DSL & VMWARE

Forum: Other Help Topics
Topic: DSL & VMWARE
started by: Nukl3ar

Posted by Nukl3ar on Feb. 06 2008,20:54

Ok I'm a complete noob when it comes to linux and DSL. I've managed to install the DSL virtual machine under the Vmware Player on a Windows Vista system. Now I'm lost. I would like to set up permanent storage on an external hard drive that I can access from DSL but have no idea how to do this (I'm tired of having to download the .dsl apps & such each time I restart the virtual machine). I'm posting this from DSL so I think everything is configured properly. Any and all help would be greatly appreciated. In the meantime, I'll continue to read in the hopes of running across an answer.

Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Feb. 07 2008,01:56

You could create a virtual hard drive (use IDE) saved on your external, then use it within the virtual DSL.

Posted by Nukl3ar on Feb. 07 2008,05:17

ok ... no idea what IDE is? Is that a .dsl app or do you have a link where I might find it? Or any other explanation? Sorry .... I'm a real noob at this. Thanks for the reply but I'm afraid I'm going to need more info than this - sounds like it could be a solution.

Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Feb. 07 2008,06:08

It's under vmware - you could read their docs, etc. under help perhaps?

Posted by Nukl3ar on Feb. 07 2008,17:21

Thanks for the reply. I had thought the problem to be one associated w/ DSL and my limited understanding of it. I have file sharing enabled on the Vmware Player & in Vista ( the host OS) but nothing showing up in the dialogue box there ... and nothing I seem to do from the DSL virtual machine seems to help ... I'll try in the Vmware Player forum and see if there is any help there.
Edit: OK the Vmware forum helped me to get sharing set up through Vmware ... the folder shows up now in the Vmware dialogue box but I still don't have anything when I'm using DSL. My understanding is there should be a mnt/hgfs/ entry where my shared folder should show up but there is no hgfs entry there. Any help getting this working would be appreciated.

Posted by ^thehatsrule^ on Feb. 07 2008,17:50

It looks like the player version doesn't have a tool for creating virtual disks... you could use qemu (or other utilities) to create vmdk's or download an empty one. Or try vmware server.

Posted by Nukl3ar on Feb. 07 2008,17:55

Further reading on the Vmware forums may have found the problem. Apparently the vmx file needs additional lines because of the way Win Vista Home Premium handles sharing. I've not had a chance to attempt it yet but hope to do so soon. This is apparently why even though shared folders are enabled on the Vmware Player and the host OS nothing shows up in the dialogue boxes. Thanks again for pointing me in the right direction.
Edit: Ok the Vmware forum helped me get the Player set up correctly. I now see the shared folder in the Player dialogue box. But once I'm inside DSL I don't see the /mnt/hgfs/ entry that the documentation says I should have. Apparently this entry isn't being created. Or am I doing something else wrong from within DSL?
As for the tools ... there is a method for installing them ... however you must install within a virtual machine. And that goes back to my not having permanent storage on the host system.