Edit Virtual Machine Configurations Dialog Box

InstallShield 2024

Edition:Support for distributing releases to virtual machines is available in the Premier edition of InstallShield.

Project: This information applies to the following project types:

•

Basic MSI

•

InstallScript

•

InstallScript MSI

•

Suite/Advanced UI

Use the Edit Virtual Machine Configurations dialog box to configure virtual machine (VM) settings that you want to use when distributing successfully built releases to VMs at build time or on demand.

Tip:When you specify VM configuration settings in the Edit Virtual Machine Configurations dialog box, InstallShield writes the data that you specify to a file called VMConfigurations.xml. This VMConfigurations.xml file is a machine-wide file that you can configure once and then use it in other InstallShield projects, as well as share it with other team members. You can also use this file on your build machine. To learn more, see Sharing Virtual Machine Settings for Distribution of Releases.

When you configure VM details in the subsettings under the Configuration setting on the Events tab in the Releases view, you overriding some of the machine-wide values that were entered on the Edit Virtual Machine Configurations dialog box.

To access the Edit Virtual Machine Configurations dialog box:

In the View Bar / View List under Media, click Releases.

In the Releases explorer, select the release that you want to configure.

Click the Events tab, and then find the Virtual Machine area.

In the Configuration setting, click the ellipsis button (...).

The Edit Virtual Machine Configurations dialog box opens. The left part of this dialog box is where you manage the list of VM configurations that you want to available for selection. To add a new configuration, click the New button. To delete an existing configuration, select it and then click the Delete button.

When you select a specific configuration in the Configurations box, you can configure its settings on the right. The settings are organized into the following main categories:

•

•

•

Use the General area to specify the name of the selected VM configuration.

General Settings on the Edit Virtual Machine Configurations Dialog Box
Setting	Description
Name	Enter a name for the group of VM configuration settings that you want to use when distributing the selected release to a VM.

Server Settings

Use the Server area to specify details about the server that hosts the VM to which you want to distribute releases.

Server Settings on the Edit Virtual Machine Configurations Dialog Box

Setting

Description

Server Type

Select the type of server that hosts the VM to which you want to distribute releases. Available options are:

•

Microsoft Hyper-V Server

•

VMware ESX or ESXi Server

•

VMware Workstation

Server Name

This setting is available for the following server types: Microsoft Hyper-V Server and VMware ESX or ESXi Server.

Specify the name of the server that hosts the VM to which you want to distribute releases.

Authentication

This setting is available for the following server types: Microsoft Hyper-V Server and VMware ESX or ESXi Server.

Select the type of authentication that you want to use to connect to the server that hosts the VM to which you want to distribute releases.

User Name

This setting is available for the following server types: Microsoft Hyper-V Server and VMware ESX or ESXi Server; it is applicable to server authentication.

Enter the user name for the account that you want to use to connect to the server that hosts the VM to which you want to distribute releases.

Password

This setting is available for the following server types: Microsoft Hyper-V Server and VMware ESX or ESXi Server; it is applicable to server authentication.

Enter the password for the account that you want to use to connect to the server that hosts the VM to which you want to distribute releases.

Virtual Machine Settings

Use the Virtual Machine area to specify details about the server that hosts the VM to which you want to distribute releases.

Virtual Machine Settings on the Edit Virtual Machine Configurations Dialog Box
Setting	Description
Machine Name	Specify the name of the VM to which you want to distribute releases.
Snapshot	Optionally specify the name of the snapshot that you want to use for distributing releases. Note that you can override the snapshot for an individual release. If no snapshot is specified for the VM configuration, InstallShield does not revert to a specific snapshot. InstallShield powers on the VM without reverting it to a specific snapshot, and copies your installation to the VM.
Authentication	Optionally select the type of authentication that you want to use to connect to the VM to which you want to distribute releases. Note that you can override the authentication for an individual release.
User Name	This setting is applicable to server authentication. Optionally enter the user name for the account that you want to use to connect to the VM to which you want to distribute releases. Note that you can override the user name for an individual release.
Password	This setting is applicable to server authentication. Optionally enter the password for the account that you want to use to connect to the VM to which you want to distribute releases. Note that you can override the password for an individual release.
Destination Path	Optionally specify the path on the VM to which you want InstallShield to stage the built release. The last subfolder in the path can be a path that InstallShield creates on the VM; the other folders in the path must already exist. Note that you can override the destination path for an individual release.