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To connect the virtual machine's first serial port (COM1) to the physical computer's first serial port, edit the virtual machine's configuration directly using the VMware Management Interface.

Be sure the virtual machine is shut down and powered off, then add the following lines to the configuration file as described in Modifying the Configuration File Directly (Advanced Users Only).

• Add an option called serial0.present and set its value to true.
• Add an option called serial0.fileType and set its value to device.
• Add an option called serial0.fileName and set its value to /dev/ttyS0.

When you power on the virtual machine, you can configure the serial port in the guest operating system.

When the virtual machine is running, you can use the Devices menu on the remote console to connect and disconnect its serial port.

You may also control whether the virtual machine starts with its serial port connected to the physical computer's serial port. To set the first serial port so it is connected when the virtual machine starts, add an option to the configuration file called serial0.startConnected and set its value to true, as described in Modifying the Configuration File Directly (Advanced Users Only).

To reconfigure the virtual machine so it starts with the first serial port disconnected, either change the value for the serial0.startConnected option to false.

Note: Only one operating system can be connected to the serial port at one time. You cannot configure more than one virtual machine to use a particular serial port at a given time. To use additional serial ports, use a higher number in the lines you add to the configuration file.

Changing the number after serial affects the serial port that is available inside the virtual machine. Changing the number after /dev/ttyS affects the port that is used on your physical computer. For example, to connect the virtual machine's second serial port (COM2) to the physical computer's second serial port, add the following lines to the configuration file as described in Modifying the Configuration File Directly (Advanced Users Only).

• Add an option called serial1.present and set its value to true.
• Add an option called serial1.fileType and set its value to device.
• Add an option called serial1.fileName and set its value to /dev/ttyS1.