Target OS specific informationLinuxTo have access to SVGA graphic modes under X11, use the vesa or
the cirrus X11 driver. For optimal performances, use 16 bit
color depth in the guest and the host OS.
When using a 2.6 guest Linux kernel, you should add the option
clock=pit on the kernel command line because the 2.6 Linux
kernels make very strict real time clock checks by default that QEMU
cannot simulate exactly.
When using a 2.6 guest Linux kernel, verify that the 4G/4G patch is
not activated because QEMU is slower with this patch. The QEMU
Accelerator Module is also much slower in this case. Earlier Fedora
Core 3 Linux kernel (< 2.6.9-1.724_FC3) were known to incorporate this
patch by default. Newer kernels don’t have it.
WindowsIf you have a slow host, using Windows 95 is better as it gives the
best speed. Windows 2000 is also a good choice.
SVGA graphic modes supportQEMU emulates a Cirrus Logic GD5446 Video
card. All Windows versions starting from Windows 95 should recognize
and use this graphic card. For optimal performances, use 16 bit color
depth in the guest and the host OS.
If you are using Windows XP as guest OS and if you want to use high
resolution modes which the Cirrus Logic BIOS does not support (i.e. >=
1280x1024x16), then you should use the VESA VBE virtual graphic card
(option ).
CPU usage reductionWindows 9x does not correctly use the CPU HLT
instruction. The result is that it takes host CPU cycles even when
idle. You can install the utility from
http://www.user.cityline.ru/~maxamn/amnhltm.zip to solve this
problem. Note that no such tool is needed for NT, 2000 or XP.
Windows 2000 disk full problemWindows 2000 has a bug which gives a disk full problem during its
installation. When installing it, use the QEMU
option to enable a specific workaround. After Windows 2000 is
installed, you no longer need this option (this option slows down the
IDE transfers).
Windows 2000 shutdownWindows 2000 cannot automatically shutdown in QEMU although Windows 98
can. It comes from the fact that Windows 2000 does not automatically
use the APM driver provided by the BIOS.
In order to correct that, do the following (thanks to Struan
Bartlett): go to the Control Panel => Add/Remove Hardware & Next =>
Add/Troubleshoot a device => Add a new device & Next => No, select the
hardware from a list & Next => NT Apm/Legacy Support & Next => Next
(again) a few times. Now the driver is installed and Windows 2000 now
correctly instructs QEMU to shutdown at the appropriate moment.
Share a directory between Unix and WindowsSee sec_invocation about the help of the option
.
Windows XP security problemSome releases of Windows XP install correctly but give a security
error when booting:
A problem is preventing Windows from accurately checking the
license for this computer. Error code: 0x800703e6.
The workaround is to install a service pack for XP after a boot in safe
mode. Then reboot, and the problem should go away. Since there is no
network while in safe mode, its recommended to download the full
installation of SP1 or SP2 and transfer that via an ISO or using the
vvfat block device ("-hdb fat:directory_which_holds_the_SP").
MS-DOS and FreeDOSCPU usage reductionDOS does not correctly use the CPU HLT instruction. The result is that
it takes host CPU cycles even when idle. You can install the utility
from http://www.vmware.com/software/dosidle210.zip to solve this
problem.