NASLite Network Attached Storage

i though i would try to boot the usb key making ISO in vmware.

Would potentially save me making a disc every time a new version comes out and its alot slicker either way.

Vmware would even boot the iso ... anyone shed some light on this?

Hi Fat,

Less elegant ways would be to use a CDRW or simply extract the iso files and drag and overwrite the files on the already made naslite usb.

Vmware cant find my USB pen when using it.

yeah...

i can make a CDRW version but i have completely mixed results booting from this media. Sure as guns its my media/writer compatibilty issue (although its the same CDROm that made the CDRW). Weird i know.

I might have a go at mounting the ISO and using your drag and drop method... a nice tip.

I can get VMWare to see my USB key just not the ISO to boot with.

Oh well one day perhaps as this would be a nice slick solution all round.

thanks again

VMWare will boot the ISO and it will program the USB Flash drive as you would expect from a physical machine. That is provided your VMWare installation is properly configured. I use it often for the very reason fat outlined above.

All you have to do is have a virtual machine that includes a CD-ROM, USB and 128M or so of ram. Set the VM BIOS to boot from the CD and point the CD device to the ISO. That will take care of the booting part.

Now here is the catch - The virtual machine will capture the USB device only when the virtual machine is turned on so you'll have to boot without the USB first. While the VM is on, plug the USB device. You should see the USB device icon in the bottom right of the VM window. At that time use CTRL-ALT-INSERT to reboot the VM without shutting it down. On reboot, the USB device should be detected and you’ll be able to take care of business as usual.

Hope that helps

Cheers Tony,

indeed it does work using the method you described!

There you go FAT.

You don't have to boot without the USB key first, plug the USB key in, then run VMWare, when you boot your virtual machine hit 'ESC' for the boot menu, this will halt the boot process.

Go to the VM menu drag to 'Removable Devices' -> 'USB Devices' -> your USB key and select it, VMWare will unmount it from Windows and make it available to VMware.

Continue to boot from the CD-Rom drive.

Yep Ralphs method also works nice.

you really are spoilt for choice now Fat!