Vista - Need advice on using Virtual PC 2007 SP2

I am completely new to Virtual machines. Can someone help please?

My host will be Win XP SP3 on a C2D E4400, @ 1 GHz, 2GB RAM (a standalone PC
not connected to any LAN)

I need the Virtual PC to primarily to port fairly large applications
software (written in the DOS days) to Java. I need to create a virtual
machine to run Win 98SE or DOS.

My questions are

1) Which should I go for ?
a) Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 - Enterprise Edition
b) Virtual PC 2007/2007 SP1

2) I need to share some resources of the Host such as the Printer, and DVD
Burner. Also I need to be able to copy/transfer files to and from the Host to
the Guest (by a shared folder or otherwise).

3) I need limited Internet connectivity for the Guest but via the firewall
of the host, as I don’t know of any decent free firewall for win 98SE. I will
be using the Host to regularly connect to internet (Broadband), but need my
guest to be hidden/shielded from the internet (unless I explicitly was it to
connect to the internet)

4) What kind of connectivity between Host and Guest should I go for ?
a) Shared Networking (NAT)
b) Network adapter on the physical computer
c) Microsoft Loopback Adapter

>1) Which should I go for ?VPC2007, but you need the additions from VPC2004 for your DOS VM.
You can't burn DVD's from a VM with VPC (or Virtual Server)

Shared folders are doable though. As for the printer, it depends on
what kind, but you might have to use networking to use it.
None of the VM solutions have the ability to be totally behind the
hosts firewall like that, but in using (Shared Networking (NAT), you
can't get to the VM from outside, which is I think what you want.

--
Bob Comer



On Sun, 15 Mar 2009 10:39:01 -0700, ravi
<ravi@xxxxxx> wrote:

Virtual PC 2007 is the right platform for you.
Forget DOS as it pain to install. I have a DOS/Win311 installation, and it
has taken a long time to get it running with TCP networking, extended video
and sound - Win98 just installs with everything.
Forget burning from a virtual machine, but share the folders to the host and
burn from there.
With Win98 and the installed extensions, you can drag files between the host
and virtual machines with the file explorer. Copy and paste also works
between the host and virtual machines.
For the printer you need to network share the host printer.
Regards networking the virtual machine it gets its own IP address, or you
assign it, on your current network, and it works just like another computer
on the physical network. Virtual PC installs a driver to the network adapter
properties for sharing the adapter, and if you have more adapters, you can
choose which ones to use.
Don't think you need a firewall, but the old free Sygate firewall should do
the job.

Thank you both, Bob Comer and Jorgensen.

I have installed VPC 2007 SP1, and Win 98SE, and have been able to
create/configure sharing of a Host folder. Since Win 98SE has DOS mode, I
don’t really need a VM for DOS.

Also it seems logical that in the NAT option, since the connection is
through the Host, the firewall and antivirus sw on the Host will be effective.

The next questions are

a) If I use NAT, do I need the Win 98SE Patch Q243199 which is now kb243199,
or does the XP
SP3 Host and VPC environment cover that.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/243199

b) If I use the ‘Network adapter on the physical computer’, then the VPC
will act like a physical pc. So I presume it will have to have its own virus
protection and firewall. But will the above patch be required?


"jorgensen" wrote:

> Also it seems logical that in the NAT option, since the connection isThe network will default be part of the host subnet, so you could control it
with the firewall, but not worth it. You might use static addressing and
leave gateway and DNS empty for a pretty good security.

The antivirus program will not be effective in the virtual machine. You have
to scan the shared folders for checking. I now and then take a copy of the
virtual harddisk file (xxx.vhd), and if something goes wrong, I always have a
full copy of a working session. You can also make a virtual disk for data,
and make regular backups of that file.
Don't know about this, but you can always try it out with the 'undo' option
turned on.

>Also it seems logical that in the NAT option, since the connection isYes and no, the host firewall is there in front of the VM, but it's an
all or nothing type thing, it only sees the VM as a whole, so you
don't have the granular control that you have on the host. NAT
itself protects the VM from outside attack just as well. (So no
problem)
I don't think so, and I don't think I'd install it unless you actually
have the problem as described.
It's always a good idea for the VM's to have their own virus
protection solution if it can access the internet. As for firewall,
that depends on your connection method.
I've never installed that patch.

--
Bob Comer



On Mon, 16 Mar 2009 02:16:02 -0700, ravi
<ravi@xxxxxx> wrote:

Thank you, Sergei. That is exactly what I need.

"Sergei Zhirikov" wrote: