VMware just announced a public beta of their OS X virtualization product, Fusion. Fusion 2.0 will be a free upgrade to all registered users.
Already it addresses a number of issues I've had including:
- Multiple monitor support
- Correctly handles plugging & unplugging display
- Option to use one or all displays in Full Screen mode
- Handles changes to resolution and display orientation automatically
- Allow USB mice/tablets in a virtual machine without custom configuration
Note: I just barely wrote about how to work around this in Fusion 1.1.2.
- Virtual machines in Bridged networking mode now know when your Mac's network connection is available or becomes unavailable, and will refresh their network address automatically
Note: This is HUGE. When I'm moving between home and my downtown office networking is always an issue.
- DirectX 9.0 with Shader Model 2 graphics
Full release notes are here, lightweight notes and sample videos are here, download Fusion 2 beta here.
Lately I've been working a few days a week downtown using my MacBook Pro running Leopard and VMware Fusion. The MBP is off to the right on an iFold stand, and Fusion is full-screen in front of me on a 30" monitor. For input devices I'm using a generic HP USB keyboard and a Logitech MX900 mouse.
By default VMware emulates a generic PS/2 mouse with two buttons and a wheel, which meant that the mouse software I'm using in OS X, ControllerMate, was essentially useless in Fusion.
Luckily there is a hidden setting available for VMware Fusion version 1.1.2 and newer that will enable a virtual USB mouse that passes through up to 6 buttons. The same setting works with VMware Workstation 6, but I'm not sure about older versions. According to VMware this device will be preferred over the PS/2 mouse by the VM.
Edit your Virtual Machine Config
Before making any changes, shut down the virtual machine and quit VMware Fusion. Virtual Machines may be stored in ~/Documents/Virtual Machines.
Command Line
- Open a new terminal (Finder, Go menu, Utilities, Terminal)
- Change directories to ~/Library/Application Support/VMware Fusion/Virtual Machines
cd ~/Library/Application Support/VMware Fusion/Virtual Machines
- Begin editing the .vmx file. With my Boot Camp configuration this is inside of Boot Camp/%2Fdev%2Fdisk0/Boot Camp partition.vmwarevm
nano Boot Camp/%2Fdev%2Fdisk0/Boot Camp partition.vmwarevm/Boot\ Camp\ partition.vmx
- Add the following line anywhere in the file
mouse.vusb.enable = "TRUE"
- Save and exit nano
CTRL+o, Enter, CTRL+x, Enter
- Restart the VM
From the Finder
- Browse to your Virtual Machine folder
<your home directory>/Library/Application Support/VMware Fusion/Virtual Machines
- Open the folder for your VM and drill down through folders until you see a single file (in my case it's called Boot Camp Partition)
- Right click on the file and choose Show Package Contents.
- Right click on the .vmx file and choose Open With, and then Other.
- Select TextEdit to open the file.
- Add the following line anywhere in the file
mouse.vusb.enable = "TRUE"
- Save and close the file
- Restart the VM
