Sharing a folder between NextStep 3.3 and the host computer

NeXT Computer, Inc. -> Emulation / Virtualization

Title: Sharing a folder between NextStep 3.3 and the host computer
Post by: slynce on March 30, 2009, 02:49:05 PM
Does anyone know how to share a folder between the host computer and NextStep 3.3 virtual machine (I know how to configure the settings in VMware software and can't understand the part with configuring the guest Nextstep 3.3 and where to find the shared folder).
Any help appreciated ;)
Title: Sharing a folder between NextStep 3.3 and the host computer
Post by: Morgon on March 30, 2009, 03:59:00 PM
Simple answer: It is not possible using VMware sharedfolders with NS/OS.

Detailed answer:
You need VMwareTool installed in the guest system to make it work since it uses the VMware backport for communication between host and guest.

But VMwareTools are not available for NeXTStep/OpenStep there is no way using SharedFolders. Only way is to set up a NFS server on the host and use the virtual network for sharing folders.


PS:
Out of curiosity I once took a look at the things necessary to make SharedFolder work but saw no easy way to implement it or port the linux code as I did for the mouse and network drivers.
SharedFolders is much more complicated as it has to interact with various parts of the system and most has to be done in the kernel and not at user level.
Title: Sharing a folder between NextStep 3.3 and the host computer
Post by: hanul on March 30, 2009, 04:02:16 PM
Shared Folders do not work, but NFS will. Other alternatives are FTP or SMB (I think there is an older SMB port for NS).
Title: Sharing a folder between NextStep 3.3 and the host computer
Post by: slynce on March 31, 2009, 04:37:02 AM
Thanks for you sharings,
I never thought on the problem from this point of view (that the guest OS will need VMware tools pre-installed) and now it all makes sense to me.
The solution using SAMBA probably is a working one, but I feel it's a much above my knowledge and skills at the moment (so I don't feel like able to configure this using SAMBA).
What do you think about configuring the NFS manager to see the virtual network and the VMware server ( I read in VMware help file that when installed for the first time the VMware creates such server).
Another idea is circling in my head ever since I saw Steve Jobs NextStep 3.0 Demo video. He shows the ability of NextStep to reach PC networks via a software preinstalled in his OS. The software is called NetWare Manager. Do you think it is possible to configure it to see the host's Windows Vista directories?
Title: Sharing a folder between NextStep 3.3 and the host computer
Post by: hanul on March 31, 2009, 06:03:16 AM
You need a Novell Netware server to access files with a Netware client. I think it is beyond any hobbyist project to set up such a system.

For NFS you need Vista Enterprise or Ultimate. You can start an NFS client on your Vista box, but in this case the NS box needs to be the NFS server. There are some commercial Windows-based NFS servers available.

It would be easier with XP, because Microsoft's Windows Services for UNIX is available for it, which includes an NFS server for free.
Title: Sharing a folder between NextStep 3.3 and the host computer
Post by: slynce on March 31, 2009, 10:07:53 AM
Hi Hanul,
I got from your post that the last (connecting through Vista NFS client ) is very difficult, but not impossible ;)
My Vista IS Ultimate. If you just could hint me on what is the name of the soft I need and how to do  the settings of it (or show where I can read about it) it would be great!
Thanks in advance!
I think it is worth trying to connect NextStep 3.3 Virtual Machine to a modern host like Vista (guess Vista cries out seeing a better GUI OS created 16 years ago ;)
Title: Sharing a folder between NextStep 3.3 and the host computer
Post by: hanul on April 01, 2009, 02:56:04 AM
Setup of the NEXTSTEP NFS server is explained here:

http://www.channelu.com/NeXT/NeXTStep/3.3/nsa/04_NFS.htmld/index.html#4sett

You can download the neccessary "Utilities and SDK for Subsystem for UNIX-based Applications" for Vista here:

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=93FF2201-325E-487F-A398-EFDE5758C47F&displaylang=en

From the MMC-Plugin, you should be able to configure the client. Then you can map the drive as you do with any (Windows-based) network drive. A rather lengthy TechNet article is here:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc753302.aspx

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