Relocating Shared Folders in VMware Workstation

Step 1 – Enable Folder Sharing in VMware Workstation

Virtual Machine Settings/Options/Shared Folders

1	Virtual Machine Settings/Options/Shared Folders

Shared folders option in Virtual Machine Settings needs to be enabled before relocating shared folders in VMware Workstation

Step 2 – Check if the Created Share is Visible

A test is performed first if the shared folder is visible before relocating shared folders in VMware Workstation.

# vmware-hgfsclient

1	# vmware-hgfsclient

The shared folder is tested for visibility before relocating shared folders in VMware Workstation

Step 3 – Create the Folder Where the Shared Host Folder Will Appear

Run the command mkdir <shared-folder-root-directory>, where “<shared-folder-root-directory>” may be created anywhere in the root (“/”) file system. It is preferable though, to create the directory in your home directory so it becomes easily accessible like your other user files like the Desktop, Documents, Downloads, Music, Pictures, Public, Templates, Videos, etc.

# mkdir <shared-folder-root-directory>

1	# mkdir <shared-folder-root-directory>

Step 4 – Mount the Shared Folder

Mount the shared folder. Replace “<shared_folder>” with the folder name used in Step 1 (in my example, it is “VMShare”). Replace “<shared-folder-root-directory>” with the directory name created in Step 3 (for me, it is /root/VMShare).

# vmhgfs-fuse -o allow_other -o auto_unmount .host:/<shared_folder> <shared-folder-root-directory>

1	# vmhgfs-fuse -o allow_other -o auto_unmount .host:/<shared_folder> <shared-folder-root-directory>

The shared folder should now appear with a sharing icon in your home directory after a successful relocating of shared folders in VMware Workstation.

Image showing the shared folder inside the home folder after successfully relocating shared folders in VMware Workstation

Step 5 – Add an Fstab Entry

The shared folder will disappear when you reboot your system and you will need to re-mount the shared folder. To make the mount permanent, edit the file /etc/fstab and append the line:

.host:/<shared_folder> <shared-folder-root-directory> fuse.vmhgfs-fuse nofail,allow_other 0 0

1	.host:/<shared_folder> <shared-folder-root-directory> fuse.vmhgfs-fuse nofail,allow_other 0 0

To edit the file, I usually use nano.

# nano /etc/fstab

1	# nano /etc/fstab

After saving the file, that’s it. You’re shared folder will now show up in your home directory all the time in between reboots.

Note: In other Linux distributions where VMware Tools are installed as it is, without any patches, once the shared folder is created in the VM Settings/Options, the shared folder automatically appears (get mounted) at /mnt/hgfs/<shared-name> directory.

References on Relocating Shared Folders in VMware Workstation

VMware/Installing Arch as a guest
VMware-Tools-Patches
How to configure VMware Tools Shared Folders Linux mounts (60262)