VMware

VMware is a virtual machine program. At the moment it's the fastest (at least under Windows). QEMU and VirtualBox are alternatives.

There are two free VMware products available: VMware Player for preconfigured operating systems and VMware Server for manual installations. VMware Server is the way to go if you don't want to pay for a VMware product, but you have to sign up at VMware to get it.

Getting debug output

Redirect to file

If you're using a VMware product and want to redirect the serial output to a file, click the Edit virtual machine settings link.

If your virtual machine does not yet have a virtual serial port, add one using the Add button. Then select it and in the Connection box, choose the option Use output file and enter the name of the file, into which the debug output shall be written.

Redirect to named pipe

This page has a good explanation on setting up VMware with a named pipe.

Serial port connection using com0com

Setup com0com according to this short com0com guide.

Add a serial port to your virtual machine, allow it to connect at power on and specify the first virtual serial port you created in the field "Use physical port".

Connect your terminal application to your second virtual port.

Setting up Network

• Make sure you have a network connection in the Virtual Machine settings tab. Note that using the 'NAT' option also works. Use VMWare's "Manage Virtual Networks" tool to figure out what subnet mask, gateway and ip range to use.

http://teknoskand.dyndns.org/reactos/images/VMWare_VirtualMachine.png

• Start the VM and check for network connectivity.
• If no connectivity, set the correct IP settings in the network control panel applet.
• Reboot your computer.
• Now install some software and test.

External sites

• VMware home