Any VMware experts on a Vista site?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Gordon Biggar
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Gordon Biggar

Before I go to VMware with questions, I thought that I would try the Vista
experts here to see if there is a match-up of the two talents. I recently
had someone load VMware Workstation 6 on my new Dell desktop, which uses a
Vista 64-bit platform. I now have the capability to run a Vista 32-bit
platform by clicking on a desktop icon (situated on the 64-bit platform). I
need occasionally to run dBase III programs in a 32-bit environment, which
obviously a 64-bit environment will not tolerate.

I connect to the Internet on a wireless basis, using a RangeMax Wireless-N
USB 2.0 Adapter. This Internet connection works fine on the 64-bit
platform. In the 32-bit environment, I am able to make a local network
connection, but I am not able to connect to the Internet. When in Windows
Explorer (32-bit platform), I do not see any USB ports enabled. The
individual who installed the VMware said that I should not need a USB port
in the 32-bit setup to connect to the Internet.

Has anyone had any experience using VMware and establishing Internet
connections from other than the base platform?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions that may pertain to my frustration!

Gordon Biggar
Houston, Texas
 
Before I go to VMware with questions, I thought that I would try the Vista
experts here to see if there is a match-up of the two talents. I recently
had someone load VMware Workstation 6 on my new Dell desktop, which uses a
Vista 64-bit platform. I now have the capability to run a Vista 32-bit
platform by clicking on a desktop icon (situated on the 64-bit platform). I
need occasionally to run dBase III programs in a 32-bit environment, which
obviously a 64-bit environment will not tolerate.

I connect to the Internet on a wireless basis, using a RangeMax Wireless-N
USB 2.0 Adapter. This Internet connection works fine on the 64-bit
platform. In the 32-bit environment, I am able to make a local network
connection, but I am not able to connect to the Internet. When in Windows
Explorer (32-bit platform), I do not see any USB ports enabled. The
individual who installed the VMware said that I should not need a USB port
in the 32-bit setup to connect to the Internet.

Has anyone had any experience using VMware and establishing Internet
connections from other than the base platform?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions that may pertain to my frustration!

Gordon Biggar
Houston, Texas
Click to expand...

NOT a VMWare expert - but I played with it a little some time ago.....
Try looking for a setting something like NAT for the
connection to the Internet - IIRC it worked for me both wirelessly and
wired/ethernet. It's also the setting that works easiest in VPC - but
won't work if you're directly connecting to the Internet via a USB
dongle.

HTH
 
I have used VMWare workstation but found on a Windows computer the Microsoft
solutions worked better. For use like you describe Virtual PC works well. In
all the virtual environments I've used the answer to your question is to
create a virtual network adapter in the virtual machine configuration. You
would then bind this virtual adapter to the real network adapter, again in
the vm configuration not in the vm itself. The vm will then see a simulated
network adapter. In the case of VMWare Workstation and a Vista guest I
believe the adapter will show up as an Intel Pro NIC of some sort. In any
case it is a NIC that Vista has a built in driver for.

http://pubs.vmware.com/ws65_ace25/wwhelp/wwhimpl/js/html/wwhelp.htm
 
Gordon said:
Before I go to VMware with questions, I thought that I would try the
Vista experts here to see if there is a match-up of the two talents. I
recently had someone load VMware Workstation 6 on my new Dell desktop,
which uses a Vista 64-bit platform. I now have the capability to run a
Vista 32-bit platform by clicking on a desktop icon (situated on the
64-bit platform). I need occasionally to run dBase III programs in a
32-bit environment, which obviously a 64-bit environment will not tolerate.

I connect to the Internet on a wireless basis, using a RangeMax
Wireless-N USB 2.0 Adapter. This Internet connection works fine on the
64-bit platform. In the 32-bit environment, I am able to make a local
network connection, but I am not able to connect to the Internet. When
in Windows Explorer (32-bit platform), I do not see any USB ports
enabled. The individual who installed the VMware said that I should not
need a USB port in the 32-bit setup to connect to the Internet.

Has anyone had any experience using VMware and establishing Internet
connections from other than the base platform?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions that may pertain to my frustration!

Gordon Biggar
Houston, Texas
Click to expand...

Did you install VMWare tools yet?

--
"Software is like sex, it's better when it's free."
- Linus Torvalds

DRM and unintended consequences:
http://blogs.techrepublic.com.com/security/?p=435&tag=nl.e101
 
Sir Kerry --

Being a newbie to virtual machines, I'm not sure that I have your
terminology totally down.

I boot up into Vista 64; I presume that this is the "host." Is this your
"virtual machine configuration?"

I can then double-click on a Vista 32 icon, which takes me to that
environment. I presume that this is the "guest?" and the "vm," or the
virtual machine?

When I am in Vista 32, and if I open Windows Explorer, I don't understand
why I do not see any of the USB ports (all I see is the C drive and a DVD
drive). Supposedly, I have enabled the USB Controller in the Vista 32 vm
setup.

I have installed Netgear's wireless USB Adapter on the host, or in the Vista
64 environment. It works splendidly in connecting to the Internet. I have
been told that I should not have to install this again for the Vista 32
environment. When I boot into the vm (?) - Vista 32 - I do get an error
message that says "Windows needs to install driver software for your USB2.0
WLAN." This would seem to imply to me that Vista 32 is seeing the USB
device. However, the drivers are not stand-alone on the Netgear CD, so the
install function cannot find them. Maybe this means that I need to run the
install utility within Vista 32 in order to get the drivers loaded? Or,
will this create problems elsewhere? like back on the host (Vista 64)?

Life never seems to be very simple!

Gordon
 
Gordon, when you open VMware you see the screen to power on the virtual
machine. In the 'Devices' pane you have details of memory, hard disk, cd/dvd
etc. Look at the network adapter. What does it say? NAT, Bridged, Host only?
You may have to do a bit of tinkering. If it is set to NAT then change it to
Bridged and see if you get a connection, If Bridged change to NAT. You do
this by clicking on the 'edit virtual; machine settings' option which you
will find just underneath the 'Power on this vitual machine option. When the
virtual machine settings opens click on the Network adapter option and you
will see a selection of option in the right hand pane. Once you have changed
the option click OK.

As for USB there isn't actually an option to turn it off, if the USB
Controller option has 'present' in the summary box then the VM is set up to
run USB. Again you can check in the VM settings window to see if there is a
tick in the following boxes. 'Enable high speed support for USB 2 devices'
and 'automatically connect new USB devices.' If these boxes are not checked
then I suggest you place a tick in each of the boxes.

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://www.winuser.co.uk
Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com
Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org


The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..


Gordon Biggar said:
Before I go to VMware with questions, I thought that I would try the Vista
experts here to see if there is a match-up of the two talents. I recently
had someone load VMware Workstation 6 on my new Dell desktop, which uses a
Vista 64-bit platform. I now have the capability to run a Vista 32-bit
platform by clicking on a desktop icon (situated on the 64-bit platform).
I need occasionally to run dBase III programs in a 32-bit environment,
which obviously a 64-bit environment will not tolerate.

I connect to the Internet on a wireless basis, using a RangeMax Wireless-N
USB 2.0 Adapter. This Internet connection works fine on the 64-bit
platform. In the 32-bit environment, I am able to make a local network
connection, but I am not able to connect to the Internet. When in Windows
Explorer (32-bit platform), I do not see any USB ports enabled. The
individual who installed the VMware said that I should not need a USB port
in the 32-bit setup to connect to the Internet.

Has anyone had any experience using VMware and establishing Internet
connections from other than the base platform?

Thanks in advance for any suggestions that may pertain to my frustration!

Gordon Biggar
Houston, Texas

__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus
signature database 4060 (20090507) __________

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

http://www.eset.com
Click to expand...

__________ Information from ESET Smart Security, version of virus signature database 4060 (20090507) __________

The message was checked by ESET Smart Security.

http://www.eset.com
 
Hey, John --

Thanks for your thoughts. The VMware was initially set to NAT (didn't
work); changed to Bridged (didn't work either). All of the other settings
you mentioned have been enabled. This is why this setup confuses me. The
fact that Vista 32 is asking me for drivers when I boot up into Vista 32
tells me that something is not quite right. I may have to contact VMware,
and let their technicians deal with this. I can't believe that folks
running vm's (other than the host) would not want access to the internet
from inside their environment.

Gordon
 
Hi Gordon,

Yes maybe it is time to get VMware techs to look at your problem. I've
installed VMware workstation many times (even tonight I upgraded to the
newest version) and I have installed numerous incarnations of Window but I
have to admit I haven't had any issues similar to those that you describe.
Yes I did have a problem with the internet connection 'once' and I quickly
solved that by changing the network adapter from NAT to Bridged. That was
strange because I have always setup the network adapter as NAT, but changing
to bridged solved the problem so I wasn't going to complain.

The VMware techs have more knowledge of their product than we actually do
and maybe able to put their finger on the problem quickly, thus solving your
problem.

Good Luck

--

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://www.winuser.co.uk
Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..
 
Sir John --

Well, at least I managed to get connected to the Internet. In setting up
the guest network adaptor, I selected "Custom" and enabled VMnet8 (NAT). It
got me connected to the Internet, but don't ask me why!

The present effort is to get a shared printer to work, and to recognize
shared files. I have enabled both, and used Windows Explorer in both the
host and the guest to set folders to shared. Somehow, these folders on the
host don't want to make themselves known. I have contacted the VM techs for
some input. You would think that this would be simple.

Thanks again for your comments.

Gordon
 
Hi Gordon,

I'm glad you got the internet connection sorted, as I said it is simply a
case of 'playing around' with the different option to see which one
'finally' works.

I haven't tried sharing folder/printers as it is not all that important to
me. My VM only contains Windows XP and it is only there in case I need to
access it for support questions, etc.

I've just noticed your salutation at the top of your post, looks like I've
acquired a knighthood. Mind you it has a nice ring to it, 'arise Sir John.'
Mmm I like that:-)
Mind you I don't have a White Charger, more a Sancho Panza's Donkey from the
annals of Don Quixote:-)

--

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://www.winuser.co.uk
Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
Web: http://www.silversurfer-guide.com

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..
 
If the Queen won't knight you, this forum will.

Thanks for your help. I've just leaned that VMware has a Workstation users
forum, which I have joined. Hopefully, this will sort out my remaining
issues.

Respectfully,

Lord George
 
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