You can store a virtual disk on DVD-ROM or CD-ROM, and run the virtual machine from your GSX Server host's DVD/CD-ROM drive. You do not have to copy the virtual disk files from the DVD-ROM or CD-ROM to the GSX Server host.

One suggested use for this method is to install GSX Server on a host you want to use for product demonstrations, which could be a laptop. Instead of taking up limited hard disk space with virtual disks, you can have any number of virtual machines with virtual disks burned onto DVD-ROM or CD-ROM and point each virtual machine's configuration file to the virtual disk on the DVD-ROM or CD-ROM.

Other uses include sales or proof-of-concept demonstrations where you want to keep virtual disk files off a customer's system but want to illustrate a multiple machine demonstration in the customer's environment. Or you can have multiple physical servers in a datacenter run virtual machines without copying the virtual disk files to the servers themselves. Yet another use is, if you need a "master" virtual machine for some purpose, you can create a write-protected copy of your original virtual machine.

The virtual disk must be an independent disk in nonpersistent mode, since any changes you make in the virtual machine cannot be written to the DVD-ROM or CD-ROM. The redo log for the virtual machine must be on the GSX Server host. For more information about independent disks, see Independent Disks.

Similarly, if you want to take a snapshot of the virtual machine, the redo log for the virtual machine must be on the GSX Server host before you take the snapshot. For more information about snapshots, see Taking Snapshots.

Before you run a virtual machine with a virtual disk stored on DVD-ROM or CD-ROM, you should consider whether you may need to modify the virtual machine's BIOS at some point. In this case, the virtual machine's BIOS, which is stored in a file called nvram, must be located on the GSX Server host. Or, you can add a setting to the virtual machine's configuration file that allows for the nvram file to be on the DVD-ROM or CD-ROM, where it cannot be modified.

To run a virtual machine with a virtual disk stored on DVD-ROM or CD-ROM, complete the following steps.

1. Create a virtual machine and install the guest operating system and any applications you need within it.

2. Make sure the virtual machine is powered off. Burn the virtual disk (.vmdk) files onto a DVD-ROM or CD-ROM. Place the DVD-ROM or CD-ROM into the GSX Server host's DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive.

3. Choose VM > Settings to open the virtual machine settings editor for this virtual machine. On the Hardware tab, select Virtual Disk and browse to the virtual disk file on the DVD-ROM or CD-ROM.

4. Click Advanced. Under Mode, check Independent and set the disk mode to Nonpersistent. Click OK to save these settings.

5. On the Options tab, select General. Under Working directory, browse to and select a location for the redo log on the GSX Server host.

6. Click OK to save your changes. The virtual machine settings editor closes.

7. In a text editor, open the virtual machine's configuration file (.vmx) and add two of the following lines to the file:

disk.locking = FALSE

nvram = <path on GSX Server host>\nvram (if you think you need to modify the virtual machine's BIOS)
or
nvram.mode = "nonpersistent" (if you do not need to modify the virtual machine's BIOS)

8. Save your changes and close the configuration file.

The virtual machine is now ready to be run with the virtual disk on the GSX Server host's DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive.