Modern Guide to OpenStep install in VMWare Fusion

Hey everyone, for those that still have an Intel Mac around, I was hoping to find a way to use VMWare or VirtualBox to run OpenStep 4.2 Developer.

I have a VirtualBox version up and running, but I find the disk performance to be quite bad. As well, the PS/2 mouse is barely usable. As well, the video driver does not allow me to set 1920x1080 resolution, but 1600x1200 does work

I have a VMWare fusion version running. This version is super fast. The disk is fast and the screen is super fast. However, I am having a problem with the mouse driver (I think?). Where certain key combos like command shift will cause the system to (or the input) to freeze. Also, I can run the display with the VMWareFB1.1.1 drivers to run at 1280x768 but if I set to to 1440x900 or 1920x1080 it boots to blue screen and never finishes.

Does anyone know of a modern guide to running OpenStep in a high performance way in either VirtualBox or VMware?

Thanks so much,
Jeff

What hard disk driver are you using for Virtual Box?

The BusLogic SCSI controller is the fastest default controller available on the disks and CD-ROM other wise you need to download the EIDE driver of this site that contains support for the PIIX3 IDE controller to get faster speeds.

Thanks pTek, I will try doing a reinstall using the SCSI controller.

Quote from: jeffberg on December 21, 2024, 08:55:59 PMThanks pTek, I will try doing a reinstall using the SCSI controller.

Just edit the /etc/fstab file and point it to /dev/sd0a instead of /dev/hd0a and remember to have the BusLogic SCSI controller selected in the System.config/Instance0.table that is if you feel confident doing that otherwise you will have to install from the beginning. But you will notice the speed difference using the BusLogic SCSI controller.

Thanks!! I did a reinstall (which I wanted to do anyway) and yeah, the BusLogic controller is amazing. The machine is lightning fast! Now I got everything going, networking, nfs, developer tools, etc.

I did install the VBoxVideo (https://github.com/vcarosadev/VBoxVideo) driver installed. It doesn't support my ideal resolution (1920x1080). But since it includes the source, I will see if I can add the resolution manually.

I'll update here in a week or so when I give it a try.

Also, I'm not sure if sound is working. What is an easy way to make OpenStep make a sound?

Here (https://github.com/andreas-g/VMwareFB) is a version of VMwareFB that supports additional resolutions including the one you prefer.

Update: Here (https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/dzgb1oy4rnzdar48vwp4j/VMwareFB.compressed?rlkey=bsia3bs4ttb6hlewwjan4fucb&st=7a0vameh&dl=0) is a compressed binary of the driver.

Thanks Andreas, I tried that one in VMWare and when I booted to too high of a resolution it just booted to a blue screen.

Does that driver also work in VirtualBox?

Quote from: jeffberg on December 22, 2024, 10:48:01 PMDoes that driver also work in VirtualBox?

I never tried.

I tried the VMWare driver in VirtualBox and it didn't work. But that's all right. I also tried the VMWare Driver in VMWare and it does work, but when I turn the resolution up to 1440x900 or 1920x1080 it just boots to blue screen.

Anyway, I am happy with how VirtualBox is performing right now. It's just insanely fast and everything is working. Sound, Networking, NFS, High Res Display, etc.

Thanks for all of your help!