How to enable copy paste in a VMware console

isolation.tools.copy.disable     false
isolation.tools.paste.disable    false

First off, this process is easy and most of the time you don’t even need to do enable this feature. However, during my day to day I have found it helpful when managing vms to enable copy / paste in the built-in console of VMware.

Second, this is not new. This functionality has been around at least since vsphere 4.x. Case and point, just check out VMware’s online publication here. So why blog about it? Syntax. I keep forgetting the exact name in the parameters to enable copy / paste. I’m writing about to help me remember and to have an easy reference for the future.

How To:

Log into VMware vCenter or ESXi directly > right click on a vm and select ‘Edit Settings’. Select ‘VM Options’

Above, in VM Options expand ‘Advanced’ and select ‘Edit Configuration’

Below, in the Configuration Parameters click ‘Add parameter’ and enter the following for the key and value:

(Note: you will have to ‘Add parameter’ twice)

Name / Key	Value
isolation.tools.copy.disable	false
isolation.tools.paste.disable	false

You may have to restart your vm for the change to take effect. You should now be able to copy paste in a VMware console onto your vm.

Check out my other tech blog posts here.

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts!

People get crypto to read and post blogs. Publish0x is like Medium but the author and the reader get tips. You can use my referral link below and check it out.