VMware Workstation 12 Player - set Unity to prefer specific monitor?

[destrekor]

Is there a way, when utilizing Unity mode (Windows 7 guest on Windows 10 host, FYI), to have Unity automatically open up on a specific monitor?

I have a triple monitor desktop, and when I use my VM I always want it in Unity mode on my right-most monitor. Regardless of where the window is before entering Unity mode, as soon as I enter it, those applications all show up on my central monitor.

It's a small issue to just move all the windows over to the right monitor, but I'd certainly love it to just do it automatically. I usually just suspend the guest with all the windows I need to use when I'm working from home.

 

[Ketchup]

When I was in the office, I am pretty sure that Unity opened on whichever screen the VM was on when I entered that mode. But, TBH, I am not sure why you can what screen Unity mode starts on (since you can move each window wherever you want it anyway). Full screen mode, I could understand. Keep in mind that the VM application probably needs to be exited from the screen you want it to start on (a lot of programs do). And if there is another VM that you run in the middle screen and exit after the VM you are mentioning here, the next time you start the program you will be on the middle screen, as that was the last place it ran.

 

[destrekor]

When I was in the office, I am pretty sure that Unity opened on whichever screen the VM was on when I entered that mode. But, TBH, I am not sure why you can what screen Unity mode starts on (since you can move each window wherever you want it anyway). Full screen mode, I could understand. Keep in mind that the VM application probably needs to be exited from the screen you want it to start on (a lot of programs do). And if there is another VM that you run in the middle screen and exit after the VM you are mentioning here, the next time you start the program you will be on the middle screen, as that was the last place it ran.

Well it comes down to the fact that I like to Pause and Resume the VM, not closed apps and shut down the system. Everything I need just opens back up upon resume.

And with the VM, I always have it open on my right monitor, but once I select Unity, all the windows open up on my main monitor.

I don't know if that's due to the fact that I don't have it configured in the VM settings to use all screens in full screen mode? It only gets one monitor when I enter full-screen.

I suppose I could play around with doing a full shut-down and clean startup, enter unity, open an application and move that to the other monitor, then close it, and see where it reopens. Then I'd have to check if it would remember that on next startup, which I have a feeling it wouldn't... unless perhaps the VM is allowed to recognize all monitors? It just gets to be a pain in the ass if I do that because if it's not in Unity and not full-screen, then I have to scroll. And obviously full-screen would use all three monitors I think, which I would never want. That definitely puts restraints on system performance too.

 

[Ketchup]

Well, if you don't mind me asking, why don't you just set it to run Full Screen, since you want it to run on one screen anyway? I don't mean to criticize your preferences, it's just that, to me, the main advantage of Unity is for NOT having your VM stuck on one screen.

 

[destrekor]

Well, if you don't mind me asking, why don't you just set it to run Full Screen, since you want it to run on one screen anyway? I don't mean to criticize your preferences, it's just that, to me, the main advantage of Unity is for NOT having your VM stuck on one screen.

Because I have other applications open up on that same monitor that I use for work, or when not needing to use the work applications, I set other things to open over there too. I want to be able to juggle them all equally, not with an all or nothing approach that a full-screen VM would require.

No problems asking, I just have a particular workflow that I definitely prefer.

edit: I also do sometimes pull some windows to the other monitors, it's just not a routine occurrence, and the main windows I use I routinely keep on the one monitor.

 

[TeknoBug]

I don't have the unity option on my VMware workstation Pro (not player) via Windows host but it shows up in Linux host. In VirtualBox I get the unity option and I like the feature that way I can work with both OS apps in one screen.

 

[destrekor]

Well it seems Unity generally defaults to whatever monitor is set as the preferred monitor in Windows, thus why it seems the VM's start/app menu will always appear on my middle monitor, which is my default monitor.

But I did find a way to get windows to stick, somewhat. You have to close them and then then power off. I suspect suspending the VM after closing the various windows will accomplish the same thing, which I will try tonight.

If you leave windows open and suspend, once you enter unity after resuming, all windows immediately open on the default monitor (my middle monitor). If you don't have any windows open and enter unity, all apps you open will open at their last remembered location. Which at least is kind of nice, better than nothing. Aside from the VM being subjected to HDD limitations, it is still pretty fast with Windows 10.

I wonder how well I can get it to perform when I get around to building my NAS server, which will hopefully happen this summer. Still won't be SSD speed, but should be faster than any single HDD.

Or, is it no longer a terrible thing to actually put a VHD on an SSD? I remember it was always strongly advised against, as it was a solid block of data just sitting on the SSD, wearing out a limited group of cells without allowing the SSD to better level out cell wear.