Copyright (C) 2006 Walter Hermanns
What are the key features?
VMmanager is a Windows 2000/XP program.
You need VMware Player to start a virtual machine.
VMmanager is able to ...
- create a new virtual machine
- select the operating system
- modify an existing virtual machine
- set the memory size
- generate virtual disks
- extend virtual disks later on
- cause the recreation of the BIOS settings after extending the harddisk
- support four virtual disk types:
* monolithicFlat (one file, fixed size)
* twoGBmaxExtentFlat (split into 2 GB files, fixed size)
* monolithicSparse (one file, increasing size)
* twoGBmaxExtentSparse (split into 2 GB files, increasing size)
- support ide and scsi adapters
- use up to 3 network adapters
- control network settings:
* Disabled
* Bridged
* NAT
* Host only
* Custom
- modify MAC addresses
- control a CD-Rom device:
* Disabled
* Auto detect
* Use ISO file
- control a floppy disk:
* Disabled
* Physical drive
* Use image file
- create floppy image files:
* Size: 360KB, 720KB, 1200KB, 1440KB, 2880KB
* raw (unformatted)
* FAT (Windows, Linux...)
* minx (Linux)
- ...
The virtual machines generated with VMmanager
are very close to those created by VMware Workstation.
New sparse files have exactly the same content in
the total range from 100 MB up to 950 GB.
Now, the harddisk extending module is working very stable
with all disk types listed above.
A lot of bugs in combination with harddisk extending have been fixed:
- Now, all sparse header vectors are set without any error.
- The (embedded) descriptor will be set aright.
- The BIOS settings will be recreated by default.
- The CHS parameters of small SCSI devices will be set correctly (= unmodified).
VMware Workstation is able to defrag sparse files generated by VMmanager.
VMware Player support BIOS files with the file extension '.nvram'. Now, VMmanager deletes all '*.nvram' files after enlarging the disk (Option: deleteNVRAM = 1). VMDK read error fixed: VMmanager 1.00 may show this error if the harddisk has been shrinked by the VMware Player. Older partitioning software may misapprehend the size of SCSI harddisks with less then 2048 MB disk size. Neither VMmanager nor VMware-vdiskmanager.exe do update the CHS values of small SCSI drives. Current operating systems or current partioning software should apply the correct size in any case.
Bugs in the localisation module fixed. Installation routine revised. The parameter 'guesOS' can be edited manually.
The setup routine 1.00b did not copy the selected language file to the program folder.
The size of the main window can be changed. This setting is usefull if VMmanager runs in a GUI with non standard settings. This feature has to be enabled within the file 'vmmanager.ini'.
A French translation of the GUI has been provided by ARGOS. Now, the setup routine offers the French GUI too. VMmanager can now be used in a portable mode with an USB stick. Fixed bugs: The delete function of the nvram file has been optimized. VMDK read error: Using scsi disks, VMmanager 1.00d may show this error.
There is a new NSIS installation and uninstallation routine. The installation program has been contributed by ARGOS. You just need to start 'vmmanager_setup.exe'. Auto detecting of CD drives does'nt work safe on some VMware installations. Now, actual drive letters of the host machine have been added to the choice. Running older operating systems, a legacy emulation of CD drives can be used now. This new feature is disabled by default within the file 'vmmanager.ini'.
VMmanager 1.01 is able to run on Wine as on Windows with the
the same stability and the same range of functions.
Automatic detection of the host OS (only Windows and Linux) added:
Linux CD and floppy drive notations can be used
if VMmanager detects Linux.
Enhanced configuration of GUI settings added:
The font name and the font size can be changed
in order to optimize the GUI settings.
- Bugs fixed (GUI, error messages)
- Menu item 'settings' added.
The configuration file vmmanager.ini can be opened from the GUI.
- VMmanager accepts a vmx filename as command line parameter.
The vmx file will be opened for modifying.
You may use this feature by putting a link to vmmanager.exe into the Send To Folder.
- VMmanager opens a vmx file dropped on the GUI for modifying (Windows only).
- Bugs fixed (Updating pathes) - Using virtual machines with physical network drives can be disabled now (Windows only).
- Guest operating systems added: os2experimental, mandriva, mandriva-64 - Manual editing of the parameter 'GuestOS' updated
- Bugs fixed:
* Detecting CD drive adapter type
* Network is set to bridged, if not specified
- GUI optimized
- Bugs fixed:
* Manual input mode
- Added features:
* Select nr. of CPUs
* Edit 3-D acceleration features
- Added feature:
VMmanager informs the user, if a new update is available.
This feature requires a http-connection.
To use this feature, the desktop firewall should grant internet access to VMmanager.
- Added features:
* VMware Tools installation is supported.
* Manual editing of vmx-file parameters has been improved.
* Changing the parameter 'virtualHW.version' in order to run
a current virtual machine on an old VMware installation.
Read the file vmx-params.txt for further informations.
Example:
How to convert a virtual machine made by VMware WS 6 to VMware WS 5?
--> Watch this flash demo: Modify a Virtual Machine
- Added features:
Italian translation added by Luca Zammarchi (file: vmmanager-lang-it.txt)
- Bugs fixed:
Lock file / lock folder detection revised
GUI painting (edit module) revised
- Added features:
Linux file rights can be set (see: vmmanager.ini):
Owner Group Other
rwx r-- r--
rwx rwx r--
rwx rwx rwx
Insert / remove the magic line '#!/usr/bin/vmplayer'
Flash demos added, avi demo removed
- Bugs fixed:
GUI painting of non default screen settings revised
-Changes:
RAM settings and HD size settings can be controlled
by logarithmically scaled slide bars.
- New:
VMmanager is able to edit shared folders now.