The RI Virtual Workstation (RIK0126A) runs ArcaOS (or eCS) on any OS that VirtualBox supports (Windows, Mac, Linux). To share files between the Host OS to the Virtual Workstation, use either Shared Folders (VBox 6+ with Guest Additions) a USB drive or a shared network folder (SMB). This process can be called a "File Taxi" because it is used to move files between the Virtual Workstation and your desktop. The configuration below assumes Windows, but similar settings can be made on all host OSes (Apple Mac, Linux). Additional methods like FTP or web service are also noted at the end of this document.

Starting with VritualBox 6.0 (Dec 2019), Shared Folders is supported with OS2 guests. This allows a folder on the host OS to be shared directly as a drive (Z:/) with the guest OS.

To Set up Shared Folders:

1. Shared folders can be enabled while the VM is running. Choose "Shared Folders Settings..." from the VM icons along the bottom of the Machine menu. 
2. Choose the + Folder icon from the Shared Folders Machine Settings section (See Figure 1)
3. Choose Other... from the Folder Path: (See Figure 2)
4. Select your folder that you want to shared ( i.e. "C:\Users\Public")
5. Enable Auto-mount and Make Permanent
6. Set a drive letter in Mount point: "L:"
7. Choose OK and OK to close the settings.
8. Use the command prompt or Java based Guru Apps to copy files to/from the network drive.
   Note: the graphical "Drives" folders will appear empty and present a error.
   To copy all .gzp from d:/shared folder:
   copy d:/shared/*.gzp l:/

Figure 1: Shared Folder Settings


Figure 2: Add Share


Figure 3: Auto Mount and Drive Letter


Figure 4: Use Command Prompt to Access Drive



USB Drive (simple, occasional use)

Advantage: Does not require network access.
Requirements: A USB drive formatted as Fat32 (with 2GB limit) and must use USB 2.0 or lower VirtualBox setting (actual hardware can be any version of USB). Any modern USB drive larger than 2 GB can be partitioned as multiple drives, allowing one or more Fat32 partitions.

Select the USB device from the VirtualBox Devices menuThe host OS can not connect to the USB device at the same time the Virtual Machine accesses it. To taxi files from Windows, first load the files onto a USB stick, then use VirtualBox to capture the USB device, it will automatically appear as a new drive letter in the the Virtual Workstation. When done, use the Virtualbox menu choice to remove the USB stick, Windows will then detect the device and provide a drive letter to access it.

1. Connect your USB drive and select Take no action from the host system.
2. From the running Cassini Virtual Workstation select Devices > USB Devices menu and select your USB drive (the actual name will vary).



3. The simulation system should detected the USB drive and mount it as a drive "E:" or "F:". If not, click USB icon on the lower right corner of the simulations desktop and select Refresh...



4. Copy files to the drive. (use command prompt "copy" or GUI)

5. To remove the drive, click on the USB icon and select Eject, then un-select it from the Device > USB Devices VirtualBox pull down menu.

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Shared Network Folder (frequent use, setup once, requires network connection)

Advantage: Does not require configuration changes.

Requirements: Network configuration info required (VBox Network setting, FileServer Info, Username/Password (optional))

The Virtual Workstation can be configured to use multiple Network Adapters attached to either NAT Network (default), Bridged Adapter, or Host Only. These configurations describe how the network is used: NAT Network re-uses the IP address of the host OS and protects the RI Virtual Workstation from incoming connections, Bridged Adapter setting gets a new IP address for the RI Virtual Workstation, appearing on the network like a real system; and Host Only effectively disconnects the RI Virtual Workstation from the network, allowing only the connection to the local machine.

The simplest setup to configure involves a central server to relay the files, as described in this simple diagram: Virtual Workstation <-> Server <-> Host OS However, this only works when the network server is available (ie local or via VPN), and will not work while the Host OS is disconnected from a network. If files need to be shared while disconnected from a network, USB drive can be used or the Virtual Workstation needs a second network adapter configured as "Host Only" and the network share needs to be extended to the "Host Only" network adapter in the Host OS, as show: Virtual Workstation <-> "Host Only" Network Adapter <-> Host OS. The HOST only adapter can be used while disconnected (i.e. while flying at 10,000 ft).

Problems arise when the Host Only adapter changes it's IP address (like when reinstalling VirtualBox) or when the network IP address changes. Sometimes the Virtual Workstation's DHCP lease must be manually renewed to learn the new, correct IP address. Use the DHCP Monitor application to renew the lease to get an up to date IP address without restarting the Virtual Workstation.

Option 1: Configure Host OS: (Or use whatever means the Host OS has for mounting network folders)

1. Open the server (Start > Run then enter the server's hostname "\\files1"). (optional) A username and password may be required to access the drive.
2. Find an appropriate folder to use (ie "RiApps" or "<username>"). Right click and select "Map Network Drive", assign a drive letter.

Configure Virtual Workstation:

• Click on "Local Network > Shared Network Drives > File and Directory Connections (Samba)"
  Note: Large enterprise networks can cause the UI to appear to hang when the Network Neighborhood is being discovered (may take 5-10 minutes to complete). When starting "File and Directory Connections (Samba)", first disable the "Refresh network neighborhood immediately" option from the File | Global settings menu. (this option is disabled by default on RI supplied images)
• Enter the same Server Name (i.e. "files1") and share name (RiApps or <username>) and choose a drive letter. (See Connect to a Shared Network Folder for more detailed information)
  (Note: eComStation also natively supports NFS)
• If the network folder becomes unresponsive, you may have to enter the server name as an IP address. This only works for servers with static IP addresses and will not work if you are connecting to the local workstation.

Option 2: Host OS shared folder with 2nd Network Adapter (network connection required)
Security Warning: The shared folder from the host OS is normally accessible to the local network and any wireless connections, caution should be used.

Configure Local Shared Folder on Windows: (Or use whatever means the Host OS has for sharing folders with Windows(SMB))

• From Network Connections, select the network adapter (same Bridged Adapter used in the VirtualBox configuration) and check the box to enable "File & Printer Sharing" protocol.
• Allow Exception for "File & Printer Sharing" from the Windows Firewall.
• Share a Folder (like "RiApps") from your desktop, allowing changes from remote computer (read/write access).
• Make note of the computers full computer name "workstation1.company.com" from accessing the Computer properties (right click on My Computer | Properties), then on Computer Name tab.
• You should be able to access the drive share from the Start | Run dialog "\\workstation1\RiApps"

Configure Virtual Workstation:

• Click on "Local Network | Shared Network Drives | File and Directory Connections (Samba)"
  ATTENTION: Large enterprise networks can cause the UI to appear to hang when the Network Neighborhood is being discovered (may take 5-10 minutes to complete). When starting "File and Directory Connections (Samba)", first disable the "Refresh network neighborhood immediately" option from the File | Global settings menu.
• Enter the Server Name (i.e. workstation1) and share name (RiApps) and choose a drive letter. (See Connect to a Shared Network Folder for more detailed information)

Option 3: Host OS shared folder with Host ONLY Network Adapter (2 virtual network adapters)

A "local only" network card to the Virtual Workstation virtual machine, then share the folder locally, making sure the "host only" firewall (on the Host OS) allows file sharing. This connection is always available, unlike the configuration above that does not work unless the network folder (server) is available (i.e. not on a plane). First, configure Host Only networking from the VirtualBox UI, select "File | Preferences..." then "Network" and click the "+Add" icon if a "vboxnet0" is not already available. To add a second adapter to the VM configuration, the Virtual Workstation must be shut down. Use VirtualBox UI to add a second network adapter by editing the Virtual Workstation's settings (right click, Settings) and selecting "Enable" from the Adapter 2 tab in the Network settings pane. Select "Host Only Adapter" for the Connect to field and select OK to close the dialog. Now start the Virtual Workstation and select "System Setup (Red Toolbox icon) | Network | TCP/IP | TCP/IP Configuration" settings workbook. Select "Lan Interface 1" (interface 0 is the primary) and check "Enable". Enter "192.168.56.2" as the IP address and "255.255.255.0" as the subnet mask (default VirtualBox Host Only network settings, these may be changed from the VirtualBox UI). Now follow the steps in "Configuration 1, Configure Virtual Workstation" to mount the host network drive. It is strongly recommended to use the IP address "192.168.56.1" versus your host OS hostname to prevent DNS resolution issues from causing the host only network shared folder from stopping.

1. Set up a Share folder on the host system and make sure the firewall is not block on the VirtualBox Host-Only network adapter.

2. From the eCS desktop, double click on the Local Network folder -> Samba Client for eComStation -- this will open the Samba (SMB/CIFS) Connections for eComStation (OS/2) dialog window.
3. Set the Server: to 192.168.56.1, host IP address on the host only network. and set the Share to the share folder



You can also mount the network shared Samba folder the same way. Just type in the Server:, Share:, User ID:, and Password:, then select a drive letter to mount to and click Mount.

Other Alternative Methods

Firefox browser is used to access a web page or web email service (like Gmail) to transfer files. (Proxy supported) Also, Firefox plugins exist to connect to FTP servers, SSH (SCP), and other server types and web services (like Dropbox).

FTP or NFS folders (on a Network File Server) can also be used to Taxi files. Copy the file to the network file server or FTP site from the workstation, then mount the drive in eCS (Samba) or use the standard FTP command or FTP GUI to access the file and then use the Guru Importer Application to load the file. See NFTP - A better FTP client for eCS to avoid command line errors.

The Java based Guru Importer can also be used to import .GZP files directly to your site's Guru Server or directly to the local guru running in your virtual workstation (NAT network connection not supported). Your Virtual Workstation will automatically check for the most recent version of the imported file from the configured "Update Guru". Contact [email protected] to request this software.