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LivePC Engine User Guide - Windows

Introduction to LivePCs

Overview

A LivePC™ is a dynamically generated series of virtual machine images: a creator generates the images; a subscriber runs the latest version of the LivePC with a single mouse click.

In a shared LivePC, the system data is separated from individual subscriber's data (settings and documents), so that personal data persists across updates.

To start, users of our system must first download the LivePC Engine™, which comes with a default LivePC. They can play the default LivePC, or they can subscribe to new LivePCs at www.moka5.com/livepc.

The LivePC Engine will automatically download the most up-to-date image. If you are connected to the LivePC server on a fast network, you can start the LivePC as soon as you have subscribed to it. Otherwise, it can take a little while to download the LivePC.

The Engine downloads the LivePC without supervision in the background; you just have to leave it alone for a little while. It is like having to plug in the battery of a new gadget before use. The good news is that you don't have to wait for the entire image to be transferred to start, but only the frequently accessed blocks. Also, once you get the first image, the updates are transferred incrementally. Subscribers simply click on the LivePC to run the latest version.

Creators, on the other hand, have to create their images, host the images on an http server, and register the LivePC. Register by going to http://www.moka5.com/livepc/ and clicking on 'Post new LivePC'. Registration provides the creator with a Sharing URL that he can save away or share with others; it also includes the LivePC in moka5's LivePC Library.

System Requirements

To run LivePCs you need the following hardware and software requirements:

Hardware Requirements

  • 1 GHz Pentium III
  • Minimum 512MB RAM (1GB RAM Recommended)
  • Network connection to the Internet
  • Hard Disk with at least 2GB of free space (4GB Recommended)

Software Requirements

  • Windows XP Home Service Pack 2
  • Windows XP Pro Service Pack 2
  • Windows XP Media Center Service Pack 2

Requirements for External Device Installation

  • An external device:
    • HD-based:
      • iPod Video 30GB
      • iPod video 60GB
      • Iomega 18" drive
      • Apricorn 1.8" drive
    • Flash memory
      • iPod Nano 4GB
      • Apacer Steno 4GB
      • Samsung Sansa 6GB
      • SD Card 4GB
  • Minimum drive capacity: 4GB
  • LivePC Engine: Mobile can be used with with any PC that has the Windows XP SP2 operating system

The Main Screen

LivePCs are full computing environments published by a variety of people for a wide variety of uses. You can access and use LivePCs by running the LivePC Engine software. Instructions for setting up the LivePC Engine software are available in the LivePC Engine Startup Guide: Windows Version.

The LivePC Engine main screen appears when you start-up your LivePC Engine.

To get you started we have preloaded a demo LivePC called 'Damn Small LivePC'' that appears on the main screen. To open the set of commands that help you control and run your LivePC, click on expander, which is the double arrow sign to the right of the charge bar. When the arrows are pointed up, the menu is expanded. To close the expander, just click on the double arrow sign, then the arrows will be pointed down. You can double-click on the name of the LivePC to get a dialog box that includes details such as the full LivePC name, and a description of the LivePC. Please note that the 'Backup Status' information only appears if you have chosen to install the LivePC Engine on a removable storage device rather than your desktop, and if you choose the 'Backup' option.

To exit the LivePC Engine software, click on the 'X' at the top right of the screen. To access LivePC Engine documentation, click on the '?'. To minimize the LivePC Engine screen, click on the '-'.

Subscribing to LivePCs

You can subscribe to public LivePCs by visiting the LivePC Library. To enter the library, start your LivePC Engine. Select 'Library.' This brings you to the moka5 LivePC Library. You will see a listing of public LivePCs. When you see a LivePC that you wish to subscribe to, click on the 'Download' link next to the LivePC's name.

Next you will be asked if you want to open or save the file. Select 'Open.'

You will then be returned to the LivePC Engine main screen, and you will see your newly subscribed LivePC added. You can subscribe to and view on the LivePC Engine main screen as many LivePCs as can be displayed depending on the size of your screen.

Registering Your LivePCs

You can create a LivePC and register it so that it can be publicly used by anyone who accesses the moka5.com LivePC Library. Register by going to http://www.moka5.com/livepc/ and clicking on 'Post new LivePC'. Registration provides you with a Sharing URL that you can save away or share with others; it also includes the LivePC in moka5's LivePC Library. See the LivePC Creator Guide for more detailed information.

LivePC State Information

When you launch on a LivePC for the first time, the LivePC Engine starts downloading the LivePC to your local storage.

When you are downloading a LivePC you will see its charge bar fill up. Clicking or hovering over the battery displays the percentage of how much of the LivePC has been downloaded and the total size of the LivePC.

In all non-operation states (suspended, buffering, waiting, ready), a 'play' button appears to the left of the text. Clicking on the play button starts the LivePC. In the case of 'suspended,' it restores the LivePC state. This is the same behavior as double-clicking the icon.

You will see a circular 'progress' meter that measures where you are in a specific operation.

Means the operation is partially completed.

Means the operation doesn't have a defined end-point.

Means the operation is completed.

You will also see words describing the state of the LivePC:

  • starting: LivePC is starting.
  • operating: This is a catch all for whatever is the current LivePC operation, e.g. starting, running, packaging, importing. These exclude other operations from happening (e.g. start, package, edit VMX).
  • suspended: The LivePC is suspended. You can delete the suspended state by clicking on the revert arrow button that appears to the right of "suspended". Starting a LivePC that is suspended will resume the suspended state. You can't package or edit a suspended LivePC.
  • buffering: The LivePC is currently being downloaded. Right now, only one LivePC is actively downloaded at a time. To stop downloading that LivePC, a 'pause' button appears to the right of the text.
  • not buffered :The LivePC wants more data, depending on whether the LivePC has a trace or not. A "download" button (down arrow) appears to the right of the text to begin downloading the LivePC. At most one LivePC can be downloading at a given time, so this can cause another LivePC to transition from "buffering..." to "not buffered ..."
  • ready: The LivePC is ready for you to use and starting the LivePC should be fast.
  • ready (available offline): The LivePC has the 'Let me use disconnected' option enabled and is fully charged.

Downloading LivePCs can take some time, depending on their size. Please be patient. We suggest that you start your download and take a coffee break. When you come back, you'll have a great new computing environment to play with.

LivePC Security

Each LivePC is run on the LivePC Engine as a separate virtual computer, using virtual machine technology. A LivePC has no way of knowing what other LivePCs you are subscribed to. A LivePC is not able to access the personal data that you store in other LivePCs – it can only access the personal data that you store in that particular LivePC.

This means that you can feel free to play around with new LivePCs! Your other LivePCs and the personal files you store in them will be safe and secure.

LivePC Maintenance

LivePCs are maintained and modified by their publisher, as well as by users, who can choose to save their own changes locally.

When the publisher uploads modifications to their LivePC, all of the LivePC Engines subscribing to a LivePC will automatically download the changes. The update will take effect immediately the next time that you start that LivePC.

If you are running a LivePC when an update arrives, you will continue using the previous version. You will pick up the changes the next time that you shutdown that LivePC and start it again from the LivePC Engine menu.

Important Note: If you want to have the LivePC Engine keep your local system changes to the LivePC, then you will NOT get network updates. For more information on how to change your LivePC settings to save local system changes, see 'Making System Changes to a LivePC' section of this guide.

Either you can administer your LivePC, or the publisher can administer your LivePC. To learn more about administering your LivePC, see the LivePC Creator Guide.