Knowledge Base

Using the driver in a new virtual machine

To use the driver when you are installing a Windows Server 2003 or Windows XP guest operating system in a newly created virtual machine:

1. Save the downloaded file to a folder or directory of your choice on your host computer.

2. Attach the floppy image to your virtual machine.

3. • For Workstation or GSX, in the virtual machine settings editor (VM > Settings) configure your virtual machine's floppy drive to use the file the .flp file you downloaded. Be sure the Connect at Power On check box is not selected.
      

   • For ESX, use the Hardware tab in the VMware Management Interface to edit the floppy drive configuration. Specify the .flp file you downloaded as the floppy image file.

4. Insert the installation CD in the CD-ROM drive and begin installing the operating system.

5. Watch the messages at the bottom of the character-mode screen during the early stages of the installation. One of the messages tells you to press F6 if you need to install a third-party SCSI or RAID driver. When this message appears, press F6.

6. Connect the floppy drive (VM > Removable Devices) so your virtual machine can use the driver files contained in the file you downloaded.

7. Continue with the installation, following the instructions provided by the installer.

8. As you are installing the SCSI driver, warning messages inform you that the driver has not passed Windows logo testing. You may safely ignore these messages. Click Yes to continue installing the software.

If you prefer, you may use a utility such as rawrite on Windows or dd on Linux to make a physical floppy disk from the floppy image file.

Using the driver in an existing virtual machine

• You may want to upgrade an existing virtual machine with a SCSI drive. During the upgrade, you update the SCSI driver in the virtual machine using the driver in the .flp floppy image file. The process is essentially the same as that described above for installation.

  As with new installations, you may either connect the virtual machine's floppy drive to the image file, or use a utility such as rawrite on Windows or dd on Linux to make a physical floppy disk.

• You may have a virtual machine that boots from an IDE virtual disk and want to add a SCSI disk to that virtual machine.

  • For Workstation or GSX, use the virtual machine settings editor (VM > Settings) to add the SCSI disk to the configuration.

  • For ESX, use the Hardware tab in the VMware Management Interface to add the SCSI disk to the configuration.

  The next time you boot the virtual machine, Windows detects the new drive. Follow the instructions provided to add the new hardware, using the driver from the .flp floppy image file.

  As with new installations, you may either connect the virtual machine's floppy drive to the image file or use a utility such as rawrite on Windows or dd on Linux to make a physical floppy disk.

  Note: This example assumes that you continue to boot your virtual machine from the original IDE virtual disk.

To add the VMware SCSI Controller to a Windows guest operating system:

1. In the virtual machine, open the Control Panel. Choose Start > Control Panel.

2. Click Switch to Classic View, then double-click the System icon.

3. Click the Hardware tab, then click Device Manager.

4. Right-click SCSI Controller and select Update Driver. The Hardware Update wizard starts.

5. Insert the floppy disk into the floppy drive on your host machine.

6. Select Install from a list or specific location (Advanced). Click Next.

7. Select Don't search. I will choose the driver to install. Click Next.

8. Click Have Disk, then click Browse. Browse to your host's floppy drive.

9. Select VMSCSI.

10. Click Open, then click OK.

11. Select VMware SCSI Controller. Click Next.

12. A message appears, informing you that the driver is unsigned. Click Continue Anyway.

13. Click Finish and close the Device Manager.