VMware Workstation Cheat Sheet

Unlock the full potential of VMware Workstation with these essential commands and configuration tips. From converting disk formats to managing network settings, this comprehensive guide has you covered.

Convert `vmdk` drive to `qcow2`

tar -xvf original.ova
qemu-img convert \
   -O qcow2 win10.vmdk harddrive_foo.qcow2

Launch qemu and test your new drive

qemu-system-x86_64 \
   -enable-kvm \
   -cpu host -smp 4  \
   -device usb-ehci,id=ehci \
   -device qemu-xhci,id=xhci \
   -device usb-tablet,bus=xhci.0 \
   -net nic -net user \
   -m 4192 \
   -cdrom harddrive_foo.qcow2

Convert `qcow2` drive to `vmdk`

qemu-img convert \
   -f qcow2 \
   -O vmdk harddrive_foo.qcow2 harddrive_foo.vmdk

VMware Workstation Configuration

Install all `required` modules for `kernel`

vmware-modconfig --console --install-all

Print `install status`

vmware-modconfig --console --install-status

Print `GCC` settings

vmware-modconfig --console --get-gcc

Generate properties file

vmware-modconfig --console --generate-prop-file

Uninstall `vmware-workstation`

y|./vmware-workstation.bundle \
   --uninstall-product vmware-workstation

Configure modules for VMware Workstation released <2020

#!/bin/bash
# Author: wuseman
# Desc: Configure modules for VMware Workstation (workaround)

tmpPath='/tmp/patch-vmware'
vmwareVersion='workstation-12.5.9'


   rm -rf -v ${tmpPath}
   mkdir -v -p ${tmpPath}
   cd ${tmpPath}

   git clone https://github.com/mkubecek/vmware-host-modules.git
   cd ${tmpPath}/vmware-host-modules
   git checkout ${vmwareVersio}
   git fetch
   make -j$(nproc)
   make install

   cp /usr/lib/vmware/lib/libz.so.1/libz.so.1 /usr/lib/vmware/lib/libz.so.1/libz.so.1.old
   ln -s /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libz.so.1 /usr/lib/vmware/lib/libz.so.1/libz.so.1

Print status for VMware services

vmware-networks --status

Start VMware network

vmware-networks --start

Stop all network interfaces in use

vmware-networks --stop

Migrate network settings

vmware-networks --migrate-network-settings <settings_file>

VMware VMX

Launch VMware machine from CLI

/usr/lib/vmware/bin/vmware-vmx \
   -s vmx.stdio.keep=TRUE \
   -# product=1;name=VMware Workstation;version=16.1.2;buildnumber=17966106;licensename=VMware Workstation;licenseversion=16.0; \
   -@ duplex=3;msgs=ui /home/wuseman/vmware/windows/windows.10/windows_v10-x64/windows_v10-x64.vmx

Ping from VMware host with interval

vmware-ping localhost -i N

Ping from VMware host and add interval for timeout

vmware-ping localhost -t N

VMware NATD

/usr/bin/vmnet-natd -s 6 \
   -m /etc/vmware/vmnet8/nat.mac \
   -c /etc/vmware/vmnet8/nat/nat.conf

Run dhcpd for your VMware environment

/usr/bin/vmnet-dhcpd -s 6 \
   -cf /etc/vmware/vmnetX/dhcpd/dhcpd.conf \
   -lf /etc/vmware/vmnetX/dhcpd/dhcpd.leases \
   -pf /var/run/vmnet-dhcpd-vmnet1.pid vmnetX

Show VMware power status for VMware in tray

vmware-tray poweredOn

VMware Files

Location	Description
`/etc/vmware/vmnet8/nat/nat.conf`	Network configuration for NAT

VMware Fuse

vmware-fuseUI -s -r 8 -w 11 -p 23019

Reference(s)