check if in a virtual environment

[MCT]

hey guys, how can i check if im in a virtual environment? ie vmware

i cant check to see if vmware tools is installed cuz the latest version doesnt allow for seamless unattended installs, it messes up , it prevents windows from loading first time :S

anyways, so im wanting to test if maybe the make of a cdrom or something?

[druiddk]

Hi MCT,

In prompt you can write "set" and it will show you all the variables.

I just tried it in VMware and the only thing that i can notice is this:

When i do it in the host Windows XP i get this:

PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE=x86
PROCESSOR_IDENTIFIER=x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 4, GenuineIntel
PROCESSOR_LEVEL=15
PROCESSOR_REVISION=0404

However when i do it in VMware (on the same pc) it changes a bit:

PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE=x86
PROCESSOR_IDENTIFIER=x86 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 8, GenuineIntel
PROCESSOR_LEVEL=15
PROCESSOR_REVISION=0408

I dont know if this is helpful to you at all...?

EDIT:

Hmm no I dont think this is helpful

I just tried doing set on another server running VMware and the values are totaly different (obviously because its a different architecture).

Edited December 8, 2005 by druiddk

[-I-]

the whole point in VM (virtual Machine) it to let software, (IE: windows) think its running on a dedicated machine.... so NO there is NO way to check it. from in side the vm.

[jondercik]

You are doing something wrong if your build doesnt allow Vmware to boot. I have done 1000s of builds and tested them all with all 3 flavors of VMware without any issues I didnt inflict on myself.

[druiddk]

AHA!

You can check if this registry entry exists:

[HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\HARDWARE\DEVICEMAP\Scsi\Scsi Port 0\Scsi Bus 0\Target Id 0\Logical Unit Id 0\]
"Identifier"="VMware Virtual IDE Harddrive"

This holds some information on VMware.VirtualDisk.

I dont know how to do the check, but I'm sure someone can help you out make a script that will check for the existance of this key.

Edited December 8, 2005 by druiddk

[Halfwalker]

RogueSpear has a switchless install for VMWare Tools v5.0, as seen here

VMWare switchless install

He uses a nice little VBS script to check if it's running in a VM - if it is, it installs.

D.

[MCT]

thanks, the vmware tools id unno whats wrong, ive had it on there ever since vmware 4x ive updated the tools with each new release/beta so i dunno why its not working , it works if im inside a guest thats booted up, just not during T12 stage

[druiddk]

@MCT > I seem to be having the same problem. I guess they changed something

[MCT]

ya its messed up eh , maybe they've found the bug, maybe consider submittinga bug report?

[gunsmokingman]

I do not know if this will help but this adds a DVD drive to a virtual machine.

I can not test this because I do not use Virtual Machines for installs

Save as Add_DVD_VMachine.VBS

Blue text is the name for the type of OS change to suit your needs.

On Error Resume Next

Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")

Set objVM = objVS.FindVirtualMachine("Windows 2000 Server")

errReturn = objVM.AddDVDROMDrive(0,1,0)

This script searches for a Virtual Network

Save As Search_ForNetwork_VM.VBS

On Error Resume Next

Set objVS = CreateObject("VirtualServer.Application")

Set objNetwork = objVS.FindVirtualNetwork("Scripted Network")

I have added a SFX file with a bunch of VBS scripts for Virtual Machine there might

be some thing in there that can help. It will extract to here %systemdrive%\VirtualMachineScripts

Then it will open the folder where the script are.

Edited December 29, 2005 by gunsmokingman