ArcaOS 5.0.x as a VirtualBox 6.x Guest

What is VirtualBox
VirtualBox is an x86 virtualization software package, originally created by German software company innotek, now developed by Oracle as part of its xVM virtualization platform. It is installed on an existing host operating system as an application. Within this application, additional operating systems, each known as a Guest OS, can be loaded and run, each with its own virtual environment.

Homepage Link: http://www.virtualbox.org/

Running ArcaOS as a guest
You don't require any special driver outside of the ones included on ArcaOS 5.0.x

Audio
If you select "ICH AC97" as device of the Vitual Machine, it will work with the UNIAUD driver.

Using UNIAUD (UNIAUD32.sys - 2.02.04 / 12 Jan 2018 15:44:36) (UNIAUD16.SYS - 1.09.7 / 25 Jun 2017 17:11:40) included on ArcaOS 5.0.3 on you config.sys will look like:

DEVICE=C:\MMOS2\UNIAUD32.SYS DEVICE=C:\MMOS2\UNIAUD16.SYS /C

PCnet-FAST III
For the PCnet-FAST III you need to install the "AMD PCNet Ethernet Family Adapter" that is included in eComStation.

Your config.sys will include this: DEVICE=C:\IBMCOM\MACS\PCNTND.OS2

Video
On this installation I'm using the Panorama driver.

Pending: Finding out to set HD resolution.

USB
USB virtual ports are working on the platform.

Here it is some sample on the parameters on config.sys for USB: BASEDEV=USBOHCD.SYS BASEDEV=USBEHCD.SYS

Diskette
The diskette integration is very easy too:

On the settings of the Virtual Machine on "Storage" you can add the diskette drive.



Now you can select the Diskette image. The IMA format is supported.



You can use a Windows program called "WinImage" to generate your own IMA Diskettes imaged.

Shared Clipboard
The shared clipboard integration is working. It has been tested with Windows 10 as host and ArcaOS 5.0.3 as guest. You can copy+paste text from Windows or ArcaOS without problems after installing the OS/2 Guest Add-ons.

Be sure to enable the shared clipboard (bidirection) on the virtual machine.

Mouse Integration
Mouse integration also works. It had been tested with Windows 10 as host and ArcaOS 5.0.3 as guest using OS/2 Guest Add-ons.

If you are running ArcaOS guest on a window, you don't have to disconnect the mouse with "Ctrl Right" to control the host OS.

VBOXMOUSE.SYS will replace AMOUSE.SYS and your config.sys will look like this:

REM DEVICE=C:\OS2\BOOT\AMOUSE.SYS DEVICE=C:\PROGRAMS\VBOX\VBOXMOUSE.SYS

Documentation
Documentation is available on the VirtualBox site to install several Guest OS's: http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Guest_OSes

According to the VirtualBox Documentation, OS/2 MCP2 was reported to be stable but it requires VT-x hardware virtualization support. That means that your computer has to be modern enough to have that feature.

Question: ArcaOS, eCS or OS/2 freezes on booting, showing only the Logo
A: Check that your computer has the VT-X mode enabled. Or check that VT-X hardware virtualization is turned on in your computer's BIOS.



Q:What "network adapter" to use in Virtualbox OS/2 Guest?
Reply by Lars Erdmann:

I am running under a Windows host but I would hope the answer will be the same:

1) Use "Intel PRO/1000 MT Server". The equivalent driver in OS/2 is E1000.OS2 ("Intel(R) PRO/1000 Network Connection").

If you use DHCP in your OS/2 guest and have problems with it (you do not get assigned an IP address), then modify your \IBMCOM\PROTOCOL.INI file and add the following to the [E1000_nif] section: TRANSMITBUFFERS = 20 RECEIVEBUFFERS = 20

Note that you'll have to do this manually as these parameters are undocumented and not offered though the E1000.NIF file. You'll also have to redo this every time you let the network config tool change your PROTOCOL.INI.

2) If that still fails, then use "PCnet-FAST III (Am79C973)".

The equivalent driver in OS/2 should be PCNTND.OS2 ("AMD PCNet Ethernet Family Adapter"). Maybe you will have to pick "PCnet-PCI II (Am79C970A)" in VirtualBox instead. In any case, the OS/2 driver will be the same.

Changing the UUID of Virtual HDD
Sometimes you want to duplicate your Virtual HDD and move them to other Virtual machines. You may get an error that the VHDD UUID is already used and it can not be asigned to other VM.

I recommends this command to fix remove the UUID of the Virtual HDD image:

For example: "C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox\VBoxManage.exe" internalcommands sethduuid "D:\VM\VirtualBox\ArcaOS 5.0.3\ArcaOS 5.0.3.vdi"

Links

 * Discussion about eComStation as Guest and Screen Resolutions