6.7

Table Of Contents
The virtual machine name also determines the name of the virtual machine files and folder on the disk.
For example, if you name the virtual machine win8, the virtual machine files are named win8.vmx,
win8.vmdk, win8.nvram, and so on. If you change the virtual machine name, the names of the files on the
datastore do not change.
Note Migration with Storage vMotion changes the virtual machine file names on the destination
datastore to match the inventory name of the virtual machine. The migration renames all virtual disk,
configuration, snapshot, and .nvram files. If the new names exceed the maximum filename length, the
migration does not succeed.
Procedure
1 Right-click a virtual machine in the inventory and select Edit Settings.
2 Click the VM Options tab and expand General Options.
3 Delete the existing name and type a new name for the virtual machine in the VM Name text box.
4 Click OK.
View the Virtual Machine Configuration and Working File Location
You can view the location of the virtual machine configuration and working files. You can use this
information when you configure backup systems.
Prerequisites
Verify that the virtual machine is powered off.
Procedure
1 Right-click a virtual machine in the inventory and select Edit Settings.
2 Click VM Options tab and expand General Options.
The path to the location of the virtual machine configuration file appears in the VM Config File text
box. The path to the virtual machine working location appears in the VM Working Location text box.
Change the Configured Guest Operating System
When you change the guest operating system type in the virtual machine settings, you change the setting
for the guest operating system in the virtual machine's configuration file. To change the guest operating
system itself, you must install the new operating system in the virtual machine.
You might change the guest operating system, for example, if you are upgrading the guest operating
system installed in the virtual machine.
When you set the guest operating system type for a new virtual machine, vCenter Server chooses
configuration defaults based on the guest type. Changing the guest operating system type after the virtual
machine is created does not retroactively change those settings. It affects the recommendations and
setting ranges offered after the change.
vSphere Virtual Machine Administration
VMware, Inc. 169