Specifications

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VMware GSX Server Virtual Machine Guide
Using Samba for File Sharing
on a Linux Host
On a Linux host computer, GSX Server can automatically install and configure a Samba
server to act as a file server for Microsoft Windows guest operating systems.
You can then use Windows Explorer in the virtual machine to move and copy files
between virtual machine and host — or between virtual machines on the same
network — just as you would with files on physical computers that share a network
connection.
The lightly modified Samba server installed by GSX Server runs over the GSX Server
virtual Ethernet, and the Samba traffic between different operating systems is isolated
from actual local area networks.
The source code differences for the changes (in diff format and based on Samba
2.0.6) are available from VMware. For more information, see
www.vmware.com/download/open_sources.html.
If you already have Samba configured on your Linux host, the recommended
approach is to modify that configuration so it includes the IP subnet used by the GSX
Server virtual Ethernet adapter, VMnet1.
You can configure your existing Samba server to work with a host-only network. Note
that all the shares you set up in Samba and in the guest operating system normally
appear on the bridged network as well.
If you need to be sure the shares set up in the guest operating system are seen only
on the host-only network, you may find it easiest to install and use the Samba server
provided with GSX Server.
If you do not need any shares to appear on your bridged network, you can use your
existing Samba server and set up the configuration file so it works only on the host-
only network.
Samba configurations can be quite complex. This section provides several sample
configuration files. If you need to go beyond the issues covered here, see the man
page for the smb.conf file. To view this man page, type one of the following
commands in a terminal window:
man smb.conf
or
man 5 smb.conf