Whether you’re a developer testing code, an IT admin managing systems, or a hobbyist experimenting with virtual machines, VMware Workstation’s shared folders feature simplifies file transfers between your host and guest operating systems. This functionality is a game-changer for seamless workflows, especially when running virtual environments on ava.hosting’s high-performance VPS or dedicated servers, optimized for virtualization tasks. For example, you might share a project folder from your host to a guest OS on an ava.hosting server to test a web app without manual uploads. This guide walks you through setting up shared folders in VMware Workstation, ensuring efficient and secure file access for your virtualization needs.

Step 1: Power Off the Virtual Machine

Before adding a shared folder, ensure that the virtual machine (VM) is powered off.

  1. Open VMware Workstation.
  2. Select the virtual machine where you want to create a shared folder.
  3. Click Power Off if the VM is running.

Step 2: Open Virtual Machine Settings

  1. Select your virtual machine.
  2. Click Edit virtual machine settings.
  3. In the Hardware tab, select Options.
  4. Click on Shared Folders.

Step 3: Enable Shared Folders

  1. Under the Folder Sharing section, choose Always enabled or Enabled until next power off or suspend.
  2. Click Add to create a new shared folder.

Step 4: Select the Shared Folder Location

  1. In the Add Shared Folder Wizard, click Next.
  2. Click Browse and select the folder on your host machine that you want to share.
  3. Enter a name for the shared folder.
  4. Check the Enable this share box.
  5. Click Finish.

Step 5: Access the Shared Folder in the Guest OS

Once the shared folder is added, start the virtual machine. Access the shared folder as follows:

  • Windows Guest OS: Open File Explorer and navigate to:
    \vmware-host\Shared Folders
  • Linux Guest OS: Open a terminal and enter:
    cd /mnt/hgfs/
ls

Step 6: Install VMware Tools (If Necessary)

For shared folders to work, VMware Tools must be installed in the guest OS.

Install VMware Tools in Windows:

  1. Go to VM > Install VMware Tools.
  2. Follow the on-screen installation instructions.
  3. Restart the guest OS after installation.

Install VMware Tools in Linux:

  1. Open a terminal and run:
    sudo apt update && sudo apt install open-vm-tools open-vm-tools-desktop -y
  2. Restart the virtual machine.

Conclusion

Setting up shared folders in VMware Workstation transforms how you manage file transfers between host and guest systems, making development and administrative tasks more efficient. Whether you’re sharing code for a web project or transferring logs for troubleshooting on an ava.hosting VPS, this feature streamlines your workflow. For instance, you could share a Backups folder to move database dumps to a guest OS for testing or access a Docs folder to review configurations in real-time. By following these steps and leveraging ava.hosting’s robust virtualization-ready servers, you can ensure seamless, secure, and high-performance file sharing for all your virtual machine needs.