Transferring Files Between host and VM

Although VM is running on the host, they are isolated logically. This means the host can not directly access files in the VM, and vice versa. Therefore, a way is needed to transfer files from/to the VM.

Host Configuration

Now keep the VM on and go back to the host. According to the type of your host operating system, you will perform different configuration.

For GNU/Linux and Mac users

Thanks to Unix Philosophy, you can use one command to achieve the transferring.

To transfer files from host to VM, issue the following command in the host:

tar cj file | ssh username@ip_addr 'tar xvjf -'

where file is the file to transfer in the host, username and ip_addr are the same as mentioned in the Logging in via SSH section. You will be asked to enter your VM user password. If everything is fine, the file will be transferred to the home directory of the VM.

To transfer files from VM to host, issue the following command in the host:

ssh username@ip_addr 'tar cj file' | tar xvjf -

where file is the file to transfer in the VM, username and ip_addr are the same as mentioned in the Logging in via SSH section. You will be asked to enter your VM user password. If everything is fine, the file will be transferred to the home directory of the host.

For Windows users

Download the latest release version of psftp.exe here. Run psftp.exe, and connect to the VM by the following command:

open ip_addr

where ip_addr is the same as mentioned in the Logging in via SSH section. Then enter your VM user name as well as the password, as if logging in via ssh. We list some useful commands in psftp.exe:

cd     change your remote working directory
exit   finish your SFTP session
get    download a file from the server to your local machine
help   give help
lcd    change local working directory
lpwd   print local working directory
ls     list remote files
put    upload a file from your local machine to the server
pwd    print your remote working directory

Under our situation, "local machine" stands for the host, "server" and "remote" stand for the VM. For more details about the command, refer to help COMMAND.