vmmouse_detect

vmmouse_detect

The vmmouse_detect command is a utility designed to determine if a Linux system is running inside a VMware virtual machine and if the VMware virtual mouse driver is active. It's primarily used within scripts or programs to adapt behavior based on the presence of the VMware virtual environment. It achieves this by checking for specific indications of the VMware SVGA device and related configurations within the system. The command outputs a simple indication (usually a success or error code) depending on the detection result.
This utility is often associated with older VMware tools packages and might not be as relevant in modern Linux distributions running on newer VMware platforms. Modern VMware tools handle mouse integration more seamlessly, potentially rendering this standalone detection less necessary.

The vmmouse_detect command might not be available on all systems or distributions. Its effectiveness may vary depending on the VMware version and the specific Linux kernel configuration.

The command typically returns 0 if the VMware virtual mouse is detected and a non-zero value if it is not found.

The vmmouse_detect command was initially introduced as part of VMware Tools to address mouse integration issues in early virtualization environments. It allowed scripts and applications to adapt to the specific behavior of VMware's virtual mouse driver.
As VMware technology evolved, mouse integration became more seamless, potentially reducing the direct need for this utility in newer versions.

vmware(1)