You can configure DVD or CD devices to connect to client devices, host devices, datastore ISO files, or content library ISO files.

Configure a Datastore ISO File for the CD/DVD Drive

To install a guest operating system and its applications on a new virtual machine, you can connect the CD/DVD device to an ISO file that is stored on a datastore accessible to the host.

If an ISO image is not available on a local or shared datastore, upload the file to a datastore from your local system by using the datastore file browser. See Upload ISO Image Installation Media for a Guest Operating System.

To avoid performance issues and possible conflicts between virtual machines that might try to simultaneously access the ISO image, unmount and disconnect the ISO file when the installation finishes.

Prerequisites

Verify that you have the following privileges:
  • Virtual machine .Interaction.Configure CD media on the virtual machine.
  • Datastore.Browse datastore on the datastore to which you upload the installation media ISO image.
  • Datastore.Low level file operations on the datastore to which you upload the installation media ISO image.

Procedure

  1. Right-click a virtual machine in the inventory and select Edit Settings.
  2. Expand CD/DVD drive, and select Datastore ISO File from the drop-down menu.
    The Select File dialog box opens
  3. Browse to select the file and click OK.
  4. From the Virtual Device Node drop-down menu, select the node that the drive uses in the virtual machine.
  5. (Optional) Select Connect At Power On to connect the device when the virtual machine powers on.
    Note: If you install a guest operating system, select Connect At Power On.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Power on the virtual machine and click the Summary tab.
  8. Expand the VM Hardware panel and click the Connected icon next to the datastore ISO file to connect the device

Configure a Content Library ISO File for the CD/DVD Drive

To install a guest operating system and its applications on a new virtual machine, you can connect the CD/DVD device to an ISO file that is stored in a content library.

Prerequisites

Verify that you have the Virtual machine .Interaction.Configure CD media privilege on the virtual machine.

Procedure

  1. Right-click a virtual machine in the inventory and select Edit Settings.
  2. Expand CD/DVD drive and select Content Library ISO File from the drop-down menu.
    The Choose an ISO image to mount dialog box opens.
  3. Select the ISO file and click OK.
  4. (Optional) Select Connect At Power On to connect the device when the virtual machine powers on.
  5. Click OK.
  6. Power on the virtual machine and click the Summary tab.
  7. Expand the VM Hardware panel and from the drop-down menu next to the Connected icon, select to connect the CD/DVD drive to a content library ISO file.

Configure a Host Device Type for the CD/DVD Drive

You can configure the CD/DVD drive of a virtual machine to connect to a physical CD or DVD device on the host so that you can install a guest operating system, VMware Tools, or other applications.

When you create a virtual machine, a controller is added by default and the CD/DVD drive is attached to that controller. The controller and driver type depend on the guest operating system. Typically, virtual machines with newer guest operating systems have a SATA controller and CD/DVD drive. Other guests use an IDE controller and CD/DVD drive.

If you connect to media that does not require you to power off the virtual machine, you can select the media to connect to from the CD/DVD drive connection icon on the virtual machine Summary tab.

When you add a CD/DVD drive that is backed by a USB CD/DVD drive on the host, you must add the drive as a SCSI device.

For information how to add, remove, and configure SCSI devices, see https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/78978.

Prerequisites

  • Verify that the virtual machine is powered off.
  • You cannot use vMotion to migrate virtual machines that have CD drives that are backed by the physical CD drive on the host. Disconnect these devices before you migrate the virtual machine.
  • Verify that you have the Virtual machine .Interaction.Configure CD media privilege on the virtual machine.

Procedure

  1. Right-click a virtual machine in the inventory and select Edit Settings.
  2. On the Virtual Hardware tab, expand CD/DVD and select Host Device from the drop-down menu.
  3. (Optional) Select Connect At Power On to connect the device when the virtual machine powers on.
  4. If more than one type of CD/DVD media is available on the host, select the media.
  5. In the Virtual Device Node drop-down menu, select the node the drive uses in the virtual machine.
    The first available node is selected by default. You do not typically need to change the default.
  6. Click OK.
  7. Power on the virtual machine and click the Summary tab.

Results

The connected CD/DVD device appears in the VM Hardware list.

Configure a Client Device Type for the CD/DVD Drive

To install a guest operating system and its applications or other media on a virtual machine, you can connect the CD/DVD device to a physical DVD or CD device on the system from which you access the vSphere Client.

By default, passthrough IDE mode is used for remote client device access. You can write or burn a remote CD only through passthrough mode access.

Prerequisites

Verify that the virtual machine is turned on.

Procedure

  1. Navigate to a virtual machine in the inventory and click the Summary tab.
  2. In the VM Hardware panel, click the CD/DVD drive connection icon, select an available drive to connect to, and browse for the CD/DVD media.
    An Access Control dialog box opens. Click allow to proceed. To change your selection, click the connection icon, select Disconnect, and select a different option.