VMmanager

Manage Virtual Machines

Copyright (C) 2006 Walter Hermanns

 

Intended Purpose

The program VMmanager creates and manages virtual machines which can be used by the VMware-Player. The program generates all required VMX- and VMDK-files.
Parameters defined within the file 'vmmanager.ini' form the range of functions.
VMmanager has been developed and tested under Windows 2000 and Windows XP.

Characteristics

User interface Graphical user interface
Languages: English, French, German
Compatibility VMware Player, VMware Workstation 4.x and 5
Supported guest
operating systems		 Windows, Linux, Netware ...
RAM 4 MB up to 3600 MB
Floppy disk drive One floppy disk drive, options: disabled, A:, B:, use Floppy Image
VMmanager generates floppy images of the size 360, 720, 1200, 1440 and 2880 KB in three disk formats:
• raw (unformatted)
• FAT 12 (DOS, Windows, Linux, ...)
• Minix (Linux)
CD-ROM One CD-/DVD-device, IDE or SCSI, options: disabled, auto detect, use ISO image, select drive letter
Hard-disk One hard disk, IDE or SCSI
100 MB <= disk size <= 950 GB
VMDK-file formats monoliticFlat (preallocated size, one file),
twoGbMaxExtentFlat (preallocated size, split disk into 2 GB files)
monolithicSparse (increasing size, one file)
twoGbMaxExtentSparse (increasing size, split disk into 2 GB files)
Adapters Ethernet, USB, Sound, COM 1, COM 2, LPT
Network 3 network adapters,
options: disabled, bridged, NAT, Host only, custom (VMnet0 ... VMnet9)
VM-Cloning Delete and assign fixed MAC-addresses
Harddisk managing Extend harddisks subsequently
Error treatment Prevent multi start
Detect active virtual machines
Detailed error messages
Rollback Save a backup copy of VMX- and VMDK-files
Configuration The program's characteristics is determined by the vmmanager.ini-file:
• Disable the management of MAC-addresses
• Determine the maximum hard disk size
• Determine the maximum RAM-size
• Disable disk size increase
• Disable / enforce 2 GB disk split
• Show VMX- and VMDK-files

Operating hints

VMmanager includes two main functions:
  1. Create a new virtual machine
  2. Modify an existing virtual machine

The functions differ a little concerning to the operating modes:

Function Create a new virtual machine Modify an existing virtual machine
Read the INI-file Yes Yes
Determine the guest operating system Yes No
Select the compatibly Yes No
Determine the RAM-size Yes * Yes *
HD-/ CD-ROM adapter  type ATAPI, Buslogic, LSI Logic detect automatically
Floppy disk disabled, A:, B:, image file disabled, A:, B:, image file
Create a floppy disk image file No Yes (raw, FAT-, minix-format) *
CD-ROM disabled, auto detect, image file, select drive letter disabled, auto detect, image file, select drive letter
Set the hd size Yes * Yes, the hard disk can be extended subsequently *
Set the type of the harddisk Yes * (Sparse, Flat, 2 GB Split) Adapter-type automaticly detected
Manage 3 network adapters disabled, Bridged, NAT, Host-only, custom disabled, Bridged, NAT, Host-only, custom
Manage MAC-Addresses Keep, delete, set fixed or manually * Keep, delete, set fixed or manually *
Enable / disable adapters USB, Sound, COM 1, COM 2, LPT 1 USB, Sound, COM 1, COM 2, LPT 1

*  Settings defined in the file 'vmmanager.ini' will be considered.

FAQ

  1. Some elements of the GUI are deactivated.

    The range of functions is determined by the file 'vmmanager.ini'. You can edit this file with any editor. Administration privileges are required.

  2. The virtual machine does not boot after extending the harddisk.

    Like in the real world, you have to update the virtual BIOS settings after changing the hardware. By default (deleteNVRAM = 1) VMmanager deletes the BIOS file called 'nvram'. VMware Player will recreate the BIOS file when you start this virtual machine the next time.
    With the setting 'deleteNVRAM = 0' you have to update the BIOS settings by yourself.

  3. I cannot make a disk larger than 8 GB.

    The size of the hard disk is limited by the paramter 'maxHDsize' defined within the file 'vmmanager.ini'. You may change this parameter within the range from 100 MB up to 972800 MB.

  4. I have increased the disk size with VMmanager. How can I in use this disk within the guest OS?

    You may edit the partition table with the open source project gparted. Download of the gparted iso file: gparted.sourceforge.net
    The grafic mode should be set manually to vesa, 1024 x 768, 24.

  5. How can I use vmmanager on a protable USB device?

    Make a directory on your usb stick.
    Copy the following files to this folder:

       vmmanager.exe
       vmx-params.txt
       vmmanager.ini

    You may edit the vmmanager.ini file in order to customize the range of functions.
    You can see the letter 'P' in the status bar, if VMmanager uses the ini file located in the application folder.