How to Share Files Between Host and VM Using VMware Shared Folders and Samba

1. VMware Built‑in Shared Folder Feature

To use VMware's shared folders, first ensure VMware Tools is installed and the VM is restarted. Then follow these steps:

Open Virtual Machine → Settings .

Go to the Options tab and select Shared Folders .

Check Always enabled , then click Add... to choose a host directory (e.g., E:\share).

Finish the wizard; the shared folder will be mounted inside the VM at /mnt/hgfs/share/. You can test by creating /mnt/hgfs/share/test.txt on the VM and confirming it appears on the host.

2. Setting Up a Samba Server

Samba provides SMB/CIFS file sharing across any network, independent of the virtualization platform.

2.1 Install Samba and smbclient

sudo apt-get install samba
sudo apt-get install smbclient

2.2 Create a Shared Directory

mkdir ~/share
chmod 777 ~/share

2.3 Edit the Samba Configuration

Open /etc/samba/smb.conf with a text editor and add the following share definition:

path = /home/liangxu/share
available = yes
browseable = yes
public = yes
writable = yes

2.4 Create a Samba User

sudo touch /etc/samba/smbpasswd
sudo smbpasswd -a liangxu

Enter a password when prompted.

2.5 Restart the Samba Service

sudo /etc/init.d/smbd restart

2.6 Access the Share from the Host

On Windows, right‑click in any folder, choose Add a network location , and follow the wizard. When prompted for the network address, enter the Samba share path, e.g., \\192.168.0.131\share (replace the IP with the VM's address obtained via ifconfig).

After completing these steps, the Samba share is fully functional; any file created or modified in the shared directory is instantly visible on both the host and the virtual machine.