How to Get Data in My VMware VM

VMware sells a variety of virtualization products. There are two categories of products, server and workstation software. The VMware Server products run a virtual machine (VM) on a server, and stream the graphical interface to a client machine. VMware Workstation-level products allow individual users to run VMs and install other operating systems on their computers. Shared folders can be accessed from inside the VM and allow the guest operating system to access a folder on your computer. You can connect external USB hard drives to a VM, allowing the VM to access and put files on it.

Instructions

Enable External USB Hard Drives

1. Start your VMware Server or Workstation product. Specific steps vary by product and operating system. In Windows, look in the VMware folder of the "Start" menu. In versions of Linux running Gnome or KDE desktop environments, check the "Applications" menu. In other Linux and Unix systems, run the program using your program launcher or the command line.

2. Right-click the VM from the "Virtual Machine" list in the main program screen and click "Settings." On server products this list will be in the center of the interface; workstation products include it on the left side of the screen. On VMware Fusion for Mac, click and press the "Ctrl" key at the same time.

3. Click "USB Devices" to access the settings for USB devices.

4. Click the "Enable USB Devices" checkbox. To connect USB devices automatically, click the "Automatically connect USB devices" checkbox.

5. Click "OK" and close the window.

6. Right-click the VM and click "Startup" if it is powered off.

7. Plug a USB hard drive or pen drive in. If you selected the second checkbox, it will automatically be connected to the guest operating system. Otherwise, VMware will ask if you want to plug the device into your VM. Click "Yes" to connect the device and access the drive.

Enable Shared Folders

1. Start your VMware Server or Workstation product. Specific steps vary by product and operating system. In Windows, look in the VMware folder of the "Start" menu. In versions of Linux running Gnome or KDE desktop environments, check the "Applications" menu. In other Linux and Unix systems, run the program using your program launcher or the command line.

2. Right-click the VM from the "Virtual Machine" list in the main program screen and click "Settings." On server products this list will be in the center of the interface; workstation products include it on the left side of the screen.

3. Click "Shared Folders" to add a new shared folder.

4. Click "Add" to share a new folder from your computer. Browse to the folder and click "Open."

5. Click "OK" and close the window. The shared folder will be available in the virtual machine. In Windows, check the "Network" section of "My Computer" or "Computer." For Linux and Unix, consult your operating system manual for the version of Linux or Unix to see the location of shared directories.

Tips & Warnings

• USB devices you have plugged into a virtual machine will not be accessible to the outside operating system.

• Be sure to unplug USB devices in the guest and host operating systems before unplugging them. The USB device will automatically be plugged into the regular operating system after ejecting inside the VM.

• Shared folders can transfer a virus from a VM to a host computer. Be sure to use normal file transfer precautions, such as antivirus software.

References

• VMware Documentation: Virtual Machine Administration Guide