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Setting a MIME Type to Launch the VMware Virtual Machine Console
From the VMware Management Interface, you can connect to a virtual machine from a console by clicking the terminal icon (
) for that virtual machine. Before doing so, Netscape and Mozilla users need to define a MIME type of
x-vmware-console and associate it with the console program file. Internet Explorer is automatically configured when you install the console.
The procedure for setting a MIME type for the console is similar for Windows and Linux hosts. Both involve writing a short script that provides the command to launch the console.
You can choose to launch the console that was installed with GSX Server or you can launch the console that was installed from a file downloaded from the management interface.
Setting the MIME Type for the Console Installed with GSX Server
1. Open a text editor and do one of the following.
On a Windows host, write a short batch file called vmwareGSX-helper.bat. The batch file must contain the following line:
"<path_to_vmwareGSX>" -o "%1"
where the default <path_to_vmwareGSX> is
C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware GSX Server\vmware.exe
On a Linux host, write a short shell script called vmware-gsx-helper.sh. The shell script must contain the following two lines:
#!/bin/sh
"<path_to_vmware-gsx>" -o $1 > /dev/null 2>&1;
where the default <path_to_vmware-gsx> is /usr/bin/vmware.
2. Save the file in a location of your choice.
Note: On a Linux host, change to the directory where you saved the file and give yourself permission to execute the file.
chmod +x vmware-gsx-helper.sh
3. Use the browser to connect to the server you want to manage.
4. Click the terminal icon (
) for the virtual machine you want to view in a console.
5. A dialog box asks what you want to do with the file. Click Advanced.
6. In the New Type dialog box, in the Description of type field, type VMware GSX Server.
7. In the File extension field, type xvm.
8. In the MIME type field, type application/x-vmware-console.
9. In the Application to use field, type the path to vmwareGSX-helper.bat or vmware-gsx-helper.sh.
10. Click OK twice. Your browser is now set to launch the console when you click the terminal icon in the future.
Setting the MIME Type for the Console Installed from the Management Interface Download
1. Open a text editor and do one of the following.
On a Windows host, write a short batch file called vmwareConsole-helper.bat. The batch file must contain the following line:
"<path_to_vmwareConsole>" -o "%1"
where the default <path_to_vmwareConsole> is
C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Virtual Machine Console\vmware.exe
On a Linux host, write a short shell script called vmware-console-helper.sh. The shell script must contain the following two lines:
#!/bin/sh
"<path_to_vmware-console>" -o $1 > /dev/null 2>&1;
where the default <path_to_vmware-console> is /usr/bin/vmware-console.
2. Save the file in a location of your choice.
Note: On a Linux host, change to the directory where you saved the file and give yourself permission to execute the file.
chmod +x vmware-console-helper.sh
3. Use the browser to connect to the server you want to manage.
4. Click the terminal icon (
) for the virtual machine you want to view in a console.
5. A dialog box asks what you want to do with the file. Click Advanced.
6. In the New Type dialog box, in the Description of type field, type VMware Virtual Machine Console.
7. In the File extension field, type xvm.
8. In the MIME type field, type application/x-vmware-console.
9. In the Application to use field, type the path to vmwareConsole-helper.bat or vmware-console-helper.sh.
10. Click OK twice. Your browser is now set to launch the console when you click the terminal icon in the future.