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---
layout: docs
sidebar_current: docs-builders-vmware-vmx
page_title: VMware VMX - Builders
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.
---
# 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.
### 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:
- `boot_command` (array of strings) - This is an array of commands to type
when the virtual machine is first booted. The goal of these commands should
be to type just enough to initialize the operating system installer. Special
keys can be typed as well, and are covered in the section below on the
boot command. If this is not specified, it is assumed the installer will
start itself.
- `boot_wait` (string) - The time to wait after booting the initial virtual
machine before typing the `boot_command`. The value of this should be
a duration. Examples are "5s" and "1m30s" which will cause Packer to wait
five seconds and one minute 30 seconds, respectively. If this isn't
specified, the default is 10 seconds.
- `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.
- `floppy_dirs` (array of strings) - A list of directories to place onto
the floppy disk recursively. This is similar to the `floppy_files` option
except that the directory structure is preserved. This is useful for when
your floppy disk includes drivers or if you just want to organize it's
contents as a hierarchy. Wildcard characters (\*, ?, and \[\]) are allowed.
- `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.
- `http_directory` (string) - Path to a directory to serve using an
HTTP server. The files in this directory will be available over HTTP that
will be requestable from the virtual machine. This is useful for hosting
kickstart files and so on. By default this is "", which means no HTTP server
will be started. The address and port of the HTTP server will be available
as variables in `boot_command`. This is covered in more detail below.
- `http_port_min` and `http_port_max` (integer) - These are the minimum and
maximum port to use for the HTTP server started to serve the
`http_directory`. Because Packer often runs in parallel, Packer will choose
a randomly available port in this range to run the HTTP server. If you want
to force the HTTP server to be on one port, make this minimum and maximum
port the same. By default the values are 8000 and 9000, respectively.
- `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 unless a
shutdown command takes place inside script so this may safely be omitted. If
one or more scripts require a reboot it is suggested to leave this blank
since reboots may fail and specify the final shutdown command in your
last script.
- `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.
- `tools_upload_flavor` (string) - The flavor of the VMware Tools ISO to
upload into the VM. Valid values are "darwin", "linux", and "windows". By
default, this is empty, which means VMware tools won't be uploaded.
- `tools_upload_path` (string) - The path in the VM to upload the
VMware tools. This only takes effect if `tools_upload_flavor` is non-empty.
This is a [configuration
template](/docs/templates/engine.html) that has a single
valid variable: `Flavor`, which will be the value of `tools_upload_flavor`.
By default the upload path is set to `{{.Flavor}}.iso`.
- `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.
- `vnc_bind_address` (string / IP address) - The IP address that should be binded
to for VNC. By default packer will use 127.0.0.1 for this.
- `vnc_disable_password` (boolean) - Don't auto-generate a VNC password that is
used to secure the VNC communication with the VM.
- `vnc_port_min` and `vnc_port_max` (integer) - The minimum and maximum port
to use for VNC access to the virtual machine. The builder uses VNC to type
the initial `boot_command`. Because Packer generally runs in parallel,
Packer uses a randomly chosen port in this range that appears available. By
default this is 5900 to 6000. The minimum and maximum ports are inclusive.
## 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.
-> 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. For local builds you can tune this delay by specifying
e.g. `PACKER_KEY_INTERVAL=10ms` to speed through the boot command.
There are a set of special keys available. If these are in your boot
command, they will be replaced by the proper key:
- `<bs>` - Backspace
- `<del>` - Delete
- `<enter>` and `<return>` - Simulates an actual "enter" or "return" keypress.
- `<esc>` - Simulates pressing the escape key.
- `<tab>` - Simulates pressing the tab key.
- `<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
[template engine](/docs/templates/engine.html). The
available variables are:
- `HTTPIP` and `HTTPPort` - The IP and port, respectively of an HTTP server
that is started serving the directory specified by the `http_directory`
configuration parameter. If `http_directory` isn't specified, these will be
blank!
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>"
]
```
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