As a long time user of VMWare I often am advised "Why are you using VMWare? You should be using VirtualBox. It is so much easier." A recent issue with Windows guests in VMWare Workstation on my CentOS 7.5 host causing the host to shut down when a guest was shut down or rebooted caused me to look at other products. Linux VMs in VMWare work fine.
I installed VirtualBox 5.1.38 on a CentOS 7.5 test machine which already had VMWare installed. They seem to co-exist just fine. I created three Windows VMs in VirtualBox. I installed the editions, shrunk the disks. Yes it is easy. As the two products did not seem to cause conflicts and I could concurrently run VMs in both, I installed VirtualBox on my "production" CentOS 7.5 workstation and copied over the Windows VMs.
My workstation has two monitors. On the right one I always have a CentOS 7.5 VM running in VMWare. This gives me a similar effect of having separate X screens which worked in CentOS 6 but not 7. I can switch between workspaces on the left monitor (the host) without disturbing the VM on the right monitor and vice versa. I multitask too much for my own good sometimes
I launched a Windows VM in VirtualBox on the left monitor. Works fine (well at least as fine as Windows can work Mouse integration is on and I can move the mouse from the Windows VM to the panel on the host (Mate desktop) or to another programm running on the host. I can change the workspace on the host to move the Windows VM out of sight. So far, so good. But now for the issue...
If the Windows VM is on the visible workspace on the host (left monitor) and is on top of any other programs running on that workspace I can NOT move the mouse to the VMWare VM on the right monitor. If I in any way shove the Windows VM to the background (change to a different workspace on the left monitor, bring any program to the forefront on the left monitor, minimize the Windows VM) I can access the VMWare VM on the right monitor. In fact that is how I am writing this post.
I have tried turning off "Mouse Integration" in the Windows VM configuration before starting it, issuing Ctrl I (which I think is supposed to toggle it on and off) after starting the VM. No luck. If the Windows VM is on the top, it will not surrender the mouse to the VMWare VM. Any suggestions?
TIA,
Ken
Turn loose of my mouse!
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Re: Turn loose of my mouse!
Set the VM Settings » System » Pointing Device to "USB Tablet" (or "USB Multi-Touch Tablet"). See if that helps.
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Do NOT reply with the "QUOTE" button, please use the "POST REPLY", at the bottom of the form.
If you obfuscate any information requested, I will obfuscate my response. These are virtual UUIDs, not real ones.
Re: Turn loose of my mouse!
Thanks socratis,
It was set to USB Tablet. I tried the other two options, same thing. At least I can get back control of my system by bringing up something on top of the VM - even if it is only a terminal window from the host. I rarely use Windows, generally to check a broken web site when the company/owner blames it on my Linux computer. I often will test the web site in Windows and then TELL the owner that it is broken.
Thanks again,
Ken
It was set to USB Tablet. I tried the other two options, same thing. At least I can get back control of my system by bringing up something on top of the VM - even if it is only a terminal window from the host. I rarely use Windows, generally to check a broken web site when the company/owner blames it on my Linux computer. I often will test the web site in Windows and then TELL the owner that it is broken.
Thanks again,
Ken