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Create Virtual Machine - Advanced Details

The following sections add detail about the process associated with creating a virtual machine (VM). The Steps below refer to the labels on the pop-ups used during create.

Step One Details

Name Enter a name to identify the VM.
Operating System Type Select the operating system from the dropdown list.
Install From Select the type of source for the operating system:
ISO File or Virtual Machine
Operating System ISO or
Virtual Machine		 Select the source of the operating system for the VM. The dropdown list is limited to the items that match the Install From selection.

 

Step Two Details

This first page of Step 2 only applies to VMs created from ISO files. If the first field is not checked, the rest of the fields are grayed out, and that information is entered later during the OS installation process.

Automatically install NxTop If checked, NxTop Center automatically installs the operating system using the selected ISO and the other information entered on this pop-up.
Full Name Enter the name to whom the computer will be registered.
Organization Enter the name of the organization.
Administrator Password Enter the administrator password on the VM's operating system.
Product Key Enter the volume license product key for the operating system.
Time Zone Select the time zone for the VM from the dropdown list.

 

Step Three Details

Define the processing and storage configuration for the VM.

Notes:

  • Minimum required memory for a VM is allocated from the physical computer's RAM for each VM running.
  • If you plan to use this VM on computers with varying amounts of memory, allocate enough memory to fit the smallest amount of memory available.
  • VMs use Smart memory allocation - if the computer has additional physical memory that is not allocated for a VM, the NxTop Engine allocates the additional memory for use as needed. More detail.
  • Disk sizes cannot be changed once allocated.

VMs created from a VM use the definitions and disk sizes defined for the VM.

Processors

This is the number of (virtual) processors required for the VM. NxTop Engine manages these virtual processors to run on the physical processors on the computer.
Memory This is the minimum RAM required for use by this VM in MB. The NxTop Engine on the user's computer will reserve this much RAM for running this VM. If this amount is not available when the VM is started, the NxTop Engine will not run it. The memory (RAM) used by this VM can be modified later.

If there is additional RAM available on the computer beyond the total of the required amounts, the NxTop Engine dynamically allocates it to the VM(s).
System Disk Size of the System Disk in MB (allocated for the operating system and any installed applications). Default: 20 GB.
User Disk Size of the User Disk in MB (allocated for user data that can be backed up). Default: 10 GB
Local Disk Size of the Local Disk in MB (allocated for user data that cannot be backed up). Default: 10 GB

Step Four Details

Step four details involve selecting policies. See Assigning Policies for details.

Step Five Details

Is Custom VM If the VM is a Custom, fill the checkbox.
If it is to be a Shared VM, clear the checkbox.

See Custom vs. Shared for details about the differences between the two types.
Start VM after creation If checked, the VM starts after creation, and can be accessed in the Console tab of the main panel.

For VMs created using an ISO file, if you filled the checkbox to Install Automatically in Step 2, this checkbox is filled and grayed out. The VM will start and begin installation automatically.

Manual Installation

When you create a virtual machine from a Windows XP ISO kit, and install manually, you must select NTFS for the file system.

 

Quick Installation of HIS

Use the Attach ISO action to install Hyper-V Integration Services (HIS) on the VM. HIS provides a number of services between the NxTop Center Hyper-V Console environment and the NxTop Guest OS, including (most visibly) a real-time mouse in the console window, a graceful shutdown of the Guest OS from outside the console (using the Shutdown action), and a fast boot time. If you do not install HIS, these will not be available.

HIS does not affect the VM on client computers, and does not need to be removed before publishing.

To install HIS on a VM:

  1. Start the VM and login.

    Hyper-V uses different virtual hardware than MS VS, and so requires different drivers. Windows displays new hardware found requests.

  2. For VMs based on the Windows XP or Windows Vista operating systems, attach the ISO for Hyper-V Integrated Services.

    VMs using Windows 7 do not need to install HIS; it is included in the operating system.
    HIS installation should start automatically. You may need to clear away driver requests to find it.
    However, if HIS installation does not start:

    1. Click Run in Separate Window. The NxTop Console is moved to a separate window (see above)
    2. Click in the Window. A mouse should become available.
    3. Click Start > My Computer or Windows Explorer.

      The HIS integration ISO is mounted on the D:\ drive

    4. Open the folders to D:\support\x86
    5. Run setup.exe.
  3. HIS Installation starts.
    1. For XP-based VMs, the setup program will update the hardware abstraction layer (HAL) and prompt for a restart.
    2. Click OK. The VM shuts down and restarts.

      The setup program will install HIS and prompt for a restart.

    3. Click OK.
  4. Vista-based VMs only: Vista-based VMs need to update the HAL manually as follows:
    1. Open the System Configuration utility (MSConfig.exe):
      Click Start > Run.
      Enter msconfig.
      Click OK.
    2. Click the Boot tab, and then click Advanced options.
    3. Fill the Detect HAL check box, click OK,
    4. Restart the virtual machine.
  5. When the ISO has been installed, shutdown the VM, either through the Start Menu or the NxTop Center Shut Down action.
  6. When finished with the HIS ISO, click the Remove ISO action. This removes the ISO from the virtual drive.