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Automatically starting virtualised P1 servers

Automatically starting virtualised P1 servers

Owned by Charles Twist, created
Dec 24, 2021
5 min read

This article describes how to automatically start a P1 Server that is running virtualised rather than on bare metal hardware and then to connect its license dongle.

P1 servers currently use Debian 9 operating system which is not supported on bare metal by some hardware platforms. In these cases Debian 9 runs on a virtualised platform with a Windows 10/11 host and a linux guest.

If Entel have configured the P1 Server then the Virtual Machine will be called Debian9

The virtualisation platform used is Oracle VirtualBox

 Instructions

  1. Identify the USB address of the dongle

If the P1 Server virtual machine is currently running then stop it.

ssh to the or logon via the console and then

su

(enter password)

shutdown -h now

Decide on a USB port that the dongle will always be connected to and plug the dongle into it. Eg front one on the right or left etc. For this to work, the dongle must be fitted to this port always and not moved, otherwise the address will change.

Start a command prompt from the Windows side

cd "\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox"

vboxmanage list usbhost

This lists all the connected USB devices. Look for one with Manufacturer TechnoData Interware and Product Matrixlock Dongle (HID). eg

…

UUID: eee3ecfd-7859-40af-99fe-1e47016b285f
VendorId: 0x0e50 (0E50)
ProductId: 0x0002 (0002)
Revision: 1.1 (0101)
Port: 1
USB version/speed: 1/Low
Manufacturer: TechnoData Interware
Product: Matrixlock Dongle (HID)
Address: {745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57da}\0000
Current State: Busy

…

Note down or copy the Address value eg {745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57da}\0000

 

2. Determine Commands to start the virtual machine

The VM now needs to be started and the USB dongle connected to that virtual machine. The commands to do this are as follows, the name of the VM is Debian9 and the address of the dongle is as determined in the first step.

vboxmanage startvm Debian9 --type headless

vboxmanage controlvm "Debian9" usbattach {745a17a0-74d3-11d0-b6fe-00a0c90f57da}\0000

 

3. Configure the PC to run commands automatically

The PC needs to be configured such that it will run these two commands automatically when it starts up, regardless of whether the user logs in or not. The second command should be run 30 seconds after the first one to give time for the VM to start. This is done using the Windows Task Scheduler.

Start Task Scheduler by clicking Start and typing Task Scheduler into the search bar.

Task Scheduler should start and show user interface as follows

Right click on Task Scheduler Library and select New Folder…

Call the new folder P1 Server

Then Select P1 Server folder, Right Click and select Create Task…

Fill in each tab as follows

General

Set name and description, choose Run whether user is logged on or not, run with highest privileges and Windows 10

Triggers

Click on New to add a new trigger

Set to begin on startup and enabled

Actions

Click on New to add New Action

Select Start a program

Use browse to select Program/script

"C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\vBoxManage.exe"

Choose the startvm command

startvm Debian9 --type headless

And set start in to

C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\

OK to proceed

Conditions

Fill in these as per screen shot

Settings

Configure settings as follows

Make sure to restart every 5 minutes but not stop itself if it runs > 3 days etc

 

Now hit OK and enter the password for the Windows User.

 

If Entel set up this machine the default password is the same as the user name, if you have changed it make sure to change it here too.

This has set up the first task, to start the VM when the PC boots.

Now repeat the process to create a second task to connect the USB dongle to the VM. Follow the same procedure except as noted.

General

Name and Description are connecting dongle

Trigger

This time configure the trigger to be At startup but Delay task for 30 seconds to allow the VM time to start before connecting the dongle

Action

The action is the same program/script and Start in but with the command to connect the dongle using the address determined earlier

Then configure other tabs as before.

 

OK this new task and enter the password again. The system should now be configured to start the VM automatically when the PC starts up and then connect the USB dongle. The P1 Server software should automatically start once the VM starts and the dongle is available.

 

The P1 Server folder can be seen in the left hand pane and when selected, the two tasks in the middle pane. These tasks can be changed by right click on the task and selecting properties.

The tasks can be run manually by selecting a task and clicking on Run in the right hand pane.

 

4. Disable Hibernation

Task scheduler may not run on a cold start if the system is actually in hibernation not switched completely off. So disable Hibernation.

Run command prompt as Administrator

Execute the following command

powercfg /h off

 

5. Test the server starup

Try cold and warm boot of PC and ensure it restarts the P1 server correctly

To check whether VM is running, log onto PC and then run virtual box. The Debian9 machine should show as running

 

To check whether dongle is connected, click on Show on the Virtual Box UI and then log onto the Linux virtual machine using tassta/tassta2go (unless changed) and then use command

lsusb which should show the dongle connected

lsusb
Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0e50:0002 TechnoData Interware Matrixlock Dongle (HID)
Bus 001 Device 002: ID 80ee:0021 VirtualBox USB Tablet
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub

Terminals and Dispatchers should be able to connect to the server approximately 60s after it boots up.

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