1.4. Installing Supporting Components

1.4.1. Installing Console Components

A console is a graphical window that allows you to view the start up screen, shut down screen, and desktop of a virtual machine, and to interact with that virtual machine in a similar way to a physical machine. In Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization, the default application for opening a console to a virtual machine is Remote Viewer, which must be installed on the client machine prior to use.

1.4.1.1. Installing Remote Viewer on Red Hat Enterprise Linux

The Remote Viewer application provides users with a graphical console for connecting to virtual machines. Once installed, it is called automatically when attempting to open a SPICE session with a virtual machine. Alternatively, it can also be used as a standalone application. Remote Viewer is included in the virt-viewer package provided by the base Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation and Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server repositories.

Procedure 1.1. Installing Remote Viewer on Linux

  1. Install the virt-viewer package: 
    # yum install virt-viewer
  2. Restart your browser for the changes to take effect.
You can now connect to your virtual machines using either the SPICE protocol or the VNC protocol.

1.4.1.2. Installing Remote Viewer on Windows

The Remote Viewer application provides users with a graphical console for connecting to virtual machines. Once installed, it is called automatically when attempting to open a SPICE session with a virtual machine. Alternatively, it can also be used as a standalone application.

Procedure 1.2. Installing Remote Viewer on Windows

  1. Open a web browser and download one of the following installers according to the architecture of your system.
    • Virt Viewer for 32-bit Windows: 
      https://your-manager-fqdn/ovirt-engine/services/files/spice/virt-viewer-x86.msi
    • Virt Viewer for 64-bit Windows: 
      https://your-manager-fqdn/ovirt-engine/services/files/spice/virt-viewer-x64.msi
  2. Open the folder where the file was saved.
  3. Double-click the file.
  4. Click Run if prompted by a security warning.
  5. Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control.
Remote Viewer is installed and can be accessed via Remote Viewer in the VirtViewer folder of All Programs in the start menu.

Note

Remote Viewer can also be accessed using the ActiveX browser plug-in for Internet Explorer. This console option uses the version of Remote Viewer provided by the SpiceX.cab installation program. However, this plug-in will be deprecated in versions beyond Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization 3.6, and is not recommended.

1.4.2. Installing usbdk on Windows

usbdk is a driver that is able to install and uninstall Windows USB drivers in guest virtual machines. Installing usbdk requires Administrator privileges.

Procedure 1.3. Installing usbdk on Windows

  1. Open a web browser and download one of the following installers according to the architecture of your system.
    • usbdk for 32-bit Windows: 
      https://[your manager's address]/ovirt-engine/services/files/spice/usbdk-x86.msi
    • usbdk for 64-bit Windows: 
      https://[your manager's address]/ovirt-engine/services/files/spice/usbdk-x64.msi
  2. Open the folder where the file was saved.
  3. Double-click the file.
  4. Click Run if prompted by a security warning.
  5. Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control.
The SPICE client sends requests to install or uninstall drivers for USB devices when users connect or disconnect USB devices to or from a guest, upon request.

Important

USB Clerk will be deprecated in releases following Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization 3.6. It is recommended that you use the usbdk driver for new and existing virtual machines.

1.4.3. Installing USB Clerk on Windows

USB Clerk provides a service that is able to install and uninstall Windows USB drivers in guest virtual machines.

Procedure 1.4. Installing USB Clerk on Windows

  1. Open a web browser and download one of the following installers according to the architecture of your system.
    • USB Clerk for 32-bit Windows: 
      https://[your manager's address]/ovirt-engine/services/files/spice/usbclerk-x86.msi
    • USB Clerk for 64-bit Windows: 
      https://[your manager's address]/ovirt-engine/services/files/spice/usbclerk-x64.msi
  2. Open the folder where the file was saved.
  3. Double-click the file.
  4. Click Run if prompted by a security warning.
  5. Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control.
The SPICE client sends requests to install or uninstall drivers for USB devices when users connect or disconnect USB devices to or from a guest, upon request.

Important

USB Clerk will be deprecated in releases following Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization 3.6. It is recommended that you use the usbdk driver for new and existing virtual machines.