HOWTO: Parallels Lion / 10.7 kext LaunchDaemon Loader

Taking cues from 87racer's AppleScript kext loader, I've taken it to another level.

Below, I've provided instructions on how to create a LaunchDaemon to load all of the Parallel's kexts when the machine loads (similar to how Parallels' handles it in Snow Leopard). This will allow you to use the "Parallels Desktop" app normally as well as NOT have to input your password each time you load an image. (AKA: Do this once and you're set.)

Lion Kext LaunchDaemon Instructions

1. Download this shell script, place it in a folder and rename it from parallels_loader.sh.txt to parallels.sh . I put my script in /Users/skidmore/bin/parallels_launcher.sh.

2. Download this LaunchDaemon script, and place it in /Library/LaunchDaemons/. Rename this script from aaa.parallels.plist.txt to aaa.parallels.plist. You will need to provide a password for administrative privlidges to do this.

3. Edit the above plist file to point to the proper location of the shell script in #1. (NOTE: This is just a text file, so you should be able to edit it in plist editor, TextEdit or any text editor.) (NOTE #2: The line you will need to edit has my name "skidmore" in it.)

4. Launch the LaunchDaemon, by opening Terminal, and typing:
sudo launchctl -w load /Library/LauncDaemons/aaa.parallels.plist

NOTE: When Parallels updates Parallels Desktop, you'll need to remove both the script (parallels_loader.sh) and LaunchDaemon (aaa.parallels.plist).

Please feel free to ask any questions, and I'll try to answer as soon as I can. Hopefully this will help some people because I spent some time getting it to work.

2011-05-18 - I've also attached the script and LaunchDaemon to this post.

 

Tried to procedure today and did not work.

 

Great idea! I hadn't thought of doing it this way. couple notes though.
In step 1 you should rename to parallels_launcher.sh not just parallels.sh. (maybe brosenz problem?)
In your step 4 command you are missing and h in LaunchDaemons. What is the -w for? In Lion it is an unknown argument.
I also had to change ownerships of the plist before doing step 4. "sudo chown 0:0 <plist location>" then "sudo chmod 755 <plist location>"

A suggestion would be to have the sh file in the /library/launchdaemons/ folder as well and then just have this line "<string>/Users/skidmore/bin/parallels_loader.sh</string>" be "<string>parallels_loader.sh</string>". just eliminates step 3 and some possible confusion.