Filed under: Software
Parallels Workstation 2.1 beta6

Parallels has cranked out a 6th beta of their most excellent virtualizating Workstation software for Intel Macs. Fixes and improvements in this latest version include:
- USB fixes (more devices supported: PDA, scanner, etc.)
- Shared Folders fixes (added support for guest Windows 2000)
- Network improvements: host-only networking
- Custom video resolutions support added
- Image Tool introduced
- Autoupdate introduced
- Kernel panic in virtual memory manager fixed
- Shutdown in fullscreen mode hang fixed
- Virtual disk sync() problem with Linux guests fixed
- Some USB devices may not work
- Network doesn't work in Linux guests if bridged to WiFi
- Resume doesn't work correctly if suspend was made while playing audio inside guest
- Fullscreen may not work for some custom resolutions

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Dan Steingart said 1:21AM on 4-30-2006
I'm running beta5 with ubuntu, and networking works fine for me. DHCP didn't work, but manually setting an address does work.
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Max v W said 6:07AM on 4-30-2006
Beta6 killed networking on my MBP, but this is already a known fact. I'm just new with intel Mac's (used to have iBook, now MBP) and i actually hate windows. But because i'll be needing it next schoolyear it's nice to see this alternative. In combination with Virtue Desktops this is just uber. I can litterally Apple-Tab to Parallels with a nice effect (like the cube, or warp or whatever you want).
Just installed it today but i think most people will be amazed when i show them.
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Hawthorne2k said 11:02AM on 4-30-2006
With the pace of these beta releases, I can't help but think that Parallel is cranking them out to gain market share before the release of OS 10.5. There's been rumors aplenty that Apple will package it's own virtualization software with Leopard.
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pnarse said 11:53AM on 4-30-2006
Parallels is the only way to go, especially now USB devices are supported!
Boot Camp went to launch the xp installer, a kernel panic later and my mac hard drive was trashed.
Disk Utility wouldn't touch it, also DiskWarrior and some other OS X tools were unable to get any of my data off it after many hours scouring for it... (Using FireWire Target Disk Mode on another mac)
I was finally able to recover my data by installing XP manually (Booted the XP CD by holding ALT, not using boot camp) and installed MacDrive, which was able to mount the disk just fine!
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C. Grant said 4:43PM on 4-30-2006
If this could run from my BootCamp partition, I'd be a happy camper. Beta7 perhaps? :)
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John B said 7:14PM on 4-30-2006
Think twice before installing this program.
It'll do stuff that can't be un-instaled.
I now have new Ethernet Adapter called "Ethernet Adapter (Vi2)" listed in my Network Prefs. Parallels only gives instructions on how to disable it but not how to remove it.
Ever since the installation, my airport doesn't reconnect after waking from sleep.
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nezromatron said 2:22PM on 5-01-2006
John B,
Did you log these issues with Parallels? You are using 'beta' software afterall..
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