VMware files list of Virtual Server in VMWare ESXI 8.0

 

🌟 Primary Files:

  1. 🟢 .vmx – Virtual Machine Configuration File
    📌 Stores VM settings like CPU, RAM, disk, and network.

  2. 🔵 .vmdk – Virtual Machine Disk File
    💾 This is the virtual hard disk containing the OS, apps, and data.

  3. 🟡 .nvram – BIOS/UEFI Configuration File
    ⚙️ Holds BIOS/UEFI settings for the VM.

  4. 🟣 .vmxf – Extended Configuration File
    📌 Extra VM configuration, mainly for VMware Workstation and Fusion.

  5. 🟠 .vmsd – Snapshot Metadata File
    🗂️ Tracks snapshots and their metadata.

  6. 🔴 .vmsn – Snapshot State File
    🕒 Captures the VM’s state at the time of a snapshot.

  7. ⚫ .log – VMware Log File
    📜 Contains logs for troubleshooting and tracking VM activities.


🎭 Temporary & Supporting Files:

  1. 🟢 .vswp – VM Swap File
    🔄 Used for memory management when resources are overcommitted.

  2. 🔵 .vmss – Suspend State File
    ⏸️ Saves the VM’s state when suspended.

  3. 🟡 .vmtx – Template File
    🏗️ Created when a VM is converted into a template.

  4. 🟣 .vmem – Virtual Machine Memory File
    🛠️ Stores VM’s memory when suspended or during snapshots.

  5. 🟠 .ctk – Change Tracking File
    🏃‍♂️ Used for Changed Block Tracking (CBT) in backups.


💡 If Using VMware ESXi & vSphere:

  1. 🔴 .hlog – Host Log File
    📊 Tracks Storage vMotion operations.

  2. ⚫ .dmp – VMkernel Dump File
    ⚠️ Created when a VM crashes to capture a memory dump.

  3. 🟢 .lck – Lock File
    🔒 Prevents multiple processes from accessing the VM at once.