packer-cn/website/source/docs/builders/vmware-vmx.html.md.erb

---
modeline: |
  vim: set ft=pandoc:
description: |
    This VMware Packer builder is able to create VMware virtual machines from an
    existing VMware virtual machine (a VMX file). It currently supports building
    virtual machines on hosts running VMware Fusion Professional for OS X, VMware
    Workstation for Linux and Windows, and VMware Player on Linux.
layout: docs
page_title: 'VMware VMX - Builders'
sidebar_current: 'docs-builders-vmware-vmx'
---

# VMware Builder (from VMX)

Type: `vmware-vmx`

This VMware Packer builder is able to create VMware virtual machines from an
existing VMware virtual machine (a VMX file). It currently supports building
virtual machines on hosts running [VMware Fusion
Professional](https://www.vmware.com/products/fusion-professional/) for OS X,
[VMware Workstation](https://www.vmware.com/products/workstation/overview.html)
for Linux and Windows, and [VMware
Player](https://www.vmware.com/products/player/) on Linux.

The builder builds a virtual machine by cloning the VMX file using the clone
capabilities introduced in VMware Fusion Professional 6, Workstation 10, and
Player 6. After cloning the VM, it provisions software within the new machine,
shuts it down, and compacts the disks. The resulting folder contains a new
VMware virtual machine.

## Basic Example

Here is an example. This example is fully functional as long as the source path
points to a real VMX file with the proper settings:

``` json
{
  "type": "vmware-vmx",
  "source_path": "/path/to/a/vm.vmx",
  "ssh_username": "root",
  "ssh_password": "root",
  "shutdown_command": "shutdown -P now"
}
```

## Configuration Reference

There are many configuration options available for the VMware builder. They are
organized below into two categories: required and optional. Within each
category, the available options are alphabetized and described.

In addition to the options listed here, a
[communicator](/docs/templates/communicator.html) can be configured for this
builder.


## Configuration Reference

There are many configuration options available for the builder. In addition to
the items listed here, you will want to look at the general configuration
references for
[HTTP](#http-directory-configuration),
[Floppy](#floppy-configuration),
[Boot](#boot-configuration),
[Driver](#driver-configuration),
[Output](#output-configuration),
[Run](#run-configuration),
[Shutdown](#shutdown-configuration),
[Communicator](#communicator-configuration),
[Tools](#tools-configuration),
[vmx](#vmx-configuration),
[Export](#export-configuration),
configuration references, which are
necessary for this build to succeed and can be found further down the page.

### Required:

<%= partial "partials/builder/virtualbox/ovf/Config-required" %>

#### Optional:

<%= partial "partials/builder/virtualbox/ovf/Config-not-required" %>
<%= partial "partials/builder/virtualbox/common/VBoxVersionConfig-not-required" %>
<%= partial "partials/builder/virtualbox/common/GuestAdditionsConfig-not-required" %>

### Http directory configuration

<%= partial "partials/common/HTTPConfig" %>
#### Optional:

<%= partial "partials/common/HTTPConfig-not-required" %>

### Floppy configuration

<%= partial "partials/common/FloppyConfig" %>

#### Optional:

<%= partial "partials/common/FloppyConfig-not-required" %>

### Export configuration

#### Optional:

<%= partial "partials/builder/virtualbox/common/ExportConfig-not-required" %>

### Output configuration

#### Optional:

<%= partial "partials/builder/virtualbox/common/OutputConfig-not-required" %>

### Run configuration

#### Optional:

<%= partial "partials/builder/virtualbox/common/RunConfig-not-required" %>

### Driver configuration

#### Optional:

<%= partial "partials/builder/vmware/common/DriverConfig-not-required" %>

### Tools configuration

#### Optional:

<%= partial "partials/builder/vmware/common/ToolsConfig-not-required" %>

### VMX configuration

#### Optional:

<%= partial "partials/builder/vmware/common/VMXConfig-not-required" %>

### Shutdown configuration

#### Optional:

<%= partial "partials/builder/virtualbox/common/ShutdownConfig-not-required" %>

### Communicator configuration

#### Optional common fields:

<%= partial "partials/helper/communicator/Config-not-required" %>

#### Optional SSH fields:

<%= partial "partials/helper/communicator/SSH-not-required" %>
<%= partial "partials/builder/virtualbox/common/SSHConfig-not-required" %>

#### Optional WinRM fields:

<%= partial "partials/helper/communicator/WinRM-not-required" %>

## Boot Command

The `boot_command` configuration is very important: it specifies the keys to
type when the virtual machine is first booted in order to start the OS
installer. This command is typed after `boot_wait`.

As documented above, the `boot_command` is an array of strings. The strings are
all typed in sequence. It is an array only to improve readability within the
template.

The boot command is "typed" character for character over a VNC connection to the
machine, simulating a human actually typing the keyboard.

-&gt; Keystrokes are typed as separate key up/down events over VNC with a
default 100ms delay. The delay alleviates issues with latency and CPU
contention. You can tune this delay on a per-builder basis by specifying
"boot_key_interval" in your Packer template, for example:

```
{
  "builders": [
    {
      "type": "vmware-vmx",
      "boot_key_interval": "10ms"
      ...
    }
  ]
}
```

-   `<f1>` - `<f12>` - Simulates pressing a function key.

-   `<up>` `<down>` `<left>` `<right>` - Simulates pressing an arrow key.

-   `<spacebar>` - Simulates pressing the spacebar.

-   `<insert>` - Simulates pressing the insert key.

-   `<home>` `<end>` - Simulates pressing the home and end keys.

-   `<pageUp>` `<pageDown>` - Simulates pressing the page up and page down keys.

-   `<leftAlt>` `<rightAlt>`  - Simulates pressing the alt key.

-   `<leftCtrl>` `<rightCtrl>` - Simulates pressing the ctrl key.

-   `<leftShift>` `<rightShift>` - Simulates pressing the shift key.

-   `<leftAltOn>` `<rightAltOn>`  - Simulates pressing and holding the alt key.

-   `<leftCtrlOn>` `<rightCtrlOn>` - Simulates pressing and holding the ctrl
    key.

-   `<leftShiftOn>` `<rightShiftOn>` - Simulates pressing and holding the
    shift key.

-   `<leftAltOff>` `<rightAltOff>`  - Simulates releasing a held alt key.

-   `<leftCtrlOff>` `<rightCtrlOff>` - Simulates releasing a held ctrl key.

-   `<leftShiftOff>` `<rightShiftOff>` - Simulates releasing a held shift key.

-   `<wait>` `<wait5>` `<wait10>` - Adds a 1, 5 or 10 second pause before
    sending any additional keys. This is useful if you have to generally wait
    for the UI to update before typing more.

In addition to the special keys, each command to type is treated as a
[configuration template](/docs/templates/configuration-templates.html). The
available variables are:

<%= partial "partials/builders/boot-command" %>

Example boot command. This is actually a working boot command used to start an
Ubuntu 12.04 installer:

``` text
[
  "<esc><esc><enter><wait>",
  "/install/vmlinuz noapic ",
  "preseed/url=http://{{ .HTTPIP }}:{{ .HTTPPort }}/preseed.cfg ",
  "debian-installer=en_US auto locale=en_US kbd-chooser/method=us ",
  "hostname={{ .Name }} ",
  "fb=false debconf/frontend=noninteractive ",
  "keyboard-configuration/modelcode=SKIP keyboard-configuration/layout=USA ",
  "keyboard-configuration/variant=USA console-setup/ask_detect=false ",
  "initrd=/install/initrd.gz -- <enter>"
]
```

For more examples of various boot commands, see the sample projects from our
[community templates page](/community-tools.html#templates).

<%= partial "partials/builders/building_on_remote_vsphere_hypervisor" %>