Parallels on External HDD

LandyMan

LandyMan

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Ok, so in theory everything should work fine, BUT ...

To be able to run the Parallels VM machines successfully from the external drive, you will have to partition the ext drive in Mac format (remember that you can't use NTFS due to the access problems, and now for the ultimate bummer: FAT32 cannot handle files larger than 4Gb - which we all know, but I for one didn't think of that limitation)

So, next steps (for me in any case) is to repartition the 100Gb external (2 partitions, 1 for the VMs (I reckon 50Gb should be sufficient) and 1 FAT32 for shared storage between the VMs and MAC OS X). But first I need to remove all my current files off the external HDD.

Gonna be a long night!
 
LandyMan said:
To be able to run the Parallels VM machines successfully from the external drive, you will have to partition the ext drive in Mac format (remember that you can't use NTFS due to the access problems, and now for the ultimate bummer: FAT32 cannot handle files larger than 4Gb - which we all know, but I for one didn't think of that limitation)
Click to expand...
Is fat32 going to be that much of a hardship? Apart from dvd rips how often do you come across files larger than 4gb?

And . .out of curiosity . . if you did leave a ntfs partition on it too - would parallels be able to read and write to it?
 
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LandyMan ... so what Windows program do you desperate need to run on your Mactel ???.

All this shunting back and forth sounds like too much PT to me.
 
I'm only installing Parallels for two things - my skype uConnect device and Sims2 for the missus.

EDIT - and this slipstreaming lark isnt working out :o
 
bwana v.20 said:
Is fat32 going to be that much of a hardship? Apart from dvd rips how often do you come across files larger than 4gb?

And . .out of curiosity . . if you did leave a ntfs partition on it too - would parallels be able to read and write to it?
Click to expand...

Ah, you see, when you install WinXP on the Paralells VM, you still need space for the Windows Swapfile, so anything under 5Gb is a bit small :eek: So already you are sitting with a VM file (WinXP.hdd) bigger than 4Gb.

I haven't tried the NTFS partition yet, but I am worried that it might be a problem, as when you run it of the Mac hardware, it is creating the VM file on a Mac partition. Not too sure it will be able to to do so on NTFS.
 
tibby.dude said:
LandyMan ... so what Windows program do you desperate need to run on your Mactel ???.

All this shunting back and forth sounds like too much PT to me.
Click to expand...

MS Dynamic AX

The shunting back and forth has alot to do with company policies and odd R30k :D
 
tibby.dude said:
The missus and kids have their own PC's ... it helps to keep family life blissfull :).
Click to expand...
She's had her own iBook for a while now but her Sims cds are just gathering dust so I figured why not - besides - she'll love playing it on the plasma :D
 
I created a Mac OS partition on the external HDD, moved the Parallels VM files over, pointed my VM to those files, and Bob's your uncle. It does performa a little bit slower than normal, but I will play around a bit with the allocated memory for || and the performance settings, to see what will work best.

I am sitting with a 50Gb Mac OS partition, and 50Gb free. Is it possible to partition the free part to NTFS or FAT32 while in MAC OS, as when I look at it in WinXP, it shows 100Gb free
 
LandyMan said:
I created a Mac OS partition on the external HDD, moved the Parallels VM files over, pointed my VM to those files, and Bob's your uncle. It does performa a little bit slower than normal, but I will play around a bit with the allocated memory for || and the performance settings, to see what will work best.
Click to expand...
What kind of external?
LandyMan said:
I am sitting with a 50Gb Mac OS partition, and 50Gb free. Is it possible to partition the free part to NTFS or FAT32 while in MAC OS, as when I look at it in WinXP, it shows 100Gb free
Click to expand...
You might be able to convert it to fat32 from the disk utility but you might have to start afresh. Better to do it before you fill too much space on the drive.
 
bwana v.20 said:
What kind of external?
Click to expand...

Its a normal 2.5" 100Gb HDD, in a NexStar 3 USB2 enclosure

bwana v.20 said:
You might be able to convert it to fat32 from the disk utility but you might have to start afresh. Better to do it before you fill too much space on the drive.
Click to expand...

I used the disk utility last night to create the two partitions, but I can't seem to get the 2nd partition to be FAT32. Maybe it is the way that I selected the partition table to be created (3 options IIRC: GUID (to boot intel macs from), Mac something (to boot powerbooks from) and xxx (for windows boot)). Now I can't even remember which one I chose :o
 
LandyMan said:
Its a normal 2.5" 100Gb HDD, in a NexStar 3 USB2 enclosure
Click to expand...
Ok - I figured that was the bottleneck.

Cant help with the partitioning - dont have intel mac yet - its due to arrive tomorrow.
 
bwana v.20 said:
Ok - I figured that was the bottleneck.

Cant help with the partitioning - dont have intel mac yet - its due to arrive tomorrow.
Click to expand...

I thought I'd give it a shot until I can find a suitable Firewire enclosure. Basically just need to move the HDD into the new enclosure when I get one.

I hope they remembered to pack my 1Gb stick in the parcel :D
 
LandyMan said:
I thought I'd give it a shot until I can find a suitable Firewire enclosure. Basically just need to move the HDD into the new enclosure when I get one.

I hope they remembered to pack my 1Gb stick in the parcel :D
Click to expand...
Even a FW400 will be an improvement on USB2.

Yeah - about that 1gb stick . . . . .
 
bwana v.20 said:
Yeah - about that 1gb stick . . . . .
Click to expand...

Yeah, whateva! :p

This is what I am looking at:

FW400:

http://www.sybaritic.co.za/store/product_info.php?cPath=61_272&products_id=6736

I think this one is the FW800 one (looking at the item code), but the description doesn't mention it:

http://www.sybaritic.co.za/store/product_info.php?cPath=61_272&products_id=6737

Only thing is powering the enclosure. From what I am reading in the description, it can be used in Bus powered mode for both USB and Firewire
 
LandyMan said:
Yeah, whateva! :p

This is what I am looking at:

FW400:

http://www.sybaritic.co.za/store/product_info.php?cPath=61_272&products_id=6736

I think this one is the FW800 one (looking at the item code), but the description doesn't mention it:

http://www.sybaritic.co.za/store/product_info.php?cPath=61_272&products_id=6737

Only thing is powering the enclosure. From what I am reading in the description, it can be used in Bus powered mode for both USB and Firewire
Click to expand...
I'd go for the second one as its Firewire 1394b (aka FW800). Seeing as the enclosure is for laptop size drives they're both bound to be bus powered.
 
LandyMan said:
Product link on ViPowER's site:

http://www.vipower.com.tw/P_ExternalEnclosure.php?model_no=VPA-25289B-800

I want it :D

EDIT: Interesting comparisons: http://www.barefeats.com/usb2.html
Click to expand...
Damn - that sybaritic.co.za is a rip off! Surcharge for delivery and another for creditcards!

EDIT - OK - Kalahari has it and for less but then Take2 has this http://www.take2.co.za/product.php?id=2123504 which, seeing as it is for storing media for my Mini, might be ideal. The form factor is a winner considering it would go on my bookshelf.
 
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bwana v.20 said:
Damn - that sybaritic.co.za is a rip off! Surcharge for delivery and another for creditcards!

EDIT - OK - Kalahari has it and for less but then Take2 has this http://www.take2.co.za/product.php?id=2123504 which, seeing as it is for storing media for my Mini, might be ideal. The form factor is a winner considering it would go on my bookshelf.
Click to expand...

BT Games (Westgate/Northgate) sometimes carry these, and closer to the R400 mark. (Probably not much use for Bwana).
The FW400 works just fine on the MBP. I found I had to use the USB power cord on the windoze laptop. They are pretty compact, about the size of the Lacie externals.
Only drawback I found was that the metal feet can be a bit noisy on hard surfaces... easily sorted tho' just rest it on the carry bag.
 
BobJones said:
BT Games (Westgate/Northgate) sometimes carry these, and closer to the R400 mark. (Probably not much use for Bwana).
The FW400 works just fine on the MBP. I found I had to use the USB power cord on the windoze laptop. They are pretty compact, about the size of the Lacie externals.
Only drawback I found was that the metal feet can be a bit noisy on hard surfaces... easily sorted tho' just rest it on the carry bag.
Click to expand...
Kalahari had the 400 for much less as well.

Going to go with the Western Digital External instead as I dont need the portability.
 
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