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Options
The Options tab lets you adjust characteristics of the selected virtual machine.
General
Virtual Machine Name Use this setting to change the virtual machine name as it appears in the console tab and favorites list. Type a new name in the field and click OK.
Changing this name is cosmetic and has no effect on the host file system in which Workstation stores the virtual machine files. The directory name for a renamed virtual machine remains as when it was created.
Virtual Machine Configuration File (Windows Only) This read-only field displays the path to the file that contains configuration information for the current virtual machine.
Guest Operating System This setting determines optimizations for the virtual machine.
When you change the operating system type using the Version list, this changes the setting for the guest operating system type in the virtual machine's configuration file. It does not actually change the guest operating system itself.
When you set the guest operating system type while creating a new virtual machine (for example, through the New Virtual Machine Wizard), Workstation chooses configuration defaults based on the guest type. However, changing the guest type on this panel simply changes the guest type setting in the configuration file.
You might change the guest operating system, for example, if you are upgrading the guest operating system installed in the virtual machine.
Working Directory The working directory is where Workstation stores suspended state (.vmss), snapshot (.vmsn) and redo log files. By default, this directory is the same as where the virtual machine files are stored.
Power
Power Options
Power on after opening this virtual machine To automatically power on the current virtual machine when Workstation launches, check the option Power on after opening this virtual machine. With this option set, you do not have an opportunity to change the virtual machine's configuration before it starts, since the virtual machine powers on immediately.
Enter full screen mode after powering on To automatically enter full screen mode after powering on the current virtual machine, check the option Enter full screen mode after powering on.
Close after powering off or suspending To automatically close the current virtual machine after you power it off or suspend it, check the option Close after powering off or suspending. Closing a virtual machine removes the tab for that machine from the main window in Quick Switch mode.
Power Controls
Here you can configure the behavior of two buttons on the Workstation toolbar.
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This configurable button can power off a virtual machine or team in two ways.
Power Off This option emulates a power switch on a power supply. The virtual machine is abruptly powered off, with no consideration for work in progress
Shut Down Guest This option emulates a power button on an ATX power supply. Pressing this button sends a shut down signal to the guest operating system. An operating system that recognizes this signal shuts down gracefully. Note: Not all guest operating systems respond to a shut down signal.
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This configurable button can reset a virtual machine or restart a guest operating system
Reset This option emulates a reset switch. The virtual machine is abruptly reset, with no consideration for work in progress
Restart Guest This option sends a reset signal to the guest operating system. An operating system that recognizes this signal shuts down gracefully and restarts. Note: Not all guest operating systems respond to a restart signal.
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Run VMware Tools Scripts This option allows you to run scripts when you power on a virtual machine. See Startup Options on a Linux Host for help with scripting.
Shared Folders
Snapshots
General You can disable snapshots for the virtual machine. The virtual machine must not have any snapshots if you want to disable snapshots.
To disable snapshots for this virtual machine, check the Disable snapshots check box.
When Powering Off You can specify the way Workstation handles snapshots when you power off the virtual machine. Options when powering off include:
Just power off powers off without making any changes to snapshots.
Revert to the snapshot reverts to the parent of the snapshot so the virtual machine always starts in the state when the snapshot was taken.
Take a new snapshot takes a new snapshot of the virtual machine state after it is powered off.
Ask me always asks what you want to do with snapshots when you power off.
Guest Isolation (Windows Only)
Drag and Drop By default, you can drag and drop files between your host computer and a virtual machine. If you wish to disable this feature, check the option Disable drag and drop to and from the virtual machine.
One reason to disable the drag and drop feature is to prevent files from accidentally being transferred between the virtual machine and the host.
Advanced
Process Priorities (Windows Only) VMware Workstation sets the default priority for virtual machine processing as Normal for both Input grabbed and Input ungrabbed. This means that the processes within virtual machines contend equally for resources with all other processes running on the host.
To change the default priority for the current virtual machine, overriding the global priorities, select the priority you want, then click OK.
You can also set the global priorities directly from a Workstation window by choosing Edit > Preferences and selecting the Priority tab.
Settings
Run with debugging information You can run a virtual machine so it collects additional debugging information that is helpful to VMware technical support in resolving issues.
To turn debugging mode on, check the Run with debugging information check box, then click OK to apply your changes
Disable acceleration In rare instances, you may find that when you install or run software inside a virtual machine, Workstation appears to hang. Generally, the problem occurs early in the program's execution. In many cases, you can get past the problem by temporarily disabling acceleration in the virtual machine.
To disable acceleration, check the Disable acceleration check box, then click OK to apply your changes.
This setting slows down virtual machine performance, so it is recommended only for getting past the problem with running the program. After you pass the point where the program was encountering problems, try returning to the virtual machine settings editor and removing the check beside Disable acceleration. You may then be able to run the program with acceleration.