Questions about Using Parallels

henrylance

Hello Everyone.

Interested in getting some feedback about Flex users who are using Parallels on Apple Mac machines to run Windows 10 and Smart SDR.

IN the past I have used Boot Camp to run Windows 10, with no problems, until the latest OS update that Apple released.  Apple is now using  APFS formatting and Boot Camp/Windows seems to have a problem creating a correct Windows partition.  I have spent over 3 weeks several hours each day with Apple support and even a tip to the Apple techs at the local Apple store.

So it seems that Parallels may be the option I have left to run Windows.  

 My questions are:

1.             Is there greater than normal latency when using Parallels ??

2.             Any problems with using the DAC Audio Cables ,  receive or transmit.

 I have a new Windows LapTop here, that runs everything fine, but I would need to buy 2 extra external monitors if I want to run as a “radio computer”.  I already have 2 Apple 27 inch Thunderbolt displays that are great to use, and really want to keep the monitor count down.  Other than for my Ham radio stuff, I really have no need for Mivrosoft stuff

Burch - K4QXX

I can't comment on Parallels, but I use VMware fusion.  It works great running SSDR on WIndows 10.  I was using it today at work remotely making FT8 contacts.  My Mac is 3 years old and it's running the new OS update (just updated this weekend).  I used to use Parallels but they want too much money to run on multiple Mac computers.  I just installed Fusion 11 and run Windows 10.  I run DogparkSDR on the Mac most of the time.

Burch - K4QXX

Bob G W1GLV

I've used Parallels for about 3 years now. The program is very transparent. After you start Windows and run SmartSDR you would swear ypu are running a Windows box. DAX & Cat work well.

KS4JU

I am using a 2018 MBP with Mojave and installed Bootcamp the other day and it worked just fine. It takes a lot longer for the windows partition to be created than it used to. Also OSX doesn’t seem to be happy during the Bootcamp install if their are external drives plugged in. Parallels works well also. The main advantage of Parallels it integrates well into OSX and provides multiple monitor support.

NA0B

I use Parallels to run FT8 from the office. I did  not had a problem with SSDR and DAX. Occasionally I work some CW with CWX also without problems.

Mike - ZL1MRC

I run Parallels on an apple mac pro under OSX Majave.   Windows 10 works under this environment.  No noticeable difference on latency. I did have a few issues with DAX, however this was related to an issue within Windows10.  

Ant questions please let me know.

73 Mike ZL1MRC 

Rob G6EIH

Same here, I run VMware on several Mac's with W10 & Smart SDR, never had any issues in the last 5 years. It also works great on a MBP when travelling.

George KF2T

Parallels and Mac mini here. Works extremely well. Really lives up to the billing as transparent to the user. Of course, there are Mac options for Flex 6000 clients, too...

Justin W4JTD

I use both W10/parallels and DogparkSDR with my 6700, both work great. I run two monitors with my MacPro and each has a MacOS “desktop”, one is a full screen parallels W10 VM. As others have said, you can’t tell it is a VM, just looks like two different computers side by side. All functionality as you would expect with a stand alone machine. Depending on what I’m doing, I use that or native MacOS with DPSDR. I mainly use DPSDR for working sats, along with MacDoppler. If you use JT-Bridge, you can run SSDR and WSJT-X in W10 and MacloggerDX in MacOS, and the logging function of WSJT-X will log automatically into MacloggerDX. Well, with some setup involved, of course. ;-) Best of luck! 73 Justin KL2D

henrylance

Thank you to all that took the time to give an answer.  I am trying to get Parallels to work.  I got the trial program installed, and Windows installed, and the SDR program, but can't seem to get the radio to link.    k4wh

Burch - K4QXX

Do you have more than one Mac?  I used to use Parallels and it's a very good program.  But they used to require a yearly fee and you also had to pay for a license for each Mac.  I changed to VMware Fusion and I can run it on all 3 of my Mac computers and only have to pay for 1 license (assuming I am not using Fusion for business).  It also doesn't require a yearly fee, unless you want to upgrade to a newer version.  I just updated to Fusion 11 and it only cost $49.  I believe they have a free trail so you could try both Parallels and Fusion.

Burch - K4QXX

Burch - K4QXX

Make sure the network is in bridged mode.  That will put both your virtual windows machine and the Flex radio on the same network.

henrylance

Burch, thanks, but when the cable company ( comporium ), bought over a new cable box and internet router, they said I could not use the bridge mode with my Apple Airport Extreme with their router installed.  Their box is in the basement, and would never be able to cover the house from end to end.  The Apple Extreme here in the shack can cover a 4ooo sq ft house.   Is it just the using the Parallels for windows that requires the bridge mode  ??  I have used the 6500 for over a year now via both BootCamp on the Mac, and remote from a PC Lap Top with no bridged mode.  I will say that the problem with Boot Camp just seems to be with the Apple "Fusion " drive. Hy-Bird small SSD drive connected to a 1TB HHD, and the newest Apple drive formatting set up.  I took the same Flash drive that I was using to try to install Boot Camp on my Mac Mini ( and has failed for 2 weeks now ), put into a 2013 MacBook Pro with a 512 GB SSD drive, and had Boot Camp and Windows up and running in lass than 30 min.  I did it as a trial, since that Lap Top is used solely as a music server.  After the Lap Top install, I did the upgrade to Mojove and has no issues.  Never had any problems with Boot Camp on the Mac Mini before the OS upgrade.

I will look into the Bridged issue.

Burch - K4QXX

It's just an option in Parallels.  It should be in the settings under networking for your Windows 10 virtual machine.  You don't have to do anything to your router or internet.  I know if I don't check the box in Fusion, the virtual machine will be on a subnet instead of the same network as the Flex.

Charlie_KB8CR

What OSX update did that?  I am running Bootcamp under High Sierra, and it was an easy setup.

henrylance

THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH FOR THE HINT AND ADVICE.  Found the bridge selection, and choose the Air Port, since that's what i am running.  Worked first time, got the 6500 up and running as normal, and even have the two Apple Thunderbolt monitors working on the set up.  Had wjst-x up and going in ten min.  Only issue is the Mac Mini is **** wind.  Its not the basic machine but the 2.6 gig processor with 8gb of ram.  I looked at the Parallels resource monitor and I can see where I have a to give Paraelles some extra RAM to use.  That being said, using Boot Camp and Windows 10 used a lot less of the system resources.  A senior tech at Apple says the upper engineers may want this machine sent to them because this is a problem they have never seem with a Fusion drive.  I said find, just give me a new unit.

Again thanks for the help.  Lance  L  k4wh

henrylance

This is not a Mojave OS issue, but a Fusion drive issue.  I have spent over 50 hours with tech support over the past 3 weeks on this issue, including a trip to an Apple store for service call, and a re-forming of the split Fusion drive.  We know how the splitting up of the drive happen, and it was reformed, but something is still not right.  I have a MacBook Pro running High Sierra, and loaded Boot Camp, and windows 10 onto it this morning in about 30 min, and it works fine, after making a Time Machine backup, I installed the new Mojave OS, and Boot Camp Windows 10 works perfect.  That MBP has a 512 gb SSD not a Fusion drive.  That unit is used only as a music server since I have about 500 CD's in Loss Less format on it, so its not for Ham use.  I told the Apple tech today to just tell me how much a new Fusion dive is and I'll pay for it, since the machine is 3 yrs old, but hey want to solve the problem.  It works fine as a Mac OS computer, just can't install Boot Camp.  So I wouldn't worry about Upgrading to Mojave.  Just make sure you do a full Time Machine backup.

Got to say Parallels is pretty neat, and I can see how being able to use the best of the Mac Apps with the Windows programs could be very interesting.

Best of luck,  k4wh

Charlie_KB8CR

Well, glad you at least narrowed it down. My MBP Retina is working perfectly with SSDR and I'd hate for it to get messed up.

Charlie KB8CR

henrylance

No the problem was my fault when I used the wrong selection when I was going to remove Boot Camp and Windows 10, and reinstall.  One mouse click is all it took, but the Fusion drive should have been able to be reformatted correctly.  If you have a !00 % SSD drive I doubt you will ever see any issues.  The Fusion is a really silly idea of the blending of a spinning drive and a small SSD drive, but they must be seamless.  I think some of the problem is that Apple is now formatting all drives in what is called APFS format, and I think that the split/combo Fusion drive does not like that format method.  k4wh

Burch - K4QXX

Great!  Glad you got it going.

Burch - K4QXX