VMWare Server, WinXP-off-disk on Fedora Core 6

[Ben Scott]

On 7/25/07, Ted Roche <tedroche at tedroche.com> wrote:
> I thought I'd try running VMWare ...

  Heh.  I just started playing around with VMware Workstation for the
first *today* (literally).  I must say, it has some impressive
features.  On my 'doze box at work, it was able to go out on the
network to another running 'doze box, and import that pre-existing
computer into a VM, which I can now use for testing against the
production environment without crashing the production box.

> 1. How do I tell Fedora that /dev/hda ought to be read-write for group
> disk? (Currently owned by root, group disk, permissions brw-r-----)

  Look under /etc/security/ ... it's one of those, I believe.  There's
also a method to give permissions just to the user logged in on the
console (useful for sound devices, etc.).

  Be warned that by doing this, you're creating a huge exposure in
terms of system security and stability.  There's a famous story about
how, in the early days of Linux, Linus didn't think security
permissions were important until one day he wanted to use his modem
but tried to dial his hard disk...

  It might be better to create a separate "vmware" user, put that user
in the "disk" group (and get the permissions to stick), and use su or
sudo to run VMware from your regular logon account.  That way at least
the "attack surface" is reduced from "anything" to "VMware itself".

> 2. Recommended steps for debugging the Windows configuration?

  When it fails to boot that early, you're in rough shape.  Some shots
in the dark:

  VMware does keep some logs with the rest of the VM files; you might
try looking there.  And there are some "debug logging" options for
VMware.

  As a sanity test: Can you create a new, "empty" VM, and install
Windows on that?  Or at least boot the installer CD?

  As another sanity test: Can you use the "VMware Converter" to pull
in the "real" Windows partition into a virtual disk and boot that as a
VM?

  As another sanity test: Do you have an open primary partition slot
and a partition resizer program?  If so, what if you install plain old
DOS to another partition and attempt to boot that with VMware?

  As another sanity test: Why is a raven like a writing desk?  ;-)

-- Ben