> a) Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 - Enterprise Edition
> b) Virtual PC 2007/2007 SP1
>2) I need to share some resources of the Host such as the Printer, and DVD
>Burner. Also I need to be able to copy/transfer files to and from the Host to
>the Guest (by a shared folder or otherwise).
>3) I need limited Internet connectivity for the Guest but via the firewall
>of the host, as I don’t know of any decent free firewall for win 98SE. I will
>be using the Host to regularly connect to internet (Broadband), but need my
>guest to be hidden/shielded from the internet (unless I explicitly was it to
>connect to the internet)
>
>4) What kind of connectivity between Host and Guest should I go for ?
> a) Shared Networking (NAT)
> b) Network adapter on the physical computer
> c) Microsoft Loopback Adapter
>I am completely new to Virtual machines. Can someone help please?
>
>My host will be Win XP SP3 on a C2D E4400, @ 1 GHz, 2GB RAM (a standalone PC
>not connected to any LAN)
>
>I need the Virtual PC to primarily to port fairly large applications
>software (written in the DOS days) to Java. I need to create a virtual
>machine to run Win 98SE or DOS.
>
>My questions are
>
>1) Which should I go for ?
> a) Microsoft Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 - Enterprise Edition
> b) Virtual PC 2007/2007 SP1
>
>2) I need to share some resources of the Host such as the Printer, and DVD
>Burner. Also I need to be able to copy/transfer files to and from the Host to
>the Guest (by a shared folder or otherwise).
>
>3) I need limited Internet connectivity for the Guest but via the firewall
>of the host, as I don’t know of any decent free firewall for win 98SE. I will
>be using the Host to regularly connect to internet (Broadband), but need my
>guest to be hidden/shielded from the internet (unless I explicitly was it to
>connect to the internet)
>
>4) What kind of connectivity between Host and Guest should I go for ?
> a) Shared Networking (NAT)
> b) Network adapter on the physical computer
> c) Microsoft Loopback Adapter

> Virtual PC 2007 is the right platform for you.
> Forget DOS as it pain to install. I have a DOS/Win311 installation, and it
> has taken a long time to get it running with TCP networking, extended video
> and sound - Win98 just installs with everything.
> Forget burning from a virtual machine, but share the folders to the host and
> burn from there.
> With Win98 and the installed extensions, you can drag files between the host
> and virtual machines with the file explorer. Copy and paste also works
> between the host and virtual machines.
> For the printer you need to network share the host printer.
> Regards networking the virtual machine it gets its own IP address, or you
> assign it, on your current network, and it works just like another computer
> on the physical network. Virtual PC installs a driver to the network adapter
> properties for sharing the adapter, and if you have more adapters, you can
> choose which ones to use.
> Don't think you need a firewall, but the old free Sygate firewall should do
> the job.
>

> >> 3) I need limited Internet connectivity for the Guest but via the firewall
> >> of the host, as I don’t know of any decent free firewall for win 98SE. I will
> >> be using the Host to regularly connect to internet (Broadband), but need my
> >> guest to be hidden/shielded from the internet (unless I explicitly was it to
> >> connect to the internet)
> >>
> >> 4) What kind of connectivity between Host and Guest should I go for ?
> >> a) Shared Networking (NAT)
> >> b) Network adapter on the physical computer
> >> c) Microsoft Loopback Adapter
> >
> > None of the VM solutions have the ability to be totally behind the
> > hosts firewall like that, but in using (Shared Networking (NAT), you
> > can't get to the VM from outside, which is I think what you want.
> >
> I'm not sure this has anything to do with VM solutions. I think it's
> just a matter of network setup, considering that the word "firewall"
> used to have a broader meaning than just "Windows Firewall" ;-). I have
> similar requirements that the VMs have very limited internet
> connectivity. Here is how I achieve that:
>
> I use "Microsoft Loopback Adapter" for the virtual network and disable
> IP forwarding (a.k.a. "Internet Connection Sharing") on the host. This
> way the virtual network is completely isolated from the outside world.
> In order to provide limited internet connectivity to the VMs (when
> necessary) I run HTTP proxy on the host. This way I can fine tune what
> hosts and ports on the internet the VMs are able to connect to.
>
> Hope this helps.
> --
> Sergei.
>

>> of the host, as I don’t know of any decent free firewall for win 98SE. I will
>> be using the Host to regularly connect to internet (Broadband), but need my
>> guest to be hidden/shielded from the internet (unless I explicitly was it to
>> connect to the internet)
>>
>> 4) What kind of connectivity between Host and Guest should I go for ?
>> a) Shared Networking (NAT)
>> b) Network adapter on the physical computer
>> c) Microsoft Loopback Adapter
>
> None of the VM solutions have the ability to be totally behind the
> hosts firewall like that, but in using (Shared Networking (NAT), you
> can't get to the VM from outside, which is I think what you want.
>