Installing Virtual Machine Additions

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Installing Virtual Machine Additions

Virtual Server 2005 provides features that improve the integration and performance of a virtual machine running certain Windows operating systems. These features are part of Virtual Machine Additions; they are not native to the operating system or to the Virtual Server service. Virtual Machine Additions is not installed by default when you install Virtual Server, although you must install it in order to use a guest operating system effectively.

Virtual Machine Additions will also improve many aspects of your experience when using Virtual Server. For example, if Virtual Machine Additions is installed on the virtual machine, you can move the pointer freely between the virtual machine window and the host operating system when using the Virtual Machine Remote Control (VMRC) client.

Virtual Machine Additions is included with Virtual Server and can be installed from the guest operating system when it is running a supported operating system.

Important

   Virtual Machine Additions is always installed on the guest operating system of the virtual machine. You should never install Virtual Machine Additions on the host operating system.

Features of Virtual Machine Additions

The following features are included in Virtual Machine Additions:

  • Improved performance of the guest operating system
  • Integrated use of the mouse
  • Optimized video drivers
  • Time synchronization

For information about how to install Virtual Machine Additions, see Install Virtual Machine Additions.

Installing Virtual Machine Additions on various operating systems

You must install Virtual Machine Additions on all virtual machines. The version of Virtual Machine Additions included with Virtual Server 2005 is the most recent and should be installed on any virtual machine running earlier versions of Virtual Machine Additions. For more information, see Installing Virtual Machine Additions.

Operating systems that support Virtual Machine Additions

Virtual Machine Additions is included for the following supported server operating systems:

  • Microsoft Windows Server 2003 (all versions)
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Server
  • Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0 with Service Pack 6a (SP6a)

Virtual Machine Additions is provided as a convenience for the following client operating systems:

  • Microsoft Windows XP (all versions)
  • Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional
  • Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition
  • Microsoft Windows 98
  • Microsoft Windows 95

Installation methods

You can perform either a standard installation by using the Setup Wizard or an unattended installation by using a command prompt. A standard installation prompts you for confirmation, whereas an unattended installation is completed without prompting you or displaying a user interface. For instructions on how to perform a standard installation, see Install Virtual Machine Additions. To perform an unattended installation, copy the Virtual Machine Additions image file to a location where it can be accessed by the virtual machines, and then type the syntax as shown in the following section.

Syntax

setup.exe -s -v"/qn [Reboot=ReallySuppress]"

Parameters

  • -s
    Instructs the Setup program to run without displaying the user interface.
  • -v
    Passes parameters directly to the installation program, Msiexec.exe.
  • /qn
    Instructs the installation program, Msiexec.exe, to run without displaying the user interface.
  • Reboot=ReallySuppress
    Prevents the guest operating system from restarting after Virtual Machine Additions is installed.

Reinstalling Virtual Machine Additions for use with Virtual PC

If you move a virtual machine that was created with Microsoft Virtual PC to Virtual Server, we recommend that you reinstall Virtual Machine Additions, even if it was installed in Virtual PC. This is because the version of Virtual Machine Additions included with Virtual Server has been updated.