---
layout: "docs"
page_title: "VMware Builder from VMX"
---

# VMware Builder (from VMX)

Type: `vmware-vmx`

This VMware 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](http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/overview.html) for OS X,
[VMware Workstation](http://www.vmware.com/products/workstation/overview.html)
for Linux and Windows, and
[VMware Player](http://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 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:

<pre class="prettyprint">
{
  "type": "vmware-vmx",
  "source_path": "/path/to/a/vm.vmx",
  "ssh_username": "root",
  "ssh_password": "root",
  "shutdown_command": "shutdown -P now"
}
</pre>

## 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.

### Required:

* `source_path` (string) - Path to the source VMX file to clone.

* `ssh_username` (string) - The username to use to SSH into the machine
  once the OS is installed.

### Optional:

* `floppy_files` (array of strings) - A list of files to place onto a floppy
  disk that is attached when the VM is booted. This is most useful
  for unattended Windows installs, which look for an `Autounattend.xml` file
  on removable media. By default, no floppy will be attached. All files
  listed in this setting get placed into the root directory of the floppy
  and the floppy is attached as the first floppy device. Currently, no
  support exists for creating sub-directories on the floppy. Wildcard
  characters (*, ?, and []) are allowed. Directory names are also allowed,
  which will add all the files found in the directory to the floppy.

* `fusion_app_path` (string) - Path to "VMware Fusion.app". By default this
  is "/Applications/VMware Fusion.app" but this setting allows you to
  customize this.

* `headless` (boolean) - Packer defaults to building VMware
  virtual machines by launching a GUI that shows the console of the
  machine being built. When this value is set to true, the machine will
  start without a console. For VMware machines, Packer will output VNC
  connection information in case you need to connect to the console to
  debug the build process.

* `output_directory` (string) - This is the path to the directory where the
  resulting virtual machine will be created. This may be relative or absolute.
  If relative, the path is relative to the working directory when `packer`
  is executed. This directory must not exist or be empty prior to running the builder.
  By default this is "output-BUILDNAME" where "BUILDNAME" is the name
  of the build.

* `shutdown_command` (string) - The command to use to gracefully shut down
  the machine once all the provisioning is done. By default this is an empty
  string, which tells Packer to just forcefully shut down the machine.

* `shutdown_timeout` (string) - The amount of time to wait after executing
  the `shutdown_command` for the virtual machine to actually shut down.
  If it doesn't shut down in this time, it is an error. By default, the timeout
  is "5m", or five minutes.

* `skip_compaction` (boolean) -  VMware-created disks are defragmented
  and compacted at the end of the build process using `vmware-vdiskmanager`.
  In certain rare cases, this might actually end up making the resulting disks
  slightly larger. If you find this to be the case, you can disable compaction
  using this configuration value.

* `ssh_key_path` (string) - Path to a private key to use for authenticating
  with SSH. By default this is not set (key-based auth won't be used).
  The associated public key is expected to already be configured on the
  VM being prepared by some other process (kickstart, etc.).

* `ssh_password` (string) - The password for `ssh_username` to use to
  authenticate with SSH. By default this is the empty string.

* `ssh_port` (integer) - The port that SSH will listen on within the virtual
  machine. By default this is 22.

* `ssh_skip_request_pty` (boolean) - If true, a pty will not be requested as
  part of the SSH connection. By default, this is "false", so a pty
  _will_ be requested.

* `ssh_wait_timeout` (string) - The duration to wait for SSH to become
  available. By default this is "20m", or 20 minutes. Note that this should
  be quite long since the timer begins as soon as the virtual machine is booted.

* `vm_name` (string) - This is the name of the VMX file for the new virtual
  machine, without the file extension. By default this is "packer-BUILDNAME",
  where "BUILDNAME" is the name of the build.

* `vmx_data` (object of key/value strings) - Arbitrary key/values
  to enter into the virtual machine VMX file. This is for advanced users
  who want to set properties such as memory, CPU, etc.

* `vmx_data_post` (object of key/value strings) - Identical to `vmx_data`,
  except that it is run after the virtual machine is shutdown, and before the
  virtual machine is exported.