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Virtual Machine Files

The document provides an overview of VMware vSphere 8.0, focusing on the various files that make up a virtual machine, including configuration, virtual disk, and log files. It emphasizes the importance of not altering these files without guidance from VMware Technical Support. Additional file types created during specific tasks, such as .hlog and .vmtx, are also mentioned.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
3 views

Virtual Machine Files

The document provides an overview of VMware vSphere 8.0, focusing on the various files that make up a virtual machine, including configuration, virtual disk, and log files. It emphasizes the importance of not altering these files without guidance from VMware Technical Support. Additional file types created during specific tasks, such as .hlog and .vmtx, are also mentioned.

Uploaded by

marwanamgadd
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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VMware vSphere Product Documentation Technical Articles

 Expand All Docs / VMware vSphere / vSphere Virtual Machine Administration In this article 

VMware vSphere Product


Virtual Machine Files Virtual Machine Files

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 vSphere Virtual Machine
Administration Updated on 11/16/2023

 Introduction to VMware
Selected product version: VMware vSphere 8.0 
vSphere Virtual Machines

Virtual Machine Files A virtual machine consists of several files that are stored on a storage device. The key files are the
configuration file, virtual disk file, NVRAM setting file, and log file. You configure virtual machine
Virtual Machines and the settings through the vSphere Client, ESXCLI, or the vSphere Web Services SDK.
Virtual Infrastructure

Caution:
Virtual Machine Lifecycle
Do not change, move, or delete virtual machine files without instructions from a
Virtual Machine Components
VMware Technical Support representative.
Virtual Machine Hardware
Available to vSphere Virtual
Machines Virtual Machine Files

Virtual Machine Options


File Usage Description
The vSphere Client
.vmx vmname.vmx Virtual machine configuration file
Where to Go From Here
.vmxf vmname.vmxf Additional virtual machine
configuration files
 Deploying Virtual Machines
.vmdk vmname.vmdk Virtual disk characteristics
 Deploy and Export OVF and
OVA Templates -flat.vmdk vmname-flat.vmdk Virtual machine data disk

.nvram vmname.nvram or nvram Virtual machine BIOS or EFI


configuration

.vmem vmname.vmem Virtual machine paging backup file

.vmsd vmname.vmsd Virtual machine snapshots


information (metadata) file

.vmsn vmname.vmsn Virtual machine memory snapshot


file

.vswp vmname.vswp Virtual machine swap file

.vmss vmname.vmss Virtual machine suspend file

.log vmware.log Current virtual machine log file

-#.log vmware-#.log (where # is a Old virtual machine log files


number starting with 1)

Additional files are created when you perform certain tasks with the virtual machine.

• A .hlog file is a log file that is used by vCenter Server to keep track of virtual machine files
that must be removed after a certain operation completes.

• A .vmtx file is created when you convert a virtual machine to a template. The .vmtx file
replaces the virtual machine configuration file (.vmx file).

Parent topic: Introduction to VMware vSphere Virtual Machines

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