Specifications

www.vmware.com
214
VMware GSX Server Virtual Machine Guide
Configuring Dual- or Multiple-Boot SCSI Systems to Run
with VMware GSX Server on a Linux Host
It may be possible to configure GSX Server so that you can use an operating system
already installed and configured on a SCSI disk as a guest operating system inside a
GSX Server virtual machine.
Using an existing physical SCSI disk — also called a SCSI raw disk — inside a virtual
machine is supported only if the host has a BusLogic SCSI adapter. It may be possible
to configure a host with a different SCSI adapter so the same operating system can be
booted both natively and inside a virtual machine, but this approach is not supported
by VMware. For details on some of the key issues involved, see Known Issues and
Background Information on Using SCSI Physical Disks on page 217.
Before You Create the Virtual Machine Configuration
You must create a separate configuration for each guest operating system. Allow read
and write access to the partitions used by that operating system only.
1. Before starting, you should read Setting Up Hardware Profiles in Virtual Machines
on page 206 if you are running a Windows guest operating system. You should
boot the guest operating system natively on the computer and create a
hardware profile for the virtual machine before proceeding.
2. Check to see what SCSI ID is set for the drive you plan to use in the virtual
machine.
3. Make certain that in addition to any SCSI drivers you have configured for the
host, you have also installed the driver for a Mylex® (BusLogic) BT/KT-958
compatible host bus adapter. Drivers for BusLogic controllers are available from
the LSI Logic Web site — www.lsilogic.com. Search the site for Mylex BusLogic
BT/KT-958.
The BusLogic driver needs to be installed in the profile for the guest operating
system.
Note: To use SCSI devices in a Windows XP virtual machine, you need a special
SCSI driver available from the download section of the VMware Web site at
www.vmware.com/download.
4. Check operating system partition mounts. Be sure the existing physical disk
partitions that you plan to configure the virtual machine to use are not mounted
by the Linux host.
Caution: A physical disk partition should not be used (mounted) simultaneously
by the host and the guest operating system. Because each operating system is