Virtual Machine

[gadgetguy]

This is kind of off topic, but I'm hoping I'll be able to get a better answer here.
I have been tasked with installing a server based application called OTM for a customer. This I have done many times, but this customer wants it installed on a Virtual Machine and that I haven't done before so I have a couple concerns.
This application uses a dongle plugged into a USB port and regularly checks for it. If at any time it doesn't see the dongle it stops functioning.
This application regulary communicates with a PBX through serial ports and/or IP. I'm not sure if this customer has the IP capabilities set up so I may be forced to configure a serial port.
Have any of you used Virtual Machines and can you tell me what kind of problems may arise?

[Nelson37]

Are you talking Virtual Machine in terms of Terminal Services on a Windows Server, or something different? Will the connections be physically on the server or on a client terminal?

USB on a seperate PC can be iffy, serial ports maybe also. I have never used a serial connection under Terminal Services. USB printers sometimes problematic, parallels no issues. No issues with hardware connected to the Server. User Rights management a bit picky.

Depending on distance, I would think the IP connection would work better than serial if you have a choice.

[jsmithepa]

Either you, customer or both are not using the correct terminology. Virtual Machine in the context provided doesn't make sense.

Are u assuming the serial connection needs an IP, 'cuz it maybe a simple aync, no IP needed.

[ofbarea]

Maybe he is talking about MS Virtual PC 2004 or VMware or a similar product.

The advantage of the Microsoft version is that it is free if you already have a Windows PC or server.

I have used MS virtual PC in my home PC to run OS/2 and Linux in my XP desktop at the same time

[jsmithepa]

OK, applications that uses a security dongle tend to want to talk to the hardware directly, which virtual machines balk. Best to ask customer if this been EVER done before (bonafide question), and if he says no, all u can do is tell him u will try but give him no guarantee.

The need for vitual machines is obsolute when PC are so dirt cheap.

[gadgetguy]

Thanks for your replies. I'm still not clear what the customer meant by Virtual Machine, but as soon as I told him that I needed to install a USB security device that is polled regularly, he ruled the VM out and provided a clean server to install it on. To clarify what I said before, the application has to communicate to the PBX regularly. It is capable of doing this through a serial port or via an IP connection. Both can be configured and used for different purposes but it has to have at least one or the other. In this case we were able to use the IP connection.

The need for vitual machines is obsolute when PC are so dirt cheap.

Not in this case, their environment has all of their servers installed in a series of relay racks and that type of PC isn't cheap (1U profile).

[jsmithepa]

Looks like u got a pretty smart customer.

[gadgetguy]

That was my impression of him as well.

[ofbarea]

Microsoft virtual server software will allow communication through a Serial port, but it will not support any kind of hardware security USB dongle.