For more information about the VMware Management Interface, go to www.vmware.com/support/gsx3/doc/.
Configuring a Virtual Machine's DVD-ROM or CD-ROM Drive
Configuring a Virtual Machine's DVD-ROM or CD-ROM Drive
Each virtual machine can access a physical DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive on the server host or an ISO image file.
To configure an existing DVD/CD-ROM drive, complete the following steps.
- In the Hardware page, under DVD/CD-ROM Drive, click Edit. The DVD/CD-ROM Drive page appears.
- To connect this virtual machine to the server's DVD/CD-ROM drive, check Connected.
Note: Only one virtual machine can connect to the DVD/CD-ROM drive on the server at a time.
- To connect this virtual machine to the server's DVD/CD-ROM drive when the virtual machine is powered on, check Connect at Power On.
- Specify whether to connect to the server's DVD/CD-ROM drive or to an ISO image. In the Device list, select System DVD/CD-ROM Drive or ISO Image.
- Enter the location of the drive or ISO image in the Location field. For example, the server's CD-ROM drive could be D: or /dev/cdrom.
- To use the client machine's DVD-ROM/CD-ROM drive, make sure you are using the physical drive, then check the Client Device check box For more information, see Using the DVD-ROM or CD-ROM Drive on a Client.
- Click OK to save your changes and close the window.
Adding a New Virtual DVD-ROM or CD-ROM Drive
Adding a New Virtual DVD-ROM or CD-ROM Drive
To add a new virtual DVD/CD-ROM drive to a virtual machine, make sure the virtual machine is powered off, then complete the following steps.
- On the Hardware page, click Add Device. The Add Device Wizard starts.
- Click DVD/CD-ROM. The cdrom page appears.
- To connect this virtual machine to the server's DVD/CD-ROM drive when the virtual machine is powered on, check Connect at Power On.
- Specify whether to connect to the server's DVD/CD-ROM drive or to an ISO image. In the Device list, select System DVD/CD-ROM Drive or ISO Image.
- Enter the location of the drive or ISO image in the Location field. For example, the server's CD-ROM drive could be D: or /dev/cdrom.
- To use the client machine's DVD-ROM/CD-ROM drive, make sure you are using the physical drive, then check the Client Device check box For more information, see Using the DVD-ROM or CD-ROM Drive on a Client.
- Click OK to add the drive.
Using the DVD-ROM or CD-ROM Drive on a Client
Using the DVD-ROM or CD-ROM Drive on a Client
When you use the VMware Virtual Machine Console on a remote client to connect to a virtual machine, you have the option of using the optical drive on the client machine instead of the drive on the server. This is a convenient way of installing software remotely if you don't have access to the host.
To use a client machine's DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive, make sure you are using the physical drive. Next to Location, select Client.
All virtual machine settings like using legacy emulation and exclusive connections apply except that a CD-ROM drive on a client cannot start connected.
If you want to boot the virtual machine from the DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive in a client system, complete the following steps.
- When you first begin booting the guest operating system, press the Esc key. A boot menu appears.
- In the management interface, edit the DVD-ROM or CD-ROM drive in the virtual machine's hardware page. Select the physical drive in the Device list, then check the Client Device check box.
- Return to the boot menu in the guest operating system. Select the CD-ROM drive, then press Enter to boot the virtual machine from the CD-ROM drive of the client on which you are running the VMware Virtual Machine Console.