Change Virtual Machine Configuration at Runtime

Parallels Workstation allows you to connect or disconnect certain devices at runtime or switch some of them for using other media.

Generally, the following virtual devices can be connected or disconnected at runtime:

• CD/DVD-ROM drives
• floppy disk drives
• network adapters
• printer ports
• serial ports
• sound devices
• USB devices
• shared folders

You can configure any of these devices as follows:

• Use the necessary command from the Devices menu in the menu bar. This menu is available only when the virtual machine is running.
• Click a device icon on the status bar and choose the command from a device shortcut menu.

  The status bar displays the devices information when the virtual machine is running.

• Drag an image file (*.iso or *.fdd) or a shared folder on the appropriate device icon in the status bar. This option is available only for CD/DVD-ROM drives, floppy drives and shared folders.

CD/DVD-ROM or a Floppy Drives

If you have several CD/DVD-ROM drives connected to your virtual machine, in the Devices menu they are listed in the same order as they were connected. The first CD/DVD-ROM drive will be CD/DVD-ROM 1 , the second will be CD/DVD-ROM 2 , and so on.

Network Adapters

You can connect the network adapter to any virtual network created on the host computer. If you have several network adapters used by the virtual machine, on the status bar and in the Devices menu they are listed in the same order as they were connected. The first network adapter will be Network Adapter 1 , the second will be Network Adapter 2 , and so on.

Printer Ports

To connect or disconnect a printer port or to connect a printer or an output file to a printer port, do the following:

• Click the Devices menu, select the corresponding printer port, and choose the appropriate command from the displayed menu.
• Right-click the printer port icon in the status bar to display the shortcut menu and choose the appropriate command.

Serial Ports

To connect or disconnect a serial port, do the following:

• Click the Devices menu, select the corresponding serial port, and choose the appropriate command from the displayed menu.
• Right-click the serial port icon in the status bar to display the shortcut menu and choose the appropriate command.

Sound Devices

To connect or disconnect a sound device, choose the Activate or Mute options respectively. You can also choose the type of output and input devices.

USB Devices

Parallels Workstation automatically detects all USB devices plugged into the host computer. The devices that are currently connected to the virtual machine appear in the list from the Device menu. You cannot use a USB device in the host operating system while it is being used by the virtual machine.

Shared Folders

The Shared Folders options available at runtime are similar to the settings in the Virtual Machine Configuration dialog .

You can

• share all disks of the host computer or Home Folder only with the virtual machine
• add a new shared folder