For advanced users needing the port to start connected (e.g., for debugging or specific hardware mapping), ensure these lines exist in your .vmx file: serial0.present = "TRUE" serial0.startConnected = "TRUE"
When the VM starts, the following informational message is logged:
Change to:
If you are currently setting up a specialized environment, let me know: virtual device serial0 will start disconnected
If you do not need a serial port, either remove the device from the VM hardware configuration or set serial0.present = "FALSE" in the .vmx file. This eliminates unnecessary warnings and reduces complexity.
For many users, this line appears as a yellow warning or an informational message. While it rarely prevents a VM from booting, it can cause confusion, especially for beginners or those troubleshooting serial port communication.
) to handle "Virtual Printing" (ThinPrint). Following the removal of this feature in late 2023 updates, legacy virtual machine configurations still contain entries for it, leading to an invalid parameter error: serial0.fileType = "thinprint" How to Resolve the Issue Method 1: Using the GUI (Recommended for Workstation) Power off the virtual machine. VM Settings Select the and save your changes. : In VMware Workstation, go to Preferences and uncheck "Enable virtual printers" to prevent it globally. Broadcom support portal For advanced users needing the port to start connected (e
Most modern operating systems (Windows 10/11, standard Linux distros) do not require a serial port to function. If you aren't doing low-level kernel debugging or connecting to industrial hardware, the easiest fix is to delete the device. the virtual machine. Right-click the VM and select Settings . Go to the Hardware tab. Locate Serial Port (or Serial0) in the list. Click Remove . Click OK and restart the VM. Method 2: Disconnect at Power On
This keeps the hardware in your configuration but prevents VMware from trying (and failing) to initialize it during startup. Method 3: Point to an Output File
You likely accidentally added a Serial Port during the setup wizard. While it rarely prevents a VM from booting,
If you are a standard user running Windows or Linux desktops, simply removing the Serial Port from the settings is the permanent solution.
If you think you might need the port later but want to stop the error message now, you can tell VMware to ignore it during boot. Go to > Hardware . Select Serial Port .
| Goal | Action | | :--- | :--- | | | Remove the Serial Port device in VM Settings. | | Keep Functionality | Ensure the output file path/pipe name is correct and the destination exists. | | GNS3 Users | Start the GNS3 topology before starting the VM. |