ArcaOS 5.0.x as a VirtualBox 6.x Guest

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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

Drivers under VBox/2

Component Name Driver
Audio Audio Intel HD
ICH AC97
SoundBlaster 16
Supported with UNIAUD driver.
SoundBlaster Driver
Video VESA VBE 2.0 VBXGRADD, GENGRADD, Panorama or SNAP
USB N/A Working. Included ArcaOS USB driver and Lar's USB Drivers
Parallel Port N/A Not Tested
Serial Port N/A Not Tested
Networks PCNET FASTIII (Am79C973).
PCNET PCI II
Intel PRO1000MT.
PCnet-FAST III on ArcaOS Installer
NICPAK - AMD
Tools and additions pack for OS/2 client ISO Additions Yes - mouse integration, video and NIC drivers.
Shared Folders N/A Not Supported. [1]

Audio

If you select "ICH AC97" as device of the Virtual 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

Network Adapter

PCnet-FAST III

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

Your config.sys will include this:

DEVICE=C:\IBMCOM\MACS\PCNTND.OS2

Intel

DEVICE=C:\IBMCOM\MACS\E1000.OS2

Video

It had been reported that GENGRADD, VBOXGRADD, SNAP and Panorama drivers may work on the guest virtual machine. But SNAP and Panorama are not really necessary and may be generating some little overhead according to some opinions. So it may be recommended to use GENGRADD or VBOXGRADD.

VBOXGRADD

This driver is available on Valery Sedletski OS/2's guest additions files. [2]

Panorama

Pending: Finding out to set HD resolution.

SNAP

Using the SNAP drivers you can get a custom resolution.

From the host machine you can add a custom resolution support to the guest OS with the following command:

VBoxManage setextradata "<name of the VM>" "CustomVideoMode1" "1366x768x32"

Example:

vboxmanage setextradata "ArcaOS 5.0" "CustomVideoMode1" "1366x768x32"

You will get no confirmation from this command code.

Turn on the guest OS/2 or ArcaOS and on the /SNAP/ directory run:

gamode add 1366 768 32

This will add the new resolution on the ArcaOS Screen Resolution options. Access the settings page for resolution and select the new one.

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 (bidirectional) 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.

FAQ / Troubleshooting

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.

Recommended Commands on VirtualBox

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 assigned 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"

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