Instructions for installing DIS on VMware Workstation, IBM T30 or GT1
Every diagnostician, experienced or beginner, considers it his obligation to write instructions for installing DIS. Since I am the best diagnostician of BMW cars, I will also write my instructions. Moreover, I know perfectly well how DIS works from the inside.
The DIS installation process is not much different between a virtual machine, laptop IBM ThinkPad T30 or an original diagnostic tablet BMW Group Tester One.
DIS runs on the SCO OpenServer operating system, which has a set of built-in drivers for a limited range of hardware. This is why stable operation of DIS is possible only on certain equipment. Even the hard drive must be supported in SCO OpenServer.
Having certain knowledge, you can rewrite these drivers for modern equipment, but this is a stupid idea, most likely even unrealistic.
DIS can be divided into 3 separate elements:
- Operating system, analogy: Windows.
- Base, analogy: Adobe Photoshop.
- Set of programs, analogy: additional fonts, textures or filters for Photoshop.
The operating system (SCO OpenServer) is installed on the computer, a program (Base) is installed on the operating system, data is added to the program for further work with it using the program (Base). This is a simplified structure of DIS. These steps must be repeated to install DIS.
My Base build already contains SCO OpenServer. It removes the limitation on hard drive capacity of 18.635 GB. Correctly compiled kernel for Vmware Workstation, IBM T30 and GT1. Network cards are automatically configured. Fixed common errors such as BDFLUSHR. Additional hotkeys are enabled.
Virtual machine requirements:
- Single core processor
- 256 MB RAM
- Hard drive or SSD with a capacity of at least 7.5 Gb
- CD/DVD drive
- one network controller
- VMware Workstation 6 or later, VMWare ESXi 4 or later
These are requirements specifically for the virtual machine, and not for the computer on which the software from VMware is installed.
Questions and answers:
Why doesn't it make sense to allocate more resources to a virtual machine?
DIS simply cannot work in multi-core mode and use more than 256 MB of RAM. Allocating more resources can do the opposite, slow down DIS.
Why is it better to use the latest software from VMware?
They always correct found errors, improve optimization and virtualization. Advice from the Internet that DIS is old software, which means it is better to use older versions of VMware — sheer stupidity.
Why is only 1 network controller needed?
The Group Tester One tablet has three built-in network cards for connecting the EDIC diagnostic interface. Ethernet, USB-Ethernet and Wi-Fi. Connecting EDIC to DIS installed on a virtual machine is only possible via Ethernet. Therefore, there is no point in adding 2 more network cards to the virtual machine. In some cases, this will even lead to a crash.
Can I use another hypervisor, such as VirtualBox, Hyper-V?
Yes and no. The DIS kernel is not supported in VirtualBox and Hyper-V, which will result in a kernel panic. On the other hand, there are enthusiasts who run DOOM on a pregnancy test.
Can I use a computer other than the IBM T30?
Definitely yes. DIS can run natively on any computer whose hardware is as similar as possible to the Group Tester One tablet, generation of processor, chipset and hardware layout. For example: IBM T20, IBM T22, IBM T23...
It's just that the IBM T30 turned out to be the last laptop from IBM with the most powerful hardware and a real COM port. As a result, it has become the de facto standard for native DIS installations. In fact, not even any T30 model is suitable, the best is — Type 2366. The IBM T23 laptop will have the most similar hardware characteristic.
Is native DIS installation better than virtualization?
No. The power of modern hardware and virtualization allows DIS to work unlimitedly fast, in theory.
This statement applies to powerful workstations and servers. And not your half-dead old laptops.
Installing SCO OpenServer and DIS Base
Create a new virtual machine in VMware Workstation with the above characteristics and indicates the installation of the operating system from the .iso image of the Base. For IBM T30 or BMW Group Tester One, write the .iso image of the Database to a CD/DVD disk.
Let's start the virtual machine. For IBM T30 or BMW Group Tester One, insert the CD/DVD disk into the drive; you may have to set the priority for the CD/DVD drive in the BIOS Boot menu.
First, the BIOS of the virtual machine or IBM T30, BMW Group Tester will detect the presence of an installation disk in the CD/DVD drive, and after an automatic reboot it will begin installing SCO OpenServer.
You will then be asked to select the device on which to install:
- for the GT1 tablet press 1
- for an IBM T30 laptop press 2
- for VMware Workstation press 3
We agree with the choice.
Don't forget to read everything that is displayed on the screen. Stop stupidly following all the instructions from the Internet. Put at least a little effort into understanding the process.
After installing the SCO OpenServer operating system and copying 300 MB of DIS Base installation files, you will need to unmount the CD/DVD drive of the virtual machine, for IBM T30 or GT1 remove the installation disk from the drive. Then press Enter. Otherwise, all this will be written on the screen.
Perhaps, immediately after startup, the virtual machine will display the following error.
VMware Workstation, when creating a new virtual machine, does not always set the hard disk as the main device. This causes the kernel to panic. You will need to turn off and edit the configuration of the virtual machine, setting the hard drive to 0:0, and the CD/DVD drive to 1:0, then start the virtual machine.
Setting up DIS Base
After an automatic reboot, the SCO OpenServer operating system will start launching and the DIS Database will be installed. After installing and launching the Database, the settings window will open. The touch screen calibration window for VMware Workstation and IBM T30 is disabled in the Database. If the touch screen does not work on Group Tester One, then press the key combination Alt+PrintScreen, and then Enter, to skip the screen calibration step.
- Select English language and brand BMW
- Click the button at the bottom right of the screen [Next]
- On the next screen select the country US
- We indicate as the dealer number 12345
- In the company name and address field we enter OldBMW.RU, then DIS will work 5% faster.
After filling out all the fields, on the top menu bar, click [End] —> [Exit] —> [Yes]
Installation and configuration of DIS Base is completely completed.
For an unknown reason, most likely related to time settings, on older computers or versions of VMware Workstation, the DIS Database reboots once after the first launch. On SSD drives this happens almost instantly, after the settings window appears. On HDD this can take up to 15 minutes. I do not recommend setting up the DIS Base before this reboot occurs. This error does not in any way affect the further operation of DIS, but it was not possible to identify the cause of this malfunction. As follows.
Installing Programs in the DIS Base
Now you need to fill the Database with programs and data. We mount the VMware Workstation .iso image with Programs into the CD/DVD drive. For IBM T30 or GT1, burn the .iso image to a DVD disk (CD does not have enough memory) and insert it into the drive.
Go to the administration window, on the DIS start screen, click the [Administration] button.
In the administration window, click on, CD drive 1 and press the [Activate CD] button.
After activating the drive, in the DIS menu, press the [Installation] button, enter the password 12345 and press the [ОК] —> [ОК]. Copying 1.5 Gb of data will begin, on slow drives this can take a very long time.
Upon completion of the installation, select CD drive 1 and press the button [Deactivate CD].
DIS installation and configuration completed successfully.
You can unmount the .iso image from a virtual machine drive or remove a DVD from an IBM T30 laptop or BMW Group Tester One tablet.
If you plan to connect to the operating system via FTP in the future, it is better to immediately set a password for the account.
- press the key combination Ctrl+PrintScreen, the console will open
- enter login root and press Enter, the operating system will prompt you to set a password
- press 1 , snd next press Enter
- enter 12345 and press Enter
- re-enter 12345 and press Enter
Entering numbers will not appear on the screen.
Next, enter the command init 0 and press Enter, to properly shut down the virtual machine or press the key combinatio Ctrl+Alt+F2 to return to the DIS window.
Price for .iso images with copyright modifications - 10 000 rubles!!!
Included:
- .iso image of the Base version 52
- .iso image of Programs version 57 in English
The price of the VMware Workstation 16 PRO activation key is - 800 rubles!!!
I did not get anything 
Then we send the equipment by mail to me, a week later we pick it up fully configured. Or via remote desktop.