Creating a Custom Virtual Machine

1. Open the Parallels Workstation. Click button on the Command Button panel or select New VM in File menu. The New Virtual Machine Wizard welcome screen will appear.

   

   Click Next button.

2. Select virtual machine configuration screen is opened. Select the second option, Create a custom VM configuration. Click Next to proceed.

   

3. On the Select guest OS screen you should specify the type and version of the guest operating system you want to install on the new Virtual Machine. When it is done click the Next button to move to the next step.

   

4. On the Specify memory size screen you should set the amount of RAM for the new machine. You can choose any value from 4 to 1500 MB. We strongly recommend that you allocate no more than the half of the physical RAM installed on your computer.

   Memory size should be in multiples of 4 MB. You will receive error notification and will not be able to go further until specify a value that meets this condition.

   To set memory value use slider, spin buttons, or type a value directly into the field.

   Click Next to move to the next step.

   

5. On the Select action type screen you have to decide whether you want to create a new virtual hard disk, attach to the machine an existing one, or not to add disk at all. After specifying what wizard should do, click Next.

   If you have selected to use an existing hard disk image, go to the step 8 of the current instructions.

   If you have decided not to add disk at all, proceed to the step 9.

   

6. If you selected to create a new virtual disk on the previous step, you should specify its size and format. Disk formats are shortly explained on this wizard screen, more detailed description is given in the Hard Disk Images topic.

   After specifying the data required, click Next.

   

7. On the Select an image file screen you should determine the path where the virtual disk image should be stored, and the name of the disk.

   The Wizard prompts to store new hard disk image under the default path that is specified on the Common tab in the Preferences window, in a separate folder. Files of each Virtual Machine are proposed to store in a separate folder, that are named in the following format <guest OS>.<number of the machine of the same version - 1>.

   For instance, the first Windows 2000 Virtual Machine is proposed to store in the \win2000\ folder. For the second Windows 2000 VM \win2000.1\ folder is offered, and so on.

   If you don't like the default name or path you may browse for the right folder and name, as well as make corrections directly in the field.

   

   After you click Next the wizard checks if the specified folder exists, if it is not, a permission for creation is asked: "Directory <name> does not exists. Do you want it to be created automatically?" Click Yes.

   Go to the step 9 of the current instructions.

8. Since you decided to attach to the new VM an existing hard disk image (on the step 5) you have to specify where this disk image is stored. Use Browse button to locate it or type the file name with its path directly in the field.

   

   After you click Next the wizard searches disk for the specified file, and if it does not find the file, you are notified that "The specified file <file name> does not exist. Please select a different file."

9. Here you will specify type of networking for the new Virtual Machine.

   Select Bridged Ethernet if you want to access Internet inside the Virtual Machine.

   Select Host-only Networking if you want to create a virtual network or you don't want to access network outside your local computer. See Networking in Virtual Machine for detailed information about Bridged Ethernet and Host-only types of networking.

   If you do not have physical network interface card or do not need network adapter in this Virtual Machine, select Networking is not required option.

   

   Click Next. If you have selected Host-only Networking or Networking is not required proceed to the step 11 of the current instructions.

10. If you have selected Bridged Ethernet type of networking for the new machine, on this screen you should specify which real adapter should be connected to the virtual drive. Select one in the list and click Next.

    

11. On the Select virtual machine configuration file screen you should determine the name of the Virtual Machine and folder where the Virtual Machine configuration file should be stored and with what file name.

    Specify a descriptive name for the machine in the Virtual machine name field. The name should be no longer than 50 symbols.

    In the Configuration file field the default path and name for the configuration file is shown. The Wizard offers to store the configuration file in the same folder with the new hard disk image (if you have created new virtual hard disk for the machine). The name of folder is described in the step 7 of the current instructions.

    If you don't like the default name or path you may browse for the right folder and name, as well as make corrections in the field directly.

    

    Click Finish after you specified the path and the name for the configuration file. If the folder does not exist the wizard displays notification: "Directory <name> does not exists. Do you want it to be created automatically?" Click Yes.

    New configuration will be created and opened in the Parallels Workstation window.