DVD writer on an ESX server Being recognised as DVD reader in a VM instance running on the ESX.

[Swaraj]

Hi,

I have ESX installed on a machine. I add the ESX server to a VirtualCenter. I create a Windows 2003 VM instance on the ESX server. When i login to the Windows VM instance i find a DVD ROM instead or a DVD Writer. Note that the ESX machine has a DVD writer.

Is it that the VMs dont recognise DVD Writers or do i need to make any extra configurations?

Thanks,

-Swaraj.

[Rodos]

The virtual machine is using the presented virtual CD, its virtual hardware and emulates a ATAPI CD. Its not the local CD drive. You can attach the virtual CD to iso images, remote CD or to the local drive. You can use pass through to connect the drive exclusively to that particular virtual machine.

Considering awarding points if this is of use

[VirtualNoitall · Accepted solution]

Hello,

No extra configuration required. The virtualized CD\DVD the guest VM sees is a CD\DVDROM not a writer. You will not be able to write a DVD from within the virtual machine.

[Swaraj]

Why do you think we have such a restriction. I mean why does a VM recognise a DVD writer as a DVD ROM drive?

-Swaraj.

[VirtualNoitall]

VMware\Virtual machines present a consistant, if not basic, configuration to all virtual machines regardless of host capability. VMware currently presents a basic CD\DVDROM to each guest, regardless of that you have on the host ( you could have no CDROM on the host ). Maybe one day this will change but I have to admit there are many things I would like to see added before DVD writing capacbilities.

Hope that helps!