Custom Installation Mode

To create a custom virtual machine:

1. Start Parallels Workstation and launch New Virtual Machine Wizard by choosing New from the File menu.
2. In the Select Operating System Type and Version window, select the guest OS you plan to install inside your virtual machine and click Next .
3. In the Virtual Machine Type window, select Custom and click Next .
4. In the Name and Location window, define the name and location for your virtual machine:
   • Name . Indicate an arbitrary name to be assigned to the virtual machine. By default, the virtual machine gets the same name as the operating system that will be installed inside this virtual machine. If a virtual machine with such a name already exists, you will be prompted to indicate another name. The name must not exceed 50 characters.
   • Location . Use the Choose button if you want to change the default location of the virtual machine-related files.
5. In the CPU and Memory Options window, specify the number of CPU(s) and the amount of RAM for the virtual machine and click Next . You can use the slider or arrow buttons to set the value or simply type it into the corresponding field.
6. In the Hard Disk Options window, select the type of virtual hard disk you want to use and click Next . You can create a new hard disk image, use an existing one, or create a virtual machine without any hard disk at all. You may need a virtual machine without a hard disk to work with live CDs/DVDs (CDs or DVDs containing a bootable operating system).
7. If you have selected the No hard disk option, go to Step 8.

   If you chose to create a new virtual hard disk in the previous step, in the New Virtual Hard Disk window, specify the capacity and type for the disk and click Next . If you have chosen to use an existing image file, in the Existing Virtual Hard Disk window, specify the hard disk image to be connected, its interface type and position. Click Next .

8. In the Networking Type window, select the type of networking you want to use in the virtual machine and click Next .
   • Shared Networking . If you select this option, the virtual machine will use the host computer's network connections and will be visible only for the host computer and other virtual machines registered on this server.
   • Bridged Networking . If you select this option, the virtual machine will be visible on the network as a separate computer.
   • Host-Only Networking . If you select this option, the virtual machine will access only the host computer and the virtual machines running on it.
   • Direct Assignment (using Intel VT-d) . If you select this option, the virtual machine will be able to access the local network and Internet through a PCIe network adapter. This option is available only if you have a PCIe network adapter and the Intel VT-d technology is enabled in your host computer.
   • No Networking . If you select this option, the virtual machine will have no network adapter.

     Note: You may reconfigure the networking settings after the virtual machine is created, using the Virtual Machine Configuration dialog.

9. If you have selected the Shared Networking , Host-Only Networking , or No Networking option, go to Step 10.

   If you selected Bridged Networking , on the next step you will need to select the network adapter to be used by the virtual machine:

   • Default Adapter . Select this option to use the adapter specified as default in the primary OS.
   • Parallels Shared Networking Adapter . Select this option to use Parallels Shared Networking adapter installed together with Parallels Workstation.
   • Parallels Host-Only Networking Adapter . Select this option to use Parallels Host-Only Networking adapter installed together with Parallels Workstation.

   The host computer network adapters included in this list are also available for selecting. Select the Connected option if you want the virtual machine to start up with this network adapter connected.

   If you selected the Direct Assignment (using Intel VT-d) option, on the next step select the PCIe network adapter you want to use. Before using the PCIe adapter in your virtual machine, you will need to assign it to your virtual machines in the Intel VT-d pane of Parallels Workstation Preferences and install the manufacturer's driver for this PCIe device inside the virtual machine. The driver should support the Intel VT-d technology. For detailed information, see Networking Using a PCIe Adapter .

10. In the Optimization Options window, select the optimization mode you prefer and click Next . The available options are:
    • Virtual machine (Recommended) . Select this option to allocate more host computer resources to the virtual machine and its applications.
    • Host Computer . Select this option to allocate more resources to the host computer and its applications.
11. In the Prepare to Install Operating System window, specify the source of installation files and click Start .

    Notes:

    1. OS installation CDs and DVDs are not included with your Parallels product. You must obtain an operating system separately.

    2. For a Linux virtual machine, the source installation files may be located on the Parallels server only.

    If you do not want to install the guest OS and start the virtual machine now, click Done .

When the installation is complete, install Parallels Tools if they are available for the guest OS you just installed. Refer to the Installing Parallels Tools section .