VMware GSX Server 2.5.2Features | Documentation | Knowledge Base | Discussion Forums This section offers advice for configuring a Windows 2000, Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 guest operating system for better performance inside a virtual machine. Note: This document pertains to the guest operating system that is running inside a GSX Server virtual machine. It does not describe actions that should be taken on the Windows 2000 or Windows Server 2003 host operating system. Make certain you have selected the correct guest operating system in the Configuration Editor — Settings > Configuration Editor > Options (on Windows hosts) or Settings > Configuration Editor > Misc (on Linux hosts). Make certain VMware Tools is installed. VMware Tools provides an optimized SVGA driver and sets up the VMware Tools service to run automatically when the system starts. Among other things, the VMware Tools service allows you to synchronize the virtual machine's clock with the host computer's clock, which can improve performance for some functions. You can install VMware Tools by choosing Settings > VMware Tools Install. Using the Devices menu, disconnect your CD-ROM drive if you do not need to use it. If you are using a Linux host, also disconnect /dev/rtc. Disconnecting these devices reduces CPU usage. Note: The time synchronization feature in VMware Tools does not rely on /dev/rtc. The fade effects that Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 use when displaying menus can be somewhat slow and make the virtual machine seem less responsive. To disable them, right-click the guest operating system desktop, then choose Properties > Appearance > Effects (on Windows XP or Windows Server 2003) or Properties > Effects (on Windows 2000) and uncheck Use transition effects for menus and tool tips. Run your virtual machine in full screen mode. Click the Full Screen button on the local console toolbar. You can use full screen mode only when the virtual machine is running in a local console. Prerelease versions of Windows Server 2003 have hardware acceleration disabled by default. This slows down graphics performance and mouse responsiveness in the guest operating system. To enable hardware acceleration in a Windows Server 2003 guest, open the Control Panel, then open the Display Properties control panel. On the Settings tab, click Advanced. On the Troubleshoot tab, drag the Hardware acceleration slider all the way to Full. |
