Specifications

www.vmware.com
224
VMware GSX Server Virtual Machine Guide
group ID disk. If this is the case, you can add GSX Server users to the disk
group. Another option is to change the owner of the device. Please think
carefully about security issues when you explore different options here.
It is a good idea to grant GSX Server users access to all /dev/hd[abcd] raw
devices that contain operating systems or boot managers, then rely on GSX
Server’s physical disk configuration files to guard access. This provides boot
managers access to configuration and other files they may need to boot the
operating systems. For example, LILO needs to read /boot on a Linux partition
to boot a non-Linux operating system that may be on another drive.
4. Start the New Virtual Machine Wizard (File > New > New Virtual Machine) and
select Custom.
5. When you reach the Select a Disk step, select Use a physical disk.
6. If the physical disk you plan to use has multiple partitions on it already, be aware
that certain operating systems (DOS, Windows 95, Windows 98) must be
installed on the first primary partition.
Caution: Corruption is possible if you allow the virtual machine to modify a
partition that is simultaneously mounted under the Linux host operating system.
Since the virtual machine and guest operating system access an existing
partition while the host continues to run Linux, it is critical that the virtual
machine not be allowed to modify any partition mounted by the host or in use
by another virtual machine.
To safeguard against this problem, be sure the partition you use for the virtual
machine is not mounted under the Linux host.
7. At this point you are ready to begin installing the guest operating system on the
physical disk you configured for the virtual machine. For more details, read the
installation notes for various guest operating systems in the VMware Guest
Operating System Installation Guide, available from the VMware Web site or from
the Help menu.