Specifications

CHAPTER 4 Running Virtual Machines
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Upgrading Virtual Hardware
Using the console, you can upgrade the virtual hardware of a legacy virtual machine
to the virtual hardware level supported by GSX Server 3.
You cannot upgrade the virtual hardware for a legacy virtual machine to the level of
hardware used by the older version of GSX Server on which the virtual machine is
running. For example, you cannot upgrade the hardware of a virtual machine created
under GSX Server 1 to the hardware supported by GSX Server 2.
Once you upgrade the virtual hardware, the virtual machine is no longer considered
to be a legacy virtual machine.
Virtual Disk Modes
You can specify a disk mode for the virtual disk — persistent, undoable or
nonpersistent. For a discussion of disk modes, see www.vmware.com/support/gsx25/
doc/disks_modes_gsx.html.
You cannot choose independent mode, as you can with GSX Server 3 virtual
machines.
If you are running a legacy virtual machine on a GSX Server 3 host, the virtual
machine’s disk modes are honored, but cannot be modified. Independent disk modes
do not apply (see Independent Disks on page 164). For information on how snapshots
work with disk modes, see Snapshots and Legacy Disk Modes on page 158.
Adding New Virtual Disks
If you add a new virtual disk, you must always split the disk into 2GB files.
Using Snapshots
You cannot take snapshots of virtual machines running on older hosts.
You can take snapshots of legacy virtual machines running on a GSX Server 3 host.
You cannot update the snapshot of a legacy virtual machine, nor can you specify what
to do with the snapshot when you power off the virtual machine. For more
information, see Snapshots and Legacy Disk Modes on page 158.
Virtual CD-ROM Drive Differences
You can enable raw access for the virtual machine. This is known as legacy emulation
in GSX Server 3. You cannot use the DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive on the client.
You cannot connect the DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive exclusively to a legacy virtual
machine that runs on a GSX Server 3 host. Using legacy emulation is the same as if the
virtual machine were running on a GSX Server 2 host and you disabled raw access. If
you are connecting to the virtual machine from a client, you cannot use the client’s
DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive.