How to simulate HDD serial number on VMware Workstation or Fusion

Question: Is possible to emulate HDD serial number on VMware Workstation?

Answer ...

Yes, it is possible to emulate or specify a custom HDD serial number on VMware Workstation. You can do this by editing the virtual machine's configuration file (.vmx). 

Here's how:

Steps to Set a Custom HDD Serial Number

1. Power Off the Virtual Machine
   Ensure the VM is powered off before making changes.

2. Locate the .vmx File
   Find the .vmx file for your virtual machine. It is typically located in the directory where the VM files are stored.

3. Edit the .vmx File
   Open the .vmx file in a text editor (e.g., Notepad on Windows or Vim on Linux).

4. Add or Modify the Following Parameter
   Add a line specifying the desired serial number for the virtual hard disk:

   disk.enableUUID = "TRUE"
   

   This setting enables the generation of a unique virtual disk serial number for the VM. If you want to specify a custom UUID:

   scsi0:0.virtualDev = "lsilogic"
   scsi0:0.deviceType = "disk"
   scsi0:0.uuid = "12345678-90ab-cdef-1234-567890abcdef"
   

   Replace scsi0:0 with the appropriate device name for your virtual disk and 12345678-90ab-cdef-1234-567890abcdef with the desired UUID or serial number.

5. Save the .vmx File
   Save the file and ensure no syntax errors are introduced.

6. Start the Virtual Machine
   Power on the VM. The specified serial number or UUID will now be reflected.

Verify the Serial Number

You can verify the serial number within the guest operating system. For example:

• On Windows: Use wmic diskdrive get SerialNumber.
• On Linux: Use lsblk -o NAME,SERIAL or similar commands.

Let me know if you encounter any issues!

Yes, it is possible to emulate or specify a custom HDD serial number on VMware Workstation. You can do this by editing the virtual machine's configuration file (.vmx). Here's how:

Steps to Set a Custom HDD Serial Number

1. Power Off the Virtual Machine
   Ensure the VM is powered off before making changes.

2. Locate the .vmx File
   Find the .vmx file for your virtual machine. It is typically located in the directory where the VM files are stored.

3. Edit the .vmx File
   Open the .vmx file in a text editor (e.g., Notepad on Windows or Vim on Linux).

4. Add or Modify the Following Parameter
   Add a line specifying the desired serial number for the virtual hard disk:

   disk.enableUUID = "TRUE"
   

   This setting enables the generation of a unique virtual disk serial number for the VM. If you want to specify a custom UUID:

   scsi0:0.virtualDev = "lsilogic"
   scsi0:0.deviceType = "disk"
   scsi0:0.uuid = "12345678-90ab-cdef-1234-567890abcdef"
   

   Replace scsi0:0 with the appropriate device name for your virtual disk and 12345678-90ab-cdef-1234-567890abcdef with the desired UUID or serial number.

5. Save the .vmx File
   Save the file and ensure no syntax errors are introduced.

6. Start the Virtual Machine
   Power on the VM. The specified serial number or UUID will now be reflected.

Verify the Serial Number

You can verify the serial number within the guest operating system. For example:

• On Windows: Use wmic diskdrive get SerialNumber.
• On Linux: Use lsblk -o NAME,SERIAL or similar commands.

Let me know if you encounter any issues!