
AMD Confidential 
User Manual    September 12th, 2008 
Chapter 15: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)   169 
15 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) Why is the mouse cursor very difficult to control inside the simulated display area? 
The mouse on the Host and in the Guest do not  track each other very well in general. We 
provide  another  mouse  mode  to help  with  this.  Click  on  the  menu  item " Special 
Keyboard→Grab Mouse and Keyboard", see Section 3.3, “Device Groups 
A platform (*.bsd) consi sts of devices, and each  device is an instance of either  a device 
library (*.bsl  or *.so)  or a device  group (*.bsg).  A device  group is an  aggregation of 
devices into  a single  composite device that  has some  customized aspects  (includes its 
name, icon, ports, initial and default state). 
Device  groups are  a particular  class  of devices.  They have  the  same properties  and 
characteristics as traditional devices,  but also allow the user to extend  and tailor specific 
device(s) to meet  a particular hardware implementation or  configuration. Device groups 
provide a method that allows the user to group or collect one or more devices, libraries or 
groups into one composite device. To the user, the composite device will look and feel no 
different  than  a  normal device  library  and,  for  the  most  part,  the two  should  be 
indistinguishable. 
A device group can consist of one or more child devices, with some optional initialization 
state associated with each child device , and those devices can optionally be connected to 
each  other. It  may be  helpful  to think  of  a device  group  as a  BSD within  a  BSD.  
However, a device group also has its own identity as a device, and  it can support external 
connection ports  that allow  it be  connected to other  devices in  the same manner  as a 
traditional device library. 
15.1.1 Terms
If any of  the language and  wording used in  these Device Groups sections  is unclear, it 
may help to refer to this list of terms. 
Device: A device library or device group (also, a known device or created device). 
Device Library:  Contains binary implementation  of device  functionality; has no  child 
devices; associated with a “*.bsl” Windows or “*.bsl” Linux file. 
Device Group:  Grouping of  one or  more devices  (libraries and  groups) into  a single 
device; gets  its functionality  through aggregation  of its  children,  and from  its group-
specific properties/aspects; associated with a “*.bsg” file. 
Known Device: A device  that the shell knows about (i.e.,  the shell has all the necessary 
information to create an  instance of this device).  Known devices appear in the le ft hand 
pane  of the  Device Viewer  window;  and on  the  console using  shell.KnownDevices. 
Created Device: An  instantiation of a known  device. All devices in  a BSD are created 
devices. Created devices appear in the right hand pane of the Device Viewer window; and 
on the console using “shell.CreatedDevices”.