Emulating Haiku In Parallels Desktop

There are several methods offered to install Haiku. These include Vmdk images, Raw images, Iso images and Anyboot images which are a hybrid of the latter two images. The Raw image is a preinstalled environment, in which the Virtual Hard Disk size cannot be customized, but going through the installation process is not required.

Haiku isn't working fully with Parallels Desktop yet as only the Raw and Anyboot images work and that is after following a workaround. Be sure to follow the workaround instructions on renaming the files.
Parallels Desktop

Parallels Desktop is available for free (14 day trial version) or for $80 (full version) on their website.

Anyboot

The required files can be found at on the get-haiku page of this website. Select the closest mirror or the torrent (further down the page) in order to enjoy higher transfer rates. Verify using the checksums that your download has not been corrupted.

Raw

Raw is deprecated in favor of Anyboot, and as such can only be found on the nightly build page. There are no checksums for this version.

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Running Haiku from a Raw or Anyboot image

Step 1. Downloading Haiku

After downloading the Raw or Antboot image, unzip the file and in the folder you will see a .image file. Now rename the .image file to .hdd

Step 2. Opening the file

Start up Parallels Desktop. Then click on Install Windows on another OS from DVD or image file before clicking Continue once.

Parallels Wizard
Now, you will be in the installation screen where you're asked for your installation disc. Enable Continue without installation disc (small checkbox in lower-left corner), before clicking Continue once.

When the Please select your operating system dialogue appears, select Other, then Other again.

Continue until the Virtual Machine starts to boot.

It will fail to boot. Now, this is the trick:
Click on Virtual Machine in the menu bar and press Stop.
Click on Virtual Machine again and press Configure.

Parallels Wizard
Click on Hardware > Hard Disk 1.

For the source, select the file which you renamed from .image to .hdd.

Close the window and start your Virtual Machine. When a prompt comes up asking you to convert the image, click Accept.

Haiku is up and running!

Additional Steps

TODO

Troubleshooting

Parallels Desktop warns that the virtual hard drive image file is either damaged or locked

Parallels does not support the VMDK images produced by Haiku build system. It complains that it is an old-format virtual hard disk (for Parallels 3.0 or earlier) and offers to convert it, but fails with the error message "Unable to convert the virtual hard disk to the new format. The virtual hard drive image file is either damaged or locked." which instantly disappears. You need to use the Raw or Anyboot images.

Parallels Desktop warns that there is No boot device available and that it is Unable to connect Hard Disk

You need to use the renaming workaround.

Parallels Desktop warns that the device still expects data transfer

When booting with ISO or Anyboot images, Parallels will hang on Disk icon. This is a bug in Haiku which can be read about here.