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You are here: MacNN Forums > Software - Troubleshooting and Discussion > Alternative Operating Systems > Simple Parallels/VM Ware question

Simple Parallels/VM Ware question
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Don Pickett
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Nov 4, 2010, 04:01 PM
 
I may be about to start working at a place which is Widows-based. I want to offer them the possibility of me working at home some, but I wanted to make sure what I offer is feasible.

Seems to me the simplest thing would be for me to give their IT guy a drive and have him image it. I could then pop it in my machine, fire up Parallels/VM Ware and be good to go. Is this a reasonable assumption, or is the virtualization set up more complicated than that?
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Cold Warrior
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Nov 4, 2010, 05:23 PM
 
Depends on how uptight they are with company firewalls, vpn, possible proprietary technology or information stored offsite (your computer), etc.

But if they're open to it, and the computing demands are not intense, then a VM is a good solution. VMware has an app that will run on a windows box and basically copy it to a VM. Not sure about Parallels.
     
besson3c
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Nov 4, 2010, 06:37 PM
 
Yeah, the networking thing is indeed a hurdle, unless your company offers a VPN?

If you want to present a package that doesn't involve them purchasing a copy of Parallels or VMWare, Virtualbox is a possibility too.
     
Spheric Harlot
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Nov 4, 2010, 07:23 PM
 
Originally Posted by Don Pickett View Post
I may be about to start working at a place which is Widows-based. I want to offer them the possibility of me working at home some, but I wanted to make sure what I offer is feasible.
That depends. Need more info.

Are they hot, young widows, or more the elderly type?
     
Don Pickett  (op)
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Nov 5, 2010, 12:21 PM
 
Originally Posted by Spheric Harlot View Post
That depends. Need more info.

Are they hot, young widows, or more the elderly type?
:rimshot:

Actually, the place is full of young hotties, but that's a different thread on a different board.

I assume they use VPN, but I also assumed I could set that up once I get home. Bad assumption?
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besson3c
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Nov 5, 2010, 12:54 PM
 
Originally Posted by Don Pickett View Post
I assume they use VPN, but I also assumed I could set that up once I get home. Bad assumption?
You probably can, but you'll need to know the specifics of their VPN - type, address, whether you have access, etc.
     
Don Pickett  (op)
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Nov 5, 2010, 02:56 PM
 
Originally Posted by besson3c View Post
You probably can, but you'll need to know the specifics of their VPN - type, address, whether you have access, etc.
Yes: I would get all those specs.

I'm more worried that I will get the work-formatted drive in my machine, fire up Parallels, and Parallels will say, "I see no Windows install."
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besson3c
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Nov 5, 2010, 03:16 PM
 
Originally Posted by Don Pickett View Post
Yes: I would get all those specs.

I'm more worried that I will get the work-formatted drive in my machine, fire up Parallels, and Parallels will say, "I see no Windows install."

If your work is going to supply you with a VMDK or VDI disk image you can test this in advance on a VM host of your choice. If it works on one it should work on all Mac-based VM hosts.
     
Don Pickett  (op)
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Nov 5, 2010, 06:06 PM
 
Originally Posted by besson3c View Post
If your work is going to supply you with a VMDK or VDI disk image you can test this in advance on a VM host of your choice. If it works on one it should work on all Mac-based VM hosts.
I doubt it. I imagine they'd just image a drive.

So far as I know, no one at the place has ever suggested this before, so I am guinea pigging.
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ghporter
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Nov 5, 2010, 06:54 PM
 
I would not assume they have a VPN set up until they tell you they do. And I would not have very high expectations if they do have one. I worked one place where their "central server" was a Windows computer that one would remote into using MS's Remote Desktop Connection. Their security was pretty lame, too. This wasn't just for logging in from home, either; ALL users had to get at the system that way.

Be prepared for a well set up VPN with solid security, but don't go too far in setting things up expecting that to be the case.

Glenn -----OTR/L, MOT, Tx
     
besson3c
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Nov 5, 2010, 08:51 PM
 
Originally Posted by Don Pickett View Post
I doubt it. I imagine they'd just image a drive.

So far as I know, no one at the place has ever suggested this before, so I am guinea pigging.

There are tools that will help you convert a raw disk image or perhaps disk images of other formats to a disk image format recognized by a VM, should you want to do a dry run of this in advance.
     
   
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