VMSG File – What is .vmsg file and how to open it?

Definition and Usage

A VMSG file is a VMware Application Message File used by VMware Workstation to store messages related to virtual machines. It contains information such as status updates, error notifications, and configuration changes associated with the virtual machine. VMSG files are typically stored in a hidden directory within the virtual machine’s configuration folder.

Technical Details

VMSG files have a relatively simple structure and are stored in plain text format. They typically start with a header line that indicates the version of the file format, followed by a series of key-value pairs. Each key-value pair represents a specific message or notification. The key corresponds to the message type, while the value contains the actual message text or additional details. The messages within a VMSG file are often arranged in chronological order, providing a history of events related to the virtual machine.

Opening VMSG Files

VMSG files, or VMware Application Message Files, contain error and diagnostic messages generated by VMware applications. These files are stored in a proprietary format and can only be accessed using compatible software.

To open a VMSG file, you will need a tool such as the VMware vCenter Log Insight or VMware vRealize Log Insight. These applications allow you to import VMSG files and analyze their contents. Once imported, you can filter and search the messages to identify any errors or issues that need to be addressed. Additionally, some text editors, such as Notepad++ and Sublime Text, can open VMSG files and display their raw contents. However, they may not be able to fully parse the messages and provide detailed information.

VMware Application Message File (VMSG)

A VMware Application Message File (VMSG) is a file format used by VMware to store messages related to VMware applications. These messages can include notifications, errors, and other information related to the operation of VMware software. VMSG files are typically located in the %PROGRAMDATA%\VMware\vCenterServer\logs\vim.log directory on Windows systems and in the /var/log/vmware/vim.log directory on Linux systems.

VMSG files are text files that can be opened and viewed with any text editor. The format of a VMSG file is as follows:


[timestamp] [level] [message]


• timestamp: The timestamp of the message in ISO 8601 format.
• level: The severity level of the message. The possible values are:
  • INFO: Informational message.
  • ERROR: Error message.
  • WARN: Warning message.
• message: The message text.

VMSG files can be useful for troubleshooting problems with VMware software. By examining the messages in a VMSG file, you can identify the source of a problem and take steps to resolve it. Additionally, VMSG files can be used for auditing the operation of VMware software. By reviewing the messages in a VMSG file, you can see what actions have been taken by the software and when.

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