Building virtual appliances with VMware Studio and SUSE Studio
Appliance Builder

© Peter Galbraith, Fotolia
A virtual appliance combines the benefits of virtualization with the simplicity of a single-service device. We show you how to roll your own virtual appliances with VWware Studio and SUSE Studio.
Appliances are electronic gadgets placed in a server room to do one specific job. In the IT space, hardware-based appliances index documents, provide firewall security, and serve as content management systems. These hardware appliances are easy to deploy and configure, but they still take up space. If you're worried about the complications of adding more iron to your rack, you might be looking for something a little more virtual.
A virtual appliance is a virtual machine (VM) that includes a minimal operating system with only the most essential applications – typically centered around a custom tool designed for a specific business need. Virtual appliances can do almost anything a hardware appliance can do. Virtual appliances are deployed as intrusion detection devices, honeypots, firewalls, mail servers, DNS servers, CMS appliances, and much more.
A virtual appliance has all the advantages of other virtual systems – easy deployment, lower utility cost, minimal hardware expense – and it even offers some advantages over conventional virtual systems, such as a smaller OS footprint and reduced memory requirements. Virtual appliances also provide some security benefits: because the system is pared to absolutely minimal functionality, fewer ports are open to intruders. Many virtual appliances get by with only a single dedicated service plus sshd for administrative access.
[...]
Buy this article as PDF
(incl. VAT)
Buy Linux Magazine
Subscribe to our Linux Newsletters
Find Linux and Open Source Jobs
Subscribe to our ADMIN Newsletters
Support Our Work
Linux Magazine content is made possible with support from readers like you. Please consider contributing when you’ve found an article to be beneficial.

News
-
OpenMandriva Lx 6.0 Available for Installation
The latest release of OpenMandriva has arrived with a new kernel, an updated Plasma desktop, and a server edition.
-
TrueNAS 25.04 Arrives with Thousands of Changes
One of the most popular Linux-based NAS solutions has rolled out the latest edition, based on Ubuntu 25.04.
-
Fedora 42 Available with Two New Spins
The latest release from the Fedora Project includes the usual updates, a new kernel, an official KDE Plasma spin, and a new System76 spin.
-
So Long, ArcoLinux
The ArcoLinux distribution is the latest Linux distribution to shut down.
-
What Open Source Pros Look for in a Job Role
Learn what professionals in technical and non-technical roles say is most important when seeking a new position.
-
Asahi Linux Runs into Issues with M4 Support
Due to Apple Silicon changes, the Asahi Linux project is at odds with adding support for the M4 chips.
-
Plasma 6.3.4 Now Available
Although not a major release, Plasma 6.3.4 does fix some bugs and offer a subtle change for the Plasma sidebar.
-
Linux Kernel 6.15 First Release Candidate Now Available
Linux Torvalds has announced that the release candidate for the final release of the Linux 6.15 series is now available.
-
Akamai Will Host kernel.org
The organization dedicated to cloud-based solutions has agreed to host kernel.org to deliver long-term stability for the development team.
-
Linux Kernel 6.14 Released
The latest Linux kernel has arrived with extra Rust support and more.