vmware(1)

NAME

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

SYNOPSIS

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

COPYRIGHT

Copyright (C) 1998-2006 VMware, Inc. All rights reserved.

DESCRIPTION

The vmware command starts an Intel X86-based virtual ma

chine. 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, overrid

ing 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. Re

quires 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.

SEE ALSO

Most of the documentation for VMware products is available

in the user's manual for that product, through Help (run vmware

and click the Help button) and at http://www.vmware.com/support.

Linux March 10, 2005

Linux