Virtual Machine (Parrells) memory allocation

[Mr M5]

I have 8GB of Ram installed on my mac and have allocated 2 GB to the VM. My question is rather simple. When not using the VM, does the mac use all 8gb or only 6gb?

Also, I noticed when playing with the settings windows is not isolated from mac, can that cause problems with viruses?

 

[GGJstudios]

Also, I noticed when playing with the settings windows is not isolated from mac, can that cause problems with viruses?

No, since Windows programs, including malware, cannot run in Mac OS X. Be sure to run antivirus to protect your Windows VM.

 

[gorskiegangsta]

I have 8GB of Ram installed on my mac and have allocated 2 GB to the VM. My question is rather simple. When not using the VM, does the mac use all 8gb or only 6gb?

When the VM isn't open and running all 8GB will be usable by OS X.

Also, I noticed when playing with the settings windows is not isolated from mac, can that cause problems with viruses?

Windows viruses won't be able to run on, and thus affect, Mac OS X. Just as windows software cannot run in OS X.

 

[Mr M5]

Good stuff,about what I figured but makes me feel better to have it confirmed. Thanks

 

[basher]

If you have your Mac drive shared to your Windows VM, that drive will be susceptible to whatever nastiness a Windows virus might dish out.

When I use parallels I make sure that I only have one 'shared' folder available to my Windows VM. This way it's only that folder that's at risk.