VMWARE

Section: User Commands (1)
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Linux

NAME

vmware - Intel(TM) x86(TM)-based virtual machine

SYNOPSIS

vmware [-s name=value ] [-m ] [-x ] [-X ] [-q ] [-v ] [configfile ] [-- <X toolkit options> ]

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DESCRIPTION

The vmware command starts an Intel X86-based virtual machine. Depending upon your hardware configuration, you can run a number of virtual machines simultaneously.

This page describes options for starting virtual machines from the command line using vmware For more information, see the in-product Help and the VMware Web site at http://www.vmware.com/support

A VMware virtual machine provides an execution environment for full, unmodified operating systems running on an x86-based computer. The host operating system runs on the real hardware. A guest operating system runs inside a virtual machine. You may install one of several different guest operating systems in each of your virtual machines, and each operating system is secure and isolated from the host machine's operating system as well as from the other guest operating systems on the host.

You can specify a virtual machine's configuration by setting parameters in a configuration file using the syntax name=value. Parameters are set one-per-line. Lines that begin with a number sign (#) are comments and are ignored. To use a configuration file, specify it on the vmware command line.

You can also change configuration variables on the command line using the -s option with the following syntax:

name=value

After a double-dash separator (--), X toolkit options may be passed as arguments, although some of them (in particular size and title) are ignored.

OPTIONS

-s name=value: Set the configuration variable name to value, overriding other definitions of name.
-m: Start the local console in quick switch mode. In this mode, the local console occupies the entire screen and you can switch between virtual machines by selecting tabs at the top of the screen.
-x: Power-on the virtual machine on startup. Equivalent to pressing the power-on button after the program starts. Requires that you specify a configuration file on the command line.
-X: Power-on and switch to full screen. Same as -x, but switch to full screen mode after powering on. Requires that you specify a configuration file on the command line.
-q: Attempt to exit the virtual machine after powering off. This is particularly useful when the guest operating system is capable of powering off the virtual machine. Requires that you specify a configuration file on the command line.
-v: Display the program version then exit without starting a virtual machine.

ENVIRONMENT VARIABLES

TMPDIR: Location of temporary files. Defaults to /tmp.

FILES

/etc/vmware/locations: Record of where files are installed.
/etc/vmware/config: User-specific configuration default settings.
~/.vmware/preferences: User-specific preferences.
~/etc/vmware/license: User license.
/usr/lib/vmware (by default): Library directory, possibly shared by several hosts.
diskfile.MULTILOCK
diskfile.READLOCK
diskfile.WRITELOCK: Temporary lock files for diskfile.
diskfile.REDO: Redo log for diskfile, created when diskfile is accessed in undoable mode.