OSDANOVL - CREATING A VIRTUAL MACHINE BOOT (VMB) FOR THE NETWARE LAN REQUESTER - OS/2 2.1 01/12/96 ======================================================================= Creating a Virtual Machine Boot (VMB) for the NetWare LAN Requester--OS/2 2.1 ======================================================================= Please Read Entire Document for Full Explanation of Procedures -------------------------------------------------------------- DESCRIPTION Some DOS applications and networks that do not run in a DOS session (sometimes referred to as "virtual DOS machine" or "VDM"), will run under a specific DOS version ("native DOS"). This is true of applications that run off the NetWare LAN Requester. This document describes how to create a DOS image file to use for starting native DOS under OS/2 (referred to as "virtual machine boot" or "VMB"), which you then can use for the NetWare LAN Requester. RESOLUTION Note: Make sure you have a backup of any file you intend to change. Creating a VMB Diskette ----------------------- Note: Each image file you create equals the size of the diskette you use; for example, 360KB, 720KB, or 1.44MB. 1. Create a VMB diskette using one of the following methods: METHOD A a. Start from a DOS startup diskette that contains the FORMAT.COM file from native DOS. b. Type FORMAT A: /S and press Enter. When you see the message asking you to press any key, insert a blank diskette for the VMB in drive A and press Enter. COMMAND.COM is now on the diskette. METHOD B a. If you have native DOS installed, start from there. b. Insert the blank formatted diskette you want to use for the VMB in drive A. c. At the command prompt of the DOS root directory, type SYS A: and press Enter. COMMAND.COM is now on the diskette. 2. Insert the VMB diskette in drive A and start the system. If it starts correctly, continue with the following; otherwise, retry the previous steps. Note: After creating a VMB diskette, you can start from: * DOS from Drive A: (from Command Prompts in the OS/2 System folder), or * VMB Image on the Desktop Use the following instructions to create the VMB. Make sure it is running before you customize the VMB image. You can then add other device drivers, native DOS files, and statements in the CONFIG.SYS file and AUTOEXEC.BAT file specific to your application, network, and so on. You have to create several VMBs for each program that has special requirements. 3. Start your system in OS/2 and copy the following files from the OS2\MDOS directory to the VMB diskette: ANSI.SYS FSFILTER.SYS FSACCESS.EXE EMM386.SYS HIMEM.SYS LPTDD.SYS MOUSE.COM You can add any number of native DOS files to this diskette, but not until the VMB is running. The VMB lets you read and write to drive A using an alternate drive letter. You can change the AUTOEXEC.BAT and CONFIG.SYS files and add files after the Image file is on the hard disk (see "Instructions" below). Each time you install a new version of OS/2 or a Service Pak, you must update the IMAGE with the current version of the files from the OS2\MDOS directory listed in step 3 above. Instructions ------------ 1. On the VMB diskette, create the following AUTOEXEC.BAT file with a text editor: Private or Global ECHO OFF PROMPT $P$G MOUSE.COM PATH C:\;C:\VMB;C:\NETWARE SET DOS=VDM FSACCESS G=A C: CD\NETWARE NETX.EXE Private Only H: (Last drive + 1; for example, G + 1 = H) Note: If you start DOS from an Image File, you cannot use physical drive A until you release the Image File. FSACCESS G=A releases drive A and assigns "G," which is the drive after the last assigned drive on your workstation. This lets DOS applications read and write to physical drive A, which is logical drive G. When retrieving or saving a file from or to physical drive A, rename the application's drive destination to "G" instead of "A." LAN USERS: Do not use FSACCESS Z=A if your LAN assigns logical drive Z as the network drive. 2. On the VMB diskette, create the following CONFIG.SYS file with a text editor: Private or Global DEVICE=FSFILTER.SYS FILES=40 BUFFERS=40 DEVICE=HIMEM.SYS DEVICE=EMM386.SYS LASTDRIVE=G DOS=HIGH,UMB DEVICE=ANSI.SYS DEVICE=LPTDD.SYS DEVICE=C:\NETWARE\DOSVIPX.SYS Note: LASTDRIVE=G is the same as the drive defined by FSACCESS in the AUTOEXEC.BAT file. 3. Type MD C:\VMB and press Enter to make a directory for the VMB image. 4. Copy COMMAND.COM from the VMB diskette to the VMB directory. 5. Go to C:\VMB and type VMDISK A: DOS.IMG; then press Enter. This creates an image of the diskette you created. The Image file is named DOS.IMG and is in the C:\VMB directory. 6. Remove and store the diskette; then return to the Desktop. Creating a VMB Desktop Icon --------------------------- 1. Create the icon: a. Open the OS/2 System folder. b. Select Command Prompts. c. Point to the DOS Full Screen icon; then press and hold Ctrl+MB2 (mouse button 2) and drag the icon to the Desktop; then release Ctrl+MB2. d. Close Command Prompts and OS/2 System. 2. Change the DOS settings for the VMB icon: a. Select the icon created in step 1. b. Press mouse button 2 to display the menu. c. Select the Arrow at Open. d. Select Settings to open the Settings notebook. e. Select Session. f. Select DOS Settings. g. Change the following settings: EMS_MEMORY_LIMIT to (Default is 2048) DOS_UMB to ON DOS_HIGH to ON DOS_STARTUP_DRIVE to C:\VMB\DOS.IMG XMS_MEMORY_LIMIT to (Default is 2048--minimum) Private Global ------- ------ NETWARE_RESOURCES to PRIVATE GLOBAL DOS_FILES to 214 (max) 214 (max) DOS_LASTDRIVE to G G Note: In a Private session, DOS_LASTDRIVE must be set to the next letter in succession after your last OS/2 workstation drive. For example, if you have drives A, B, C, D, E, and F, DOS_LASTDRIVE should be set to G. H will be your LOGIN drive for that session. h. Use the following settings for applications that use DOS Protected Mode Interface (DPMI): DPMI_MEMORY_LIMIT to 4 (Minimum requirement) DPMI_DOS_API to ENABLE i. If your system has a LAN adapter, or another board that uses RAM, add the range it uses to the MEM_EXCLUDE_REGIONS settings (that is, D8000-DFFFF for an Ethernet adapter). Note: There might be other settings you want to change, but don't make them until the VMB is running. 3. Select Save. 4. Select General and change the Title field to VMB or the name you want to call your Desktop icon. 5. Close the window. 6. Select the new DOS VMB Desktop icon. 7. To exit the VMB from within the VMB, create the batch file, X.BAT (containing the following line) in the VMB directory: @ C:\OS2\MDOS\EXIT_VDM 8. Save the file. 9. Type X at the command prompt. Note: If you have problems with the preceding steps, check all file and directory names, especially those for the DOS settings. ______________________________________________________________________ IBM disclaims all warranties, whether express or implied, including without limitation, warranties of fitness and merchantability with respect to the information in this document. By furnishing this document, IBM grants no licenses to any related patents or copyrights. Copyright (c) 1994, 1995 IBM Corporation. Any trademarks and product or brand names referenced in this document are the property of their respective owners. Consult your product manuals for complete trademark information.