Can VMware has "own" mouse and keyboard?

[mengxianguo]

Hi, I know a soft named BeTwin (www.thinsoftinc.com) that allows multiple users to simultaneously and independently share a personal computer running Windows OS.

I want to know if VMware can finish the BeTwin functions. Workstation 6 virtual machines have support for setting the number of monitors that the guest operating system can use, and also for specifying resolution settings. It is easy to find two mousse and two keyboards (one P/S and one USB). I think the problem is if the users can independently use mouses and keyboards in VMs.

[devzero]

i`d be interested in this, too.

is there a way to share a PC by running two VMs and concurrently use them by two different users, i.e. two desktop sessions in parallel ?

[oreeh]

that's were Server and the remote console comes to play - or the VNC stuff from WS/Server

[devzero]

no, that´s not what i meant exactly.

i`m speaking of a single pc with 2 displays, 2 mice and 2 keyboards attached.

i know of solutions for linux and windows which let you use such PC with 2 people concurrently.

so, i`m just wondering if there is a less "proprietary" approach with vmware - if i get this right, it´s only a matter of having one VM handle a ps/2 mouse/keyboard and the other handle an usb mouse/keyboard - concurrently

[oreeh]

Since Windows handles the kbd and mouse you have to "replace" the kbd/mouse drivers to do this - this wouldn't be "less proprietary".

And I doubt that this in on the priority list for the developers - although it would be a nice addon.

[devzero]

mhh - we should do a feature request so vmware may add support for this.

VDI will have a hard time when this gets mainstream :smileygrin:

anyway - i found some proprietary solution which seems easy to setup and which is free for two seats - http://userful.com/products/free-2-user

should be piece of cake to install this one and run VMs for two users with this....

comments ?

[oreeh]

looks interesting...

although with Linux and X this is possibly without such a product http://www.linux.org/docs/ldp/howto/XFree-Local-multi-user-HOWTO/index.html

Message was edited by:

oreeh

the problem is WS6 - you have to run two instances of it at the same time - not sure if this is possible

here's a link doing the same with X.org http://cs.senecac.on.ca/~ctyler/ruby/

[devzero]

it looks that userful is vmware "aware" http://userful.com/products/solutions/vmware

sure, i know of the different free approaches to setup multi-user-multi-head linux, but i want something working out of the box - without patching anything.

[kaifudin]

Its possible to have a set of keyboard/mouse for the vmware since Version 5. ALl you need is a set of HID compliant Keyboard/Mouse for the individual Vmware you are loading. Make sure they are of different brands for every vmware you were to load. The below is the detail of how to do it:

1. In config add this to only the vmware you want to have independent input: usb.generic.allowHID = "TRUE"

2. Load the guest machine up and install the keyboard/mouse.

3. Test to make sure all is running and is independent from the Host.

4. Goto Vm/settings/Usb Controller and untick: Automatically connect usb device or add this to config after u power down the guest: usb.generic.autoconnect = "FALSE"

5. before you power up the guest that required indenpent input, make sure they are connected to your machine first then power up the guest.

6. If you run 4 monitors setup and want to use 3 guest, do the same as above for guest 2/3, remember to use different keyboards/mouse for each guest you run.

There you go, Host + 3 guest on 4 monitors each clicking away with 4 different users

[sguerrieri]

It seems as if what you all are asking for is that the console behave as if it were a terminal server session or x session. If that is the case, then I would have to agree that this would be a very useful feature indeed.

[devzero]

yes, acknowledged!

i have this working for a 2-user setup! (host XP, guest Linux)

this is a FEATURE REQUEST to make this easier configurable.

also see http://communities.vmware.com/message/837558

[nnkfws333]

Sorry to bring up an old post from the past but has anyone gotten this to work for a host using linux (RHEL) and guest as linux? Maybe any suggestions? Thanks!

[devzero]

no - you shouldn´t be sorry - you should make some noise so maybe vmware will make that easier for end-users

maybe http://communities.vmware.com/message/849246 gives some hints for you.

[admin]

In Workstation 6.5, you can now show all USB input devices by going to the USB Controller property page and choosing Show all USB input devices.