Security modules, (SIMs) Hardware Security devices

[Hanks]

I have a CNC programming system which runs on windows 98. I am still maintaining the windows 98 machine but would like to get rid of some of the computer clutter. To buy the current version to run on windows 8 is extremely expensive. I have windows 98 running in virtualbox but cannot get the CNC programs to recognize the security modules. In the windows 98 machine they were connected to lpt1. I have an active USB port but the programs cannot see the SIM's. Anyone have any ideas?

[scottgus1]

It may not be a good idea to try to run a CNC on a virtual machine. The CNC needs real-time communication with the computer running it, and virtual machines can't always run the guest at the real-time requirements of the CNC. Far better to have a physical PC running the CNC. (My Shopbot will be staying on a physical XP computer until the Shopbot no longer works, and I'll just keep the PC off the internet.)

Find a couple old but working PCs from your friends (should be plenty available now that XP has been kicked to the curb), get a 98 install disc, set up the PCs with the software to run the CNC and test them when your CNC needs are slow. Then you'll have a decent set of hardware backups ready if the present CNC PC dies. (Also, make good backups of the CNC software settings, so you can restore easily to the other PC quickly.)

[Hanks]

I am not trying to run the CNC on the windows platform but the high priced programming system which was originally released under windows 95 and upgraded to windows 98. The problem is to get around the SIM for the programming system, actually to get the program to recognize the SIM which is now attached to a USB port on the windows 8 machine which is host to VM. I have not figured out how to get VM/Windows 98 to see it. This actually has nothing to do with the CNC itself. I have a Windows 98 machine which I would like to get rid of and have it all in the Windows 8 machine.

[mpack]

Did you create a filter for this widget in the USB sections of VM settings? And you only plug the dongle in after the VM is running, right? And you allowed the filter driver to be installed on the Win8 host right? (e.g. you don't have Win8 configured to silently reject non-MS drivers).

If yes to all, and the guest still doesn't recognize the device then nothing else can be done: evidently it has timing requirements that a VM can't satisfy.

This tutorial topic deals with connecting a USB device to a Windows guest. The device type is different, but the issues are typical.