[Qemu-devel] [Bug 614958] [NEW] copy-paste between client and host

[Steve White]

Public bug reported:

Hi,

I propose that copy/paste between VMs be implemented somehow directly in QEMU.
This has been discussed repeatedly elsewhere; various solutions are proposed.  
See below.

As it is, each user has to do their own research and testing if they are
to find a solution.   This makes the product frustratingly unattractive
for many.

Most solutions involve either running vnc and using a vnc client that
supports copy/paste (this can be tricky to find itself), or running some
other tcp-based copy-paste application.

For many users, the networking in a client VM is unimportant--they just
want to run some application there, and setting up netoworking in a VM
itself can be an issue.  Most of these solutions rely on un-maintained
software, and some require that other software be installed to make them
work (Basic interpreter, Java, etc).  Any of these solutions take some
work to set up.

I can tell you, the absence of a copy/paste mechanism makes the project
an immediate no-go for many users.  I work with a guy who spent a lot of
time trying, gave up, and switched to VirtualBox for this exact reason.

It would be much better if copy/paste worked out of the box.  Ideally,
it should work independently of networking.

Cheers!

Some discussions and proposed solutions:
-----------------------------------------------------
http://qemu-forum.ipi.fi/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=161
    Somebody suggests VNC into the virtual host, and use vncviewer
    Somebody else suggests TCP/IP Clipboard (text editor with tcp/ip)

http://qemu-forum.ipi.fi/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2626
    primitive app for sharing text across machines (in Basic)
    http://homepage.mac.com/bnej/shareclip/

http://borderworlds.dk/blog/20070217-00.html
    Says doesn't know a good solution but points to unmaintained package
    Qemu Guest Tools
    http://wolfpackally.wo.funpic.de/qemu/qgt/

http://bonzoli.com/docs/How_to_setup_Qemu_on_Fedora_8.html
    proposes Java remoteclip running on client and server
    http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/user/rcm/WWW/RemoteClip/

** Affects: qemu
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

-- 
copy-paste between client and host
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/614958
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Status in QEMU: New

Bug description:
Hi,

I propose that copy/paste between VMs be implemented somehow directly in QEMU.
This has been discussed repeatedly elsewhere; various solutions are proposed.  
See below.

As it is, each user has to do their own research and testing if they are to 
find a solution.   This makes the product frustratingly unattractive for many.

Most solutions involve either running vnc and using a vnc client that supports 
copy/paste (this can be tricky to find itself), or running some other tcp-based 
copy-paste application. 

For many users, the networking in a client VM is unimportant--they just want to 
run some application there, and setting up netoworking in a VM itself can be an 
issue.  Most of these solutions rely on un-maintained software, and some 
require that other software be installed to make them work (Basic interpreter, 
Java, etc).  Any of these solutions take some work to set up.

I can tell you, the absence of a copy/paste mechanism makes the project an 
immediate no-go for many users.  I work with a guy who spent a lot of time 
trying, gave up, and switched to VirtualBox for this exact reason.

It would be much better if copy/paste worked out of the box.  Ideally, it 
should work independently of networking.

Cheers!

Some discussions and proposed solutions:
-----------------------------------------------------
http://qemu-forum.ipi.fi/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=161
    Somebody suggests VNC into the virtual host, and use vncviewer
    Somebody else suggests TCP/IP Clipboard (text editor with tcp/ip)

http://qemu-forum.ipi.fi/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=2626
    primitive app for sharing text across machines (in Basic)
    http://homepage.mac.com/bnej/shareclip/

http://borderworlds.dk/blog/20070217-00.html
    Says doesn't know a good solution but points to unmaintained package
    Qemu Guest Tools
    http://wolfpackally.wo.funpic.de/qemu/qgt/

http://bonzoli.com/docs/How_to_setup_Qemu_on_Fedora_8.html
    proposes Java remoteclip running on client and server
    http://www.cs.cmu.edu/afs/cs/user/rcm/WWW/RemoteClip/