DOSBox Configuration

This is for Users who have to use DOSBox on a Windows PC connected to Norton Commander menu nested in a VMWare environment.

  1. On the clients PC, once logged in, you have to map the file location of the test menu in the server that you want DOSBox to go to. This can be more than one location but I do believe that DOSBox has a limit.
  2. The “mapped drive letter” with the bind command will be placed in the space at the end of the config file of DOSBox. This space acts like the autoexec.bat and the config.sys in a dos pc.
  3. The mapping of the drive in Windows must be permanent.
  4. On the Server side DOSBox only goes Directory/Sub-Directory to get to the point of the Test Menu.
  5. If you are going to use DOSBox to test a piece of equipment, the USB to RS-232 cable comes in different configurations. Be mindful of the setup of the serial connection such as baud rate, data bits, parity, stop bits and flow control. The PC must match the unit under test.
  6. Below is a copy of the DOSBox config file that worked for me. Remember that the app and the config file must be in the same location.

DOSBox config file

One Reply to “DOSBox Configuration”

  1. # This is the configuration file for DOSBox 0.74-3. (Please use the latest version of DOSBox)
    # Lines starting with a # are comment lines and are ignored by DOSBox.
    # They are used to (briefly) document the effect of each option.

    [sdl]
    # fullscreen: Start dosbox directly in fullscreen. (Press ALT-Enter to go back)
    # fulldouble: Use double buffering in fullscreen. It can reduce screen flickering, but it can also result in a slow DOSBox.
    # fullresolution: What resolution to use for fullscreen: original, desktop or fixed size (e.g. 1024×768).
    # Using your monitor’s native resolution (desktop) with aspect=true might give the best results.
    # If you end up with small window on a large screen, try an output different from surface.
    # On Windows 10 with display scaling (Scale and layout) set to a value above 100%, it is recommended
    # to use a lower full/windowresolution, in order to avoid window size problems.
    # windowresolution: Scale the window to this size IF the output device supports hardware scaling.
    # (output=surface does not!)
    # output: What video system to use for output.
    # Possible values: surface, overlay, opengl, openglnb, ddraw.
    # autolock: Mouse will automatically lock, if you click on the screen. (Press CTRL-F10 to unlock)
    # sensitivity: Mouse sensitivity.
    # waitonerror: Wait before closing the console if dosbox has an error.
    # priority: Priority levels for dosbox. Second entry behind the comma is for when dosbox is not focused/minimized.
    # pause is only valid for the second entry.
    # Possible values: lowest, lower, normal, higher, highest, pause.
    # mapperfile: File used to load/save the key/event mappings from. Resetmapper only works with the defaul value.
    # usescancodes: Avoid usage of symkeys, might not work on all operating systems.

    fullscreen=false
    fulldouble=false
    fullresolution=original
    windowresolution=original
    output=surface
    autolock=true
    sensitivity=100
    waitonerror=true
    priority=higher,normal
    mapperfile=mapper-0.74-3.map
    usescancodes=true

    [dosbox]
    # language: Select another language file.
    # machine: The type of machine DOSBox tries to emulate.
    # Possible values: hercules, cga, tandy, pcjr, ega, vgaonly, svga_s3, svga_et3000, svga_et4000, svga_paradise, vesa_nolfb, vesa_oldvbe.
    # captures: Directory where things like wave, midi, screenshot get captured.
    # memsize: Amount of memory DOSBox has in megabytes.
    # This value is best left at its default to avoid problems with some games,
    # though few games might require a higher value.
    # There is generally no speed advantage when raising this value.

    language=
    machine=svga_s3
    captures=capture
    memsize=16

    [render]
    # frameskip: How many frames DOSBox skips before drawing one.
    # aspect: Do aspect correction, if your output method doesn’t support scaling this can slow things down!
    # scaler: Scaler used to enlarge/enhance low resolution modes. If ‘forced’ is appended,
    # then the scaler will be used even if the result might not be desired.
    # To fit a scaler in the resolution used at full screen may require a border or side bars,
    # to fill the screen entirely, depending on your hardware, a different scaler/fullresolution might work.
    # Possible values: none, normal2x, normal3x, advmame2x, advmame3x, advinterp2x, advinterp3x, hq2x, hq3x, 2xsai, super2xsai, supereagle, tv2x, tv3x, rgb2x, rgb3x, scan2x, scan3x.

    frameskip=0
    aspect=false
    scaler=normal2x

    [cpu]
    # core: CPU Core used in emulation. auto will switch to dynamic if available and
    # appropriate.
    # Possible values: auto, dynamic, normal, simple.
    # cputype: CPU Type used in emulation. auto is the fastest choice.
    # Possible values: auto, 386, 386_slow, 486_slow, pentium_slow, 386_prefetch.
    # cycles: Amount of instructions DOSBox tries to emulate each millisecond.
    # Setting this value too high results in sound dropouts and lags.
    # Cycles can be set in 3 ways:
    # ‘auto’ tries to guess what a game needs.
    # It usually works, but can fail for certain games.
    # ‘fixed #number’ will set a fixed amount of cycles. This is what you usually
    # need if ‘auto’ fails. (Example: fixed 4000).
    # ‘max’ will allocate as much cycles as your computer is able to
    # handle.
    # Possible values: auto, fixed, max.
    # cycleup: Amount of cycles to decrease/increase with keycombos.(CTRL-F11/CTRL-F12)
    # cycledown: Setting it lower than 100 will be a percentage.

    core=auto
    cputype=auto
    cycles=fixed 694
    cycleup=1
    cycledown=100

    [mixer]
    # nosound: Enable silent mode, sound is still emulated though.
    # rate: Mixer sample rate, setting any device’s rate higher than this will probably lower their sound quality.
    # Possible values: 44100, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
    # blocksize: Mixer block size, larger blocks might help sound stuttering but sound will also be more lagged.
    # Possible values: 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 512, 256.
    # prebuffer: How many milliseconds of data to keep on top of the blocksize.

    nosound=false
    rate=44100
    blocksize=1024
    prebuffer=25

    [midi]
    # mpu401: Type of MPU-401 to emulate.
    # Possible values: intelligent, uart, none.
    # mididevice: Device that will receive the MIDI data from MPU-401.
    # Possible values: default, win32, alsa, oss, coreaudio, coremidi, none.
    # midiconfig: Special configuration options for the device driver. This is usually the id of the device you want to use
    # (find the id with mixer/listmidi).
    # Or in the case of coreaudio, you can specify a soundfont here.
    # See the README/Manual for more details.

    mpu401=intelligent
    mididevice=default
    midiconfig=

    [sblaster]
    # sbtype: Type of Soundblaster to emulate. gb is Gameblaster.
    # Possible values: sb1, sb2, sbpro1, sbpro2, sb16, gb, none.
    # sbbase: The IO address of the soundblaster.
    # Possible values: 220, 240, 260, 280, 2a0, 2c0, 2e0, 300.
    # irq: The IRQ number of the soundblaster.
    # Possible values: 7, 5, 3, 9, 10, 11, 12.
    # dma: The DMA number of the soundblaster.
    # Possible values: 1, 5, 0, 3, 6, 7.
    # hdma: The High DMA number of the soundblaster.
    # Possible values: 1, 5, 0, 3, 6, 7.
    # sbmixer: Allow the soundblaster mixer to modify the DOSBox mixer.
    # oplmode: Type of OPL emulation. On ‘auto’ the mode is determined by sblaster type. All OPL modes are Adlib-compatible, except for ‘cms’.
    # Possible values: auto, cms, opl2, dualopl2, opl3, none.
    # oplemu: Provider for the OPL emulation. compat might provide better quality (see oplrate as well).
    # Possible values: default, compat, fast.
    # oplrate: Sample rate of OPL music emulation. Use 49716 for highest quality (set the mixer rate accordingly).
    # Possible values: 44100, 49716, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000.

    sbtype=sb16
    sbbase=220
    irq=7
    dma=1
    hdma=5
    sbmixer=true
    oplmode=auto
    oplemu=default
    oplrate=44100

    [gus]
    # gus: Enable the Gravis Ultrasound emulation.
    # gusrate: Sample rate of Ultrasound emulation.
    # Possible values: 44100, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
    # gusbase: The IO base address of the Gravis Ultrasound.
    # Possible values: 240, 220, 260, 280, 2a0, 2c0, 2e0, 300.
    # gusirq: The IRQ number of the Gravis Ultrasound.
    # Possible values: 5, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12.
    # gusdma: The DMA channel of the Gravis Ultrasound.
    # Possible values: 3, 0, 1, 5, 6, 7.
    # ultradir: Path to Ultrasound directory. In this directory
    # there should be a MIDI directory that contains
    # the patch files for GUS playback. Patch sets used
    # with Timidity should work fine.

    gus=false
    gusrate=44100
    gusbase=240
    gusirq=5
    gusdma=3
    ultradir=C:\ULTRASND

    [speaker]
    # pcspeaker: Enable PC-Speaker emulation.
    # pcrate: Sample rate of the PC-Speaker sound generation.
    # Possible values: 44100, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
    # tandy: Enable Tandy Sound System emulation. For ‘auto’, emulation is present only if machine is set to ‘tandy’.
    # Possible values: auto, on, off.
    # tandyrate: Sample rate of the Tandy 3-Voice generation.
    # Possible values: 44100, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
    # disney: Enable Disney Sound Source emulation. (Covox Voice Master and Speech Thing compatible).

    pcspeaker=true
    pcrate=44100
    tandy=auto
    tandyrate=44100
    disney=true

    [joystick]
    # joysticktype: Type of joystick to emulate: auto (default), none,
    # 2axis (supports two joysticks),
    # 4axis (supports one joystick, first joystick used),
    # 4axis_2 (supports one joystick, second joystick used),
    # fcs (Thrustmaster), ch (CH Flightstick).
    # none disables joystick emulation.
    # auto chooses emulation depending on real joystick(s).
    # (Remember to reset dosbox’s mapperfile if you saved it earlier)
    # Possible values: auto, 2axis, 4axis, 4axis_2, fcs, ch, none.
    # timed: enable timed intervals for axis. Experiment with this option, if your joystick drifts (away).
    # autofire: continuously fires as long as you keep the button pressed.
    # swap34: swap the 3rd and the 4th axis. Can be useful for certain joysticks.
    # buttonwrap: enable button wrapping at the number of emulated buttons.

    joysticktype=auto
    timed=true
    autofire=false
    swap34=false
    buttonwrap=false

    [serial]
    # serial1: set type of device connected to com port.
    # Can be disabled, dummy, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
    # Additional parameters must be in the same line in the form of
    # parameter:value. Parameter for all types is irq (optional).
    # for directserial: realport (required), rxdelay (optional).
    # (realport:COM1 realport:ttyS0).
    # for modem: listenport (optional).
    # for nullmodem: server, rxdelay, txdelay, telnet, usedtr,
    # transparent, port, inhsocket (all optional).
    # Example: serial1=modem listenport:5000
    # Possible values: dummy, disabled, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
    # serial2: see serial1
    # Possible values: dummy, disabled, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
    # serial3: see serial1
    # Possible values: dummy, disabled, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
    # serial4: see serial1
    # Possible values: dummy, disabled, modem, nullmodem, directserial.

    serial1=directserial realport:com2
    serial2=dummy
    serial3=disabled
    serial4=disabled

    [dos]
    # xms: Enable XMS support.
    # ems: Enable EMS support.
    # umb: Enable UMB support.
    # keyboardlayout: Language code of the keyboard layout (or none).

    xms=true
    ems=true
    umb=true
    keyboardlayout=auto

    [ipx]
    # ipx: Enable ipx over UDP/IP emulation.

    ipx=false

    [autoexec]
    # Lines in this section will be run at startup.
    # You can put your MOUNT lines here.

    mount G //ISSDC2003/ops/
    mount N //ISSDC2003/nc/
    mount C C:\dosprogs
    n:
    nc

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