Re: [Texmacs-dev] MathBox - A GNU Linux VirtualBox Virtual Guest Appliance (aka "a virtual machine")

[David E. Miller]

Dear all:

The MathBox-12.10.zip archive file that includes the MathBox-12.10.ova 
file (used to import the VM), INSTALL and other README files is 
available for download from:

https://mega.co.nz/#!kgNSFDob!RtjfzhIHGiQEqke3NHLSgmeIUGclCT-eO7lKknO0LGU 
<https://mega.co.nz/#%21kgNSFDob%21RtjfzhIHGiQEqke3NHLSgmeIUGclCT-eO7lKknO0LGU>

An SHA256SUM hash file that may be used to check this ZIP archive file 
after downloading is available at:

https://mega.co.nz/#!dpsCjSZL!PU198iNkPm9D1KUX6Ej9wxADWVJOzD3PU2PfM_FLDoM 
<https://mega.co.nz/#%21dpsCjSZL%21PU198iNkPm9D1KUX6Ej9wxADWVJOzD3PU2PfM_FLDoM>

The ZIP archive file is 3.19 GB in size. Bring some coffee. I don't have 
a TAR GZIP (tgz) version yet, but I'm working on it.

The hosting site recommends Google Chrome for best downloading results. 
Other browsers should work.

I strongly recommend that you clone the VM after importing using the 
VirtualBox Host VM Manager program. Then you do not have to worry if you 
do something to your cloned copy that is irreversibly bad for some 
reason. Just clone another from the original. Thus there should be no 
reason to have to download the original again or re-import the original 
which are both other options. You may also clone a cloned VM and 
VirtualBox has a snapshot feature that you may want to use to back out 
of a change to your system. See the built-in VirtualBox Help menu about 
using snapshots.

The username is : mathboxuser
The default password is: password (you can change this if you know how)

There is a README folder on the desktop which has some relevant 
information. Refer to the README-FIRST file there. It is recommended 
that you keep all "working files" in a folder on a USB drive or using 
Shared Folders on of the host machine. This will allow you to access 
those files from other VMs or from your host system and minimize the 
possibility of having them marooned on your VM. See the 
SHARED-FOLDERS-HOW-TO file or refer to the VirtualBox Help for 
information about mounting USB devices using a VM. There is also a 
MathBox documentation folder with some information relevant to the 
individual software tools.

The ZIP archive includes an INSTALL file. On most host systems you can 
import the VM merely by double-clicking on the MathBox-12.10.ova file 
after extracting from the ZIP archive.

If you want to install the latest TeXmacs version I recommend that the 
installed version is removed (use Synaptics Package Manager) and then 
compiled and installed from source -- using make this and that. You also 
might find a .deb file somewhere for the latest version instead. If you 
compile from source you may have to edit the desktop and menu .desktop 
files to point them to the new TeXmacs executable. I'm not sure that it 
will still be in the PATH. Click on the desktop icon after installing 
from source and if the program launches then no changes should be required.

sudo lxmed gets you into the menu editor. The desktop program links can 
be edited directly.

Contact me at: address@hidden if there are any issues or 
questions. Please read all the READMEs first.

David Miller





On 3/11/2013 8:20 PM, David E. Miller wrote:
> All developers:
>
> I have configured an Oracle VM VirtualBox guest using the GNU/Linux 
> distribution Lubuntu. This guest VM will run on MS Windows, OS X, 
> supported Linux distributions, Solaris, et al. It is also compatible 
> with the VMware player since the it uses VMDK as the disk format.
>
> This VM features TeXmacs along with other core mathematics software. 
> It was created as a consequence of the frustrations involved with 
> compatibility issues involved with using TeXmacs on these different 
> operating systems. The MathBox VM is a complete GNU Linux distribution 
> that may be configured after installation as desired for individual 
> circumstances. It is based on Ubuntu and Debian so users have access 
> to the power of all tools available to these systems as packages.
>
> There is no cost for this VM. It is offered for use as a public 
> service. It requires about 20 minutes or less to install not including 
> download time which obviously will vary according to individual 
> circumstances. It requires users to install Oracle VM VirtualBox host 
> software (recommended) or a VMware player (not used by author, but 
> should work). The VirtualBox extension pack is also recommended. The 
> MathBox VM is an OVA format that is merely imported using the Oracle 
> VM Host manager software. An included INSTALL file contains complete 
> installation instructions.
>
> For those with an interest in this MathBox VM please reply to this 
> message and I will send instructions for downloading the VM.
>
> Best wishes.
>
> David E. Miller
>
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