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Asked: 2024-09-24T18:42:00+05:30 In:

How can I mount shared folders in Ubuntu when using VMware Tools?

I’ve been using VMware for a while, and I’m trying to set up shared folders between my host machine and an Ubuntu VM. I’ve got VMware Tools installed, but I’m hitting a wall with the mounting part. I’ve looked through a ton of forums and guides, but every time I think I’m making progress, I end up stuck!

Here’s what I’ve tried: I made sure that the Shared Folders option is enabled in the VM settings. I even created a folder on my host machine specifically for this purpose, and I can see it listed in the settings as a shared folder. However, when I boot up Ubuntu and try to access it, it’s nowhere to be found in the file explorer. It’s like the folder is just playing hide-and-seek with me!

I read somewhere that I need to mount the shared folder manually, but I have no idea how to do that. I’ve tried using the command line, but it’s a bit overwhelming. The commands I’ve found seem really complex, and I don’t want to mess anything up or break my VM—I’ve been there before, and it’s not pretty!

Is there a step-by-step guide or maybe some simple commands I could try to mount the shared folder? Also, what about permissions? I heard I might need to change some settings to be able to access it, but I’m not sure what those might be.

Oh, and if it helps, I’m using Ubuntu 20.04. I’ve seen some commands mentioned for earlier versions, but I want to make sure I’m following instructions specific to my version to avoid any issues.

I’d really appreciate any advice or insights from anyone who’s navigated this before. It would save me a ton of time and frustration. Thanks in advance for any help!

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    2 Answers


    1. To mount shared folders between your host machine and your Ubuntu VM in VMware, you can follow these steps. First, ensure that the shared folder feature is enabled in your VM settings. Once you’ve done that, check if the VMware Tools are properly installed by running the command vmware-toolbox-cmd -v in the terminal. If everything is set up correctly, you can create a directory where the shared folder will be mounted. For example, you can do this with the command mkdir ~/my_shared_folder. To mount the shared folder, use the following command: sudo mount -t vmhgfs .host:/ /mnt/hgfs, which will mount all shared folders to the /mnt/hgfs directory.

      If you want to access a specific folder, you can navigate to /mnt/hgfs to see all your shared folders listed. In case you don’t see your shared folder, ensure that you reboot the VM after making changes and that you are using the correct folder name. Permissions may also be an issue; you’ll need to ensure your user account is added to the vboxusers group. You can add your user to this group using sudo usermod -aG vboxusers username, replacing username with your actual username. After adding yourself to the group, log out and back in for the changes to take effect. Ideally, this process should streamline your access to shared folders on your Ubuntu 20.04 VM.




    2. Setting Up Shared Folders in Ubuntu VM

      How to Set Up Shared Folders in Ubuntu 20.04 with VMware

      It sounds like you’ve been hitting some bumps in the road with shared folders! Don’t worry; it can be tricky at first. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you mount that shared folder:

      1. Check VMware Tools Installation

      First, make sure that VMware Tools is properly installed in your Ubuntu VM. You can do this by running:

      vmware-toolbox-cmd -v

      If it outputs a version number, you’re good! If not, you might need to reinstall VMware Tools.

      2. Create a Mount Point

      You need a place to mount your shared folder. Open a terminal in Ubuntu and run:

      sudo mkdir /mnt/hgfs

      3. Modify Settings (if needed)

      Make sure your shared folder is set to “Always Enabled” in the VM settings. Once your VM is booted, you can try to list your shared folders by executing:

      vmware-hgfsclient

      This should list your shared folders. If you see them listed, you can move on to the next step!

      4. Mount the Shared Folder

      To mount the shared folder, use the following command, but replace `` with the name of your shared folder:

      sudo mount -t vmhgfs .host:/ /mnt/hgfs/

      This command mounts the shared folder to your `/mnt/hgfs` directory.

      5. Check Permissions

      If you can see the folder but can’t access it, you might need to adjust permissions. You can add your user to the `vmware` group by running:

      sudo usermod -aG vmware $(whoami)

      Log out and log back in for this change to take effect!

      6. Verify Access

      After you’ve mounted it, navigate to your `/mnt/hgfs` directory to check if your shared folder is there:

      cd /mnt/hgfs
ls

      This should list all the contents of your shared folder!

      7. Automate Mounting (Optional)

      If you want your shared folder to mount automatically every time you boot the VM, you can add the mount command to the `/etc/fstab` file. But be careful with this! Adding the wrong entry can cause errors on boot.

      echo '.host:/ /mnt/hgfs/ vmhgfs defaults 0 0' | sudo tee -a /etc/fstab

      After doing all this, you should see your shared folder in Ubuntu! If you encounter any errors along the way, feel free to share them for more targeted help!


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