EComStation 2.x as a VirtualBox 5.x Guest

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Revision as of 20:42, 12 September 2013 by Martini (talk | contribs) (→‎Audio)
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What is Sun 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 OS/2 or eComStation as a guest

First, you will need to download and install the appropriate VirtualBox version that matches your machine's operating system. Then, simply create a new virtual machine from within it and tell VirtualBox to load the Guest OS from the OS/2 or eCS install media.

Drivers under VBox/2 (eCS hosted)

Component Name Driver
Audio Audio Intel HD
ICH AC97
SoundBlaster 16
Supported with UNIAUD driver.
SoundBlaster Driver.
Video N/A SNAP: Select SNAP during eComStation install.
USB N/A Not Tested
Parallel Port N/A Not Tested
Serial Port N/A Not Tested
Networks PCNET FASTIII.
PCNET PCI II
Intel PRO1000MT.
PCnet-FAST III on eComStation Installer
Tools and additions pack for eCS client ISO Additions Yes - mouse integration, video and NIC drivers.
Shared Folders N/A Not Supported. [1]

Audio

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

Using UNIAUD V1.9.25-SVNr551 (UNIAUD32.sys) and V1.9.5-SVNr534 (UNIAUD16.SYS) on you config.sys will look like:

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

"/V" is to show the messaged on boot. When booting it will show you something like:

Universal Audio Driver for OS/2 and eComStation vl.9.26-SVNr551
Based on ALSA 1.0.21
Copyright 2005-2010 Netlab s http://www.netlabs.org
Copyright 2000-2010 The ALSA Project

HDA Intel at Oxf0801000 irq 21
Selected Mixer : SigmaTel STAC9221 A1


OS/2 Universal Audio MMPM/2 Driver vl.9.5-SVNr531
Copyright 2 000-2002 InnoTek Systemberatung GmbH
Copyright 2002 IBM Corporation
Maintained by Netlabs http://www.netlabs.org


Network Adapter

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

Shared Clipboard

The shared clipboard integration is working. It had been tested with Windows has host and eComStation 2.1 as guest. You can copy+paste text from Windows or eComStation without problems after installing the eComStation Guest Add-ons.

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

Troubleshooting

  • Question: 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: eComStation 2.0 RC7 traps on DANIS506 driver on boot. (Trap 000d)

A: Try to select IBM506.ADD drivers, on 2.0 GA DANIS506 gives similar problems on HOST MAX OS X Virtual box 3 and 2.2 versions

  • Q: When the Warp 4.52 Boot CD runs it says "OS/2 is unable to operate your hard disk or diskette drive"

A: Check that you are using a IDE disk on the Storage configuration of the Virtual Machine. If you are running SATA you require to install AHCI drivers on your OS/2-eComStation guest VM.

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.

Mouse Integration

Mouse integration also works. It had been tested with Windows has host and eComStation 2.1 as guest using eComStation Guest Add-ons.

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

eComStation 2.0 GA on Virtual Box 2.2 Mac OS X

eComStation 2.0 GA , just select "edit values before startup on CD", then IBM506ADD Compatibility mode and JJSCDROOM.add; on Virtual Box 2.2 for Mac Os X. And installation goes right well :-)