What is the primary purpose of vmx files in VMware?

The primary purpose of vmx files in VMware is to store the configuration settings of a virtual machine. These files are essential for defining and maintaining the parameters necessary for the virtual machine to operate, such as the amount of memory allocated, the number of virtual processors, the connected devices (like network interfaces and disks), and various other settings that dictate how the virtual machine behaves in the virtualized environment.

The vmx file is essentially a plain text file that contains key-value pairs representing the configuration of the virtual machine, making it crucial for the virtualization management process. When a virtual machine is powered on, VMware reads this configuration file to set up and initialize all the specified settings, ensuring that the virtual machine runs according to the defined parameters.

This functional aspect of the vmx file sets it apart from other file types in the VMware ecosystem, which may serve different roles, such as storing actual disk data or managing network connections.