Why don't shared files show up in HGFS?

Question

Sharing files between my Guest Kubuntu OS and Host Windows has become a real headache.

So, far I have done the steps below:

GUEST LINUX OS

• VM -> Settings -> Options -> Shared Folders. And added my folder.
• Installed properly my VMware tools (I can drag and drop files so I am confident that it is installed)

HOST WINDOWS OS

• Shared the folder with everyone (to assure that there is no permit limitations with my files)

If I type vmware-hgfsclient in my guest OS, the folder I am sharing does appear. But when I check the /mnt/hgfs folder, it is empty.

I have gone through the VMware manual, and I am sure that I have followed their requirements.

I am really out of ideas. Does any one have a suggestion?

Solution 1

Run this command:

sudo vmhgfs-fuse .host:/ /mnt/hgfs/ -o allow_other -o uid=1000

It will magically show all shared folders in /mnt/hgfs.
(I had Ubuntu 16 VMWare running on a Windows 10 host)

VMware documentation here

Solution 2

I had this exact problem. It turned out IT had installed some old version of VMWare tools with non-functioning vmhgfs kernel module.

My solution was to run the configuration with the clobber-kernel-modules setting to overwrite the existing vmhgfs module.

 sudo vmware-config-tools.pl -d --clobber-kernel-modules=vmhgfs

The -d selects all the defaults for you (remove it if you don't want the defaults).

Solution 3

mount -t vmhgfs .host:/share /mnt/hgfs/ where host is the host you are connecting to share is the share name and /mnt/hgfs is the mount point for the share in your system.

vmware-hgsclient will show you the available mounts, you still need to mount them with vmware-hgfsmounter or using the mount command above described.

If that does not work check if the module vmhgfs is loaded lsmod | grep "vm."

Solution 4

For me, it turned out that vmware-hgfsmounter was not installed (ubuntu 12.10). After installing that module, I was able to mount my share as descibed above

Solution 5

This was working for me on Ubuntu 18.04, but suddenly stopped working sometime in February/March 2019. What was needed to be done, was sudo mkdir /mnt/hgfs, as that directory is being used by the vmware init script.

View more solutions

Comments

[Peretz]

It gave me this answer. Host in share name must be ".host". Error: share name is invalid, aborting mount. vmhgfs is not loaded, how can I load it? Thanks.

[Martin Zeitler]

mkdir /mnt/hgfs/

[Waqas]

bingo, I had the same issue, and running the command above solved it. Thanks a bunch.

[Kev]

Just want to mention that this worked for me with OSX as host, vmware Fusion running CentOS 6.4

[pjvds]

Perfect! Worked for me with OSX as host and VM runnig Ubuntu 14.04

[IgorGanapolsky]

I have it installed in /usr/lib/vmware-tools/sbin64, but it still doesn't work for me.

[151291]

command not found error, i am using vmware workstation 12 an ubuntu 15.04

[T.Rob]

The -d alone was worth the vote. Didn't know about that.

[steampowered]

I noticed sometimes there is a delay (using VMware workstation 14). And sometimes /mnt/hgfs is in use. I created a new folder /mnt/shares1 and got instant success.

[realtebo]

It works, but it's not remounted after reboot.

[Amrit Pal Singh]

working, thank you

[Venus]

ubuntu16.04.3 failed:Unable to find the database file (/etc/vmware-tools/locations)

[oligofren]

@realtebo Just modify the entry that shows up in /etc/mtab and stuff it in /etc/fstab for a permanent mount. It will probably look like this: .host:/ /mnt/hgfs fuse.vmhgfs-fuse rw,nosuid,nodev,uid=1000,gid=1000,allow_other 0 0

[matigo]

While this link may answer the question, it is better to include the essential parts of the answer here and provide the link for reference. Link-only answers can become invalid if the linked page changes. - From Review

[ak89224]

Thanks, @matigo for correction, I have updated the answer with essential parts from the reference link.