Using the keyboard and mouse in a virtual machine in Virtual Server

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Using the keyboard and mouse in a virtual machine

You use the keyboard and a mouse to control a virtual machine much as you would a physical computer.

Using the keyboard

In general, the keyboard works the same for a virtual machine as it does for a physical computer. However, some keyboard shortcuts such as CTRL+ALT+DELETE do not work within a virtual machine because of the interaction between the host operating system and the guest operating system.

Note

You can use the HOST KEY+DELETE to send the functionality of the CTRL+ALT+DELETE keyboard shortcut to a guest operating system. You can also use Send Ctrl+Alt+Del from the Remote Control menu of either the VMRC or Remote View page.

Virtual Server 2005 provides much of the required keyboard functionality through the use of a Host key and keyboard shortcuts. By default the Host key is the right ALT key. You use the Host key in two ways:

  • If a virtual machine has captured the pointer, you can press the Host key to return control of the mouse to the host operating system.
  • You can use the Host key in combination with other keys for specific functions.

The following table describes the keyboard shortcuts and the functionality that each provides.

Keyboard shortcut Description

HOST KEY+DELETE

Sends CTRL+ALT+DELETE functionality to the virtual machine operating system.

HOST KEY+C

Connects the Remote Control or VMRC to the VMRC server.

HOST KEY+A

Switches the Remote Control or VMRC to the Administrator Display.

HOST KEY+I

Displays connection information.

HOST KEY+V

Sets the virtual machine so that the guest operating system cannot be manipulated. You can only view the virtual machine window.

HOST KEY+H

Displays the control to set the Host key.

HOST KEY+ENTER

Switches the virtual machine window to full-screen display. This option is available only when you connect to a virtual machine using the VMRC client.

HOST KEY+LEFT ARROW

Switches to the previous virtual machine. This option is available only when you connect to a virtual machine using the VMRC client.

HOST KEY+RIGHT ARROW

Switches to the next virtual machine. This option is available only when you connect to a virtual machine using the VMRC client.

Special keys

Virtual Server includes menu options to send the following special keyboard shortcuts to the virtual machine:

  • CTRL+ALT+DELETE
  • PRINT SCREEN

As with a physical computer, some keyboard functionality for the virtual machine, such as whether NUM LOCK is on by default when the virtual machine starts, is controlled by the BIOS setup utility. To access the BIOS, press the Delete key as the virtual machine is starting.

Using the mouse

The way you use the mouse depends on whether Virtual Machine Additions is installed.

  • If Virtual Machine Additions is installed on the virtual machine, you can move the pointer freely between the virtual machine window and the host operating system. This simplifies switching among virtual machines and the host operating system.
  • If Virtual Machine Additions is not installed on the virtual machine, the virtual machine must capture the pointer before the mouse can be used within the virtual machine window. The virtual machine captures the pointer when you click the pointer inside the virtual machine window.

If a pointer is captured by a virtual machine on which Virtual Machine Additions is not installed, the virtual machine must release it before you can use the mouse on the host operating system or in another virtual machine window. You can use the Host key to return the use of the mouse to the host operating system.