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5,707 Views 4 Replies Last post: May 13, 2005 9:07 AM by postfixreload

thinhare

21 posts since
Feb 14, 2005

Currently Being Moderated

Apr 6, 2005 4:00 PM

Why create user __vmware_user__?

While VMware WorkStation being installed, a user group __vmware__ and a user __vmware_user__ was automatically created. I checked it and found this user is "locally log on" enabled.

What is this account for? Why does VMware mention nothing about the purpose of creating this in its help, nor in its website?

petr

7,225 posts since
Jul 10, 2003

Currently Being Moderated

1. Apr 7, 2005 3:58 PM

in response to: thinhare

Re: Why create user __vmware_user__?

While VMware WorkStation being installed, a user
group __vmware__ and a user __vmware_user__ was
automatically created. I checked it and found this
user is "locally log on" enabled.

What is this account for?

So VMware can run. It needs special priviledges to be able to lock memory, and to be able to directly access USB, network, CDROM, SCSI, ... devices.

Why does VMware mention nothing about the purpose of creating this in its help, nor in its website?

Just first hit in 'Search VMware' points out this page: http://www.vmware.com/support/gsx/ts/new_user_nt_gsx_win.html

A bit old, but still valid.

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magi

2,096 posts since
Aug 8, 2003

Currently Being Moderated

2. Apr 8, 2005 12:45 PM

in response to: petr

Re: Why create user __vmware_user__?

Since 4.x, you don't necessarily need __vmware_user__ to run. It's an alternative method of access control if you don't want to use vmware-authd.

Basically, usage of Workstation is restricted to:

\- members of Administrator group

\- members of __vmware__ group

\- anyone else with privileges to run the vmware.exe binary and friends, IF vmware-authd is running.

If vmware-authd is running, nothing needs to be a member of __vmware__ group. If you don't like vmware-authd, you can instead add certain users to __vmware__ group, and they can still run Workstation even if authd isn't running.