More than one different operating system can share the same
hardware at the same time

Virtual Machine Operating System creates illusion of multiple

processors

Each capable of executing independently

No sharing, except via network protocols

Host Operating System:

The

operating

system

actually

running

on

the

hardware

Together

with

virtualization

layer,

it

simulates

environment for

Guest Operating System:

The operating system running in the simulated

environment

Virtual-machine concept provides complete protection of

system resources
Each virtual machine is isolated from all other virtual
machines. Isolation ensures that applications and services

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that run within a VM cannot interfere with the host OS or
other VMs
Therefore its one use is for the isolation of processes
with specific resources so that the processes should not
collide and affect each other.

The resources of the physical computer are shared to create the

virtual machines under which

CPU scheduling can create the appearance that each user

has own processor

Spooling and a file system provide

virtual card readers, virtual line printers

Disk partitioned to provide virtual disks

A normal user time-sharing terminal serves as the virtual

machine operators console

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Fig: Logical Structure of Virtual Machine

By using the virtual machine Software we can install the new
operating system as guest or we can configure and run the preexisting
operating system in dual boot mode, as guest operating System.
We can form Network connections between Virtual Machines
using single Network card. We can assign different IP addresses to
Different Virtual Machine using a single Network Card.

Features and Findings on use of Virtual Machine, R

& D and Scientific Analysis
1. Application Isolation: We run multiple applications at a time
simultaneously on multiple Operating Systems running on Virtual

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Machine, isolated from each other so that the execution of each
other does not affects to one another. Practically I

used it like

using multiple computer Systems at a time by using a single

computer System using Virtual Machine.
For Example: For Land Record Computerization I have
created multiple Linux server on virtual machine on different
computer systems along with the windows Client of the same
system and can run 7/12 Data Conversion utility and Data
uploading on District web site of multiple n number of Tahsils
using less than n Physical Computer systems or even with a single
physical computer system which contains virtual machines of Red
Had 7.2 Linux Server and Windows Client. This task executed
isolated to other applications so that both the process not affected
by the execution of each other. I set different IP addresses for the
Host and different Virtual machines as well as shared the single IP
addresses for the host and multiple virtual machines as per the
need and requirements of the application.
2. Setting Up distinct isolated Client/ Server Operating System
on the Single Computer System: At the same time one can use
the one computer system as a client and /or server of different
Operating System. So this way we can run client and server system
using single Machine. This is practically very useful when we have
to do the data entry on client and server Environment at large
number of distinct locations and where the server is just required

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as a background service. Under such situation we can install the
client and server on single system and process the work and this
way save the cost of the server hardware per every location.
I

have

practically

use

this

concept

in

Land

Record

Computerization in District Chandrapur, Maharashtra in 2002 ,

where it is needed to process the data entry of LRC in 14 different
Tahsils of District Chandrapur. I found it very beneficial by using
the client system as Windows XP Operating System with Database
as DB2 Personal Edition 7.2 and Server as Linux 7.2 server
Operating System with Database server as DB2 7.2 in background
running simultaneously at a time using Virtual Machines, on the
single Computer System.
3. Faster Booting and processing: Another advantage is that
booting and restarting a virtual machine can be much faster than
with physical machine, since it may be possible to skip tasks such
as hardware initialization.
4. Imagination to Guest VM as a Physical Server Hardware:
Typically, guest operating systems and programs are not aware
that they are running on a virtual platform and, as long as the
VM's virtual platform is supported, this software can be installed in
the same way it would be deployed to physical server hardware.
5. Useful for Testing and R & Purposes under Client Server
Environment : Instead of practically visiting to client and server
for testing I used Virtual Machines to switch for testing between

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client and server on the single computer system using. We can
mount the drives and disks between the Virtual Machines and
share data and resources. This way it is quite useful for Testing
and R & D Purposes.
6. VMs can also be easily moved, copied, and reassigned between
host servers to optimize hardware resource utilization. Also
We can change the shared Hardware configuration settings
allotted

to

the

Virtual

Machine

as

per

the

need

and

requirements.
Virtual Machine HDD file is just like a image of Operating System/
Partition including all the software and setting installed on that
Operating System / Partition. Its just like a mirror Image/ Ghost /
Clone of the operating System/ Partition.
Therefore by just copy paste and using, we need not have to install
the OS, Application Softwares and do exercising of setting
configuring the softwares and applications with each other. This
is very useful in the case of complicated sophisticated softwares. It
save the efforts of setting and configuring.
In order to optimize and effective use of the Hardware/Software
Resources and technical efforts and exercises to achieve the
goal in targeted time, I configured Virtual Machine of Red Had
Linux Server and Windows Client on the same computer system
running simultaneously at a time and then by copying readily
tested Virtual Machines to Large Number of Machines between

Virtual Machine
Nitin V. Choudhari, Page 9 of 19
host servers ,on Various Old, New Computer System and Laptops,
for saving the Server hardware Cost per location.
7. Useful for Backups and Disaster Recovery: Administrators can
also

take

advantage

of

virtual

environments

to

simply

backups, disaster recovery, new deployments and basic system

administration tasks
Used Virtual Machines of Red Hat Linux Server and Windows
Client for the Backup and Recovery of Whole Operating System
including Data, Application Softwars with Newtwork and Database
Connection.

As when we copies Virtual Operating System to

another Computer, Drives it can be used directly as an when

required and used as backup and recovery of the complete
Operating System.
In case any Host OS or Guest VM Client or Server OS fails, then
whole softwares, Network, Database connections and data lost and
causes

heavy

unrecoverable

disaster.

This

is

resolved

by

copying/backup whole VM of Windows client as well as RH Linux

Server on another System, Drives which later on can be directly
copy and use as an when required with all softwares, Network,
Database connections and data as Disaster recovery and backup.
8. Virtual Machines are very useful to Optimize the Technical
efforts and exercises, under the situation where a typical
complex sophisticated application software is to be used at
large number of Distinct locations., to achieve the output

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target within less time with optimal use of the Hardware /
software and resources.
Virtual Machine are very much useful when a typical Complex
application which require various supporting front end and
backend software compatible with each other with sophisticated
setting and configurations with Database and network connections,
is to be used at Discrete Distinct locations with various types of
hardware software. Under such situation such application can be
released in the form of Virtual Machine containing Operating
System with Application software working along with all the
necessary supporting software and setting, by which the users at
Discrete Distinct locations gets the directly operational Application
software along with the Operating System and all supporting
softwares with ready configured setting, Data base and network
connections. This way the complex sophisticated technical efforts /
exercises per discrete Distinct location can be saved by using
Virtual Machine with optimal use of the Hardware / software and
resources. This reduces the exercise of training to the user on
sophisticated technologies and we can get the task completed
easily through the less technical human resources.

In the practical experience of use of Agri Census Data and Agri

Census Data Conversion utility, around one month time of District
unit Officials of 35 Districts was passed in the attempts to make

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the Agri Census Data utility operational and even after that very
few succeeded with full of non uniformity. Instead if the same
working operational Agri Census Application with the Data
Conversion utility may have been released though ftp server in the
form of Virtual Machine along with all the supporting software and
settings configured, then it may have definitely saved the time and
technical efforts and exercise of the District Unit Officials of 35
District, and the specified task may have been achieved within very
less time with minimal technical efforts by just replicating the
working

virtual

machine

on

computer

systems.

The

same

technique I have used for the same purpose in Akola. I have made
the application operational on one Computer System in the form of
Virtual Machine and then replicated it on the computer Systems of
all the Tahsils.

9. Import and Export Virtual Machine: We can Import / Export

Virtual Machines between the various virtual machine softwares
like Windows Virtual Machine Mode and VMware.
10.

It is very useful to run the Application on the Computer

System which contains the non supporting host Operating

System. Under this situation we can get the same application
running and operational by installing the supporting guest
Operating Installed using the Virtual Machine.

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In case of Land Record 7/12 Data uploading on District Website,
the 7/12 Data conversion and uploading utility requires the
Computer System with 4GB of RAM. And having Operating System
Windows XP / Windows 7. I am not having any such computer
System with 4 GB of RAM on any Windows XP / Windows 7 Client
Computer System. But having Dell PowerEdge R715 Rack
Mounting Server with 32GB of RAM with Windows Server 2008
Operating System. I have installed two separate Virtual Machines,
of Windows XP and Red Hat Linux 7.2

Operating System along

with all the necessary supporting softwares and made the 7/12
Data Conversion utility operational on Dell Rack Mounting server
and uploaded 7/12 Data on District Website by configuring client
and server running simultaneously at a time on the same
computer system
It is found that while installing Red Hat Linux 7.2 on the Latest
present Computer System,

it is very difficult to install and

xconfigurate ( Graphics Mode ) and nearly impossible, but the Red

Hat 7.2 Linux Virtual Machines along with supporting IBM Db2
software and database, working on the another Computer Systems
can be easily copied and working smoothly on the Latest Present
Computer Systems in text mode which is sufficient to achieve our
aim of running Red Hat 7.2 Linux server in Background.

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Downloading Virtual Machine Softwares :
The well known Virtual Machine Software VMWARE are available for
downloading on site. https://my.vmware.com/web/vmware/downloads
and the same Microsoft Virtual Machine Softwares can be feely
downloaded from the Microsoft website.

Achievements of Using Virtual Machine

1. Running distinct isolated Red Hat Linux Server and Windows
Clients simultaneously on the Single Computer System for
Land Records Computerization (LRC) by using basic concept of
Virtual Machine of running multiple Operating Systems at a time
Simultaneously on single computer System.
2. By running the Linux Server and Windows Client simultaneously
on Single Computer System, Server Hardware cost ( Average
Cost Rs. 50 Thousand per server) for 7/12 and Property Card
per Tahsil location is saved.
3. As Virtual
reassigned

Machines
between

hardware/Software

can
host

be

easily

servers,

resource

moved,

its

used

utilization

copied
to

with

and

optimize
Minimal

Technical efforts and exercises. Used 7/12 and property card

Client, Server Virtual Machines to use a typical complex
sophisticated application at large number of Distinct Tahsil
locations by Optimizing Technical efforts and exercises, and

Virtual Machine
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achieved 7/12 and property card Data uploading on website
and Agri Census work within time.
4. Useful for Backups and Disaster Recovery: used advantage of
virtual environments to simply backups, disaster recovery, new
deployments and basic system administration tasks.
Used Virtual Machines of Red Hat Linux Server and
Windows Client for the Backup and Recovery of Whole Operating
System including Data, Application Softwars with Newtwork and
Database Connection.

As when we copies Virtual Operating

System to another Computer, Drives it can be used directly as an

when required and used as backup and recovery of the complete
Operating System.
In case any Host OS or Guest VM Client or Server OS fails, then
whole softwares, Network, Database connections and data lost and
causes

heavy

unrecoverable

disaster.

This

is

resolved

by

copying/backup whole VM of Windows client as well as RH Linux

Server on another System, Drives which later on can be directly
copy and use as an when required with all softwares, Network,
Database connections and data as Disaster recovery and backup.
5.

Secured ftp server configured and Ready Usable Virtual

Machines of Red Hat Linux Server 7.2 ,Windows XP client
for 7/12 RCIS , Property Card (PCIS) kept on NIC Akolas
ftp

server

10.152.73.6

user:

nicftpakola

password:

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nicftpakola accessible on NIC network. 15 Districts in

Maharashtra have downloaded Virtual Machines and using
it smoothly and server Hardware cost per location with
optimal use of hardware software resources with minimal
technical efforts and exercises.
Major challenges faced while implementing Virtual Machines and how
they were overcome

1. Optimization of Hardware Software, Hardware resources and

Technical exercises : Red Linux Server and Windows Client of
Single Computer Running Simultaneously : Instead of using
separate clients and server, installed Red Hat Linux Server and
Windows Client on the single Computer using Virtual Machines
running simultaneously. In around 2002 there are less Hardware
resources and therefore for testing, support and data entry
purposes it finds difficult to use separate Server ,clients and it
finds difficult for moving between

clients and server. This is

resolved by installing Red Hat Linux 7.2 Server using Virtual

Machine software as Guest Operating System on Windows client
as Host Operating System and both Windows Client and Red Hat
Linux 7.2 server running simultaneously on single client computer
system.

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2. Saved Server Hardware per LRC location : Developed readily
distributable Virtual Machine and replicated to number of SLR,
TILR, SDO and Tahsildar Offices in Akola District and in around
15 Districts in the state by configuring secured ftp server of NIC,
Akola. This way saved server hardware per location and
optimized technical exercise for easy testing, backup and Disaster
recovery of complete operating System including application
softwares, data, Network and Database connections. In order to
save server Hardware, its needed to deploy VMs of Client, Server
on various locations at District HQ and Tahsils in Land Records
SLR, TILR, SDO and Tahsildar Offices. This is resolved by
developing uniform readily distributable VMs of Windows client
and RH Linux 7.2 server for 7/12 and property card, and by coping
it, multiples required clients and servers created to complete entry
of 7/12 and Property card in less time at LRC locations at District
HQ and Tahsil.
3. Completion of work in optimum time :Entry, updating and
validation and processing of the 7/12 and Property card completed
in quick time by creating large number of client and servers just by
replicating readily Distributable Virtual Machines of Red Hat Linux
Server and Windows Client.
4. Backup and Disaster Recovery: Used Virtual Machines of Red
Hat Linux Server and Windows Client for the Backup and Recovery
of Whole Operating System including Data, Application Softwars

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with Newtwork and Database Connection.

As when we copies

Virtual Operating System to another Computer, Drives it can be

used directly as an when required and used as backup and
recovery of the complete Operating System.

In case any Host OS or Guest VM Client or Server OS fails,

then whole softwares, Network, Database connections and data
lost and causes heavy unrecoverable disaster. This is resolved by
copying/backup whole VM of Windows client as well as RH Linux
Server on another System, Drives which later on can be directly
copy and use as an when required with all softwares, Network,
Database connections and data as Disaster recovery and backup.
5. Running Application on Non Supporting Host Operating
System by installing supporting OS as Guest using Virtual
Machine. For hosting LRC data on District Web Site, needs System
with 4GB RAM and OS Win XP / 7 was not available with NIC.
Used VM on system having non supporting Win Server 2008 OS
with 32GB RAM and installed Windows XP VM and RH Linux
Server as Guest and installed LRC data hosting utility and a
hosted LRC data on District web site using single system
containing client & server.
6. Running Red Hat Linux Server for LRC on various non
supporting old , new systems and Laptops by copying readily
Distributable Red Hat Linux

7.2 Virtual Machine. Latest

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hardware is not supported by the Red Hat Linux 7.2 , developed
readily distributable VMs of RH Linux 7.2 and Windows XP client
and used independent to Hardware on various old, new Systems
and Laptops for LRC locations in Akola and used by other 15
Districts through NIC Akolas ftp server.
In the present age New hardware is not supported by the Red
Hat Linux 7.2 and therefore it is nearly found impossible to install
the Red Hat Linux Server for Land Record Computerization 7/12
as well as for property card on the present new computer systems.
Therefore the users are compelled to use only the old outdated
obsolete computer systems for the LRC Red Hat 7.2 Linux server,
whose

availability,

functionality

and

support

are

the

very

problematic now a days. In the LRC conference/ workshop on 5th

Oct 2012 at Yashda, Pune several District Representatives has
raised the issues to Settlement Commissioner, of unable to install
the Red Hat Linux Server on the New Computer Systems and the
Solution given by NIC, LRC team Pune is to hire the old Computer
System temporarily and get the Red Hat Linux 7.2 server installed
on it. This challenge is resolved by me very easily by copying and
Deploying the Readily Distributable Lab tested Red Hat Linux
Server Virtual Machines on the all the New Computer Systems
including Laptops, as well as Old Computer Systems

and Old

Laptops. The same Readily Distributable copy and movable Virtual

Machines of Windows Client and Red Hat Linux Server are

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Nitin V. Choudhari, Page 19 of 19
implemented in Akola District for Land Record Computerization in
District Head Quarter Superintend of Land Records offices and at
Division and Tahsil level in SDO and Tahsildar and TILR offices on
various New and Old Computer Systems.

The secured ftp server is configured and Ready Usable

Virtual Machines of Red Hat Linux Server 7.2 and Windows
XP client for the 7/12 RCIS

and

Property Card (PCIS)

are kept on the NIC Akolas ftp server 10.152.73.6 user

name: nicftpakola password: nicftpakola accessible on NIC
NICNET network only. The various around 15 Districts in
Maharashtra including Akola, Namely Washim, Buldhana,
Beed, Hingoli, Wardha, Nandubar, Parbhani, Amaravati,
Nagpur, Ratnagiri, Thane, Chadrapur, Osmanabad and
Raigad , have downloaded the Ready Virtual Machines and
using it smoothly by saving the server Hardware cost per
location with minimal use of hardware software resources
with minimal technical efforts and exercises.