When a virtual machine is started, the host creates a virtual keyboard that matches the keymap entry according to the virtual machine’s settings. If there is no keymap entry in the virtual machine’s settings, the host uses the keymap entry specified in host’s xend file ( xend-config.sxp). If there is no keymap entry in either the host’s xend file or the virtual machine’s settings the virtual machine’s keyboard defaults to English (US).
Unless you manually specify it, a keymap entry is not specified in the host’s xend file or for any virtual machine. Therefore, by default, all virtual machine settings use the English (US) virtual keyboard. It is recommended that you specify a keymap setting for xend and for each virtual machine, especially if you want to migrate virtual machines to different hosts
To view a virtual machine’s current keymap entry (if any), enter the following command on the host desktop:
xm list -l vm_name | grep keymap
You can specify a keymap entry to be used for all virtual machines and keymap entries for specific machines.
To specify a global keymap entry for virtual machines on the host, edit the host’s xend-config.sxp file.
To specify a keymap entry for a specific virtual machine, edit the virtual machine’s settings by following instructions in Section 1.3, Virtual Machine Settings.
In the device > vfb section, add the desired keymap entry to the file. For example, to specify a German keyboard, add a (keymap de)entry. Make sure the virtual machine’s operating system is set to use the specified keyboard. After you specify the host’s keymap setting, all virtual machines created by using the Create Virtual Machine Wizard on the host add the host’s keymap entry to their virtual machine settings.
Virtual machines created before a host’s keymap entry is specified are not automatically updated. These virtual machines start with the keyboard specified by the host, but the keymap entry is not a permanent part of the virtual machine’s settings. For the entry to be permanent, it must be explicitly stated in the virtual machine’s settings.
Table 1-5 Language and Keymap Settings