vsockets tools README

originated by Pedro Mendes da Silva (https://bitbucket.org/tagido/)

VMware Player/Workstation/ESXi supports “VMware vsockets”, which a vendor-specific socket interface for communication between the host and the guest machine

• not to be confused with TCP/IP sockets vsockets have a different address familly

VMware Player has port “vsockets[connection-oriented]/976” open, for communication with the guest OS and the VMware tools running in the guest

• vsockets_nc: similar to “nc” but supporting additionally

  • vsockets tcp => vsockets tunneling
  • tunnel persistency for multiple connections
  • can be very useful to integrate with tcp/ip oriented tools

• vsockets_hostname: returns the guest's CID (the ID used for vsockets communications)

What is this repository for?

• Quick summary
  • Network tools for VMware vsockets
• Version: 0.13
  • working on Linux and Windows
• Tools:
  • vsockets_nc
  • vsockets_hostname
• Documentation
  • Paper: https://www.academia.edu/25202828/VMware_vsockets_tools_vsockets_nc_and_vsockets_hostname_

How do I get set up?

• Download ZIP
• Unzip and run from the command-line

"vsockets_nc" Usage guidelines

Guest link => host

[root@localhost:/vmfs/volumes/5548c165-50642975-ae44-000c29bd161f/ftp] ./vsockets_nc -l 5000
VMware vsockets environment properties
=======================================
vmci address familly-56
vmci is present
vmci local CID=2
vmware ESXi host machine detected (CID-0)
vmci listening in port 5000
vmci socket=5
... listening in port:5000
Accepted connection from CID=942803562 , port=1029
Read 3 bytes from channel 1
Hi
Wrote 3 bytes to channel 2
Read 9 bytes from channel 1
How are you
Wrote 9 bytes to channel 2
the host goes well
Read 21 bytes from channel 2
Wrote 21 bytes to channel 1

Error when remote ICD does not exist

[root@localhost:/vmfs/volumes/5548c165-50642975-ae44-000c29bd161f/ftp] ./vsockets_nc -c 942893562 -s 7000
VMware vsockets environment properties
=======================================
vmci address familly-56
vmci is present
vmci local CID=2
vmware ESXi host machine detected (CID-0)
... Connecting to CID=942893562 : Port:7000
vmci connecting to=[CID]942893562:7000
vmci socket=5
connect: Invalid argument
Closing vmci socket 5
... Connection failed: Invalid argument

Host link => guest

[root@localhost:/vmfs/volumes/5548c165-50642975-ae44-000c29bd161f/ftp] ./vsockets_nc -c 942803562 -s 7000
VMware vsockets environment properties
=======================================
vmci address familly-56
vmci is present
vmci local CID=2
vmware ESXi host machine detected (CID-0)
... Connecting to CID=942803562 : Port:7000
vmci connecting to=[CID]942803562:7000
vmci socket=5
... Connection established to CID=942803562 : Port:7000

vsockets_hostname examples

Windows VMWare Player Host

D:\vsockets tools [GIT]\src\target\bin>vsockets_hostname.exe
VMware vsockets environment properties
=======================================
VMware vmci address familly
VMware vmci is present
VMware vmci local CID=2
VMware Hypervisor host machine detected (CID=2)

ESXi port scans ###

• guest => CID=2 : only sees new ports opened by the vsockets_nc

• guest => CID=0 : sees port 976 open

• guest => guest : only sees new ports opened by the vsockets_nc

• host => guest : only sees new ports opened by the vsockets_nc

  • (slows down, the ESXi should give little priority to processes released on the command line)

• host => CID=0 : sees no open port

  • (slows down, the ESXi should give little priority to processes released on the command line)

• host => CID=2 : seeport 2222 open

VMware Player 7 port scans

• guest => host (CID=2) : only sees new ports opened by the vsockets_nc

• guest => hypervisor (CID=0) : sees port 976 open

• guest => guest : only sees new ports opened by the vsockets_nc

• host => CID=2 : sees nothing open

• host => CID=0 : sees nothing open

References

• VMware vSockets references

  • http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-60/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/ws9_esx60_vmci_sockets.pdf

• Open Source

  • http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2013/01/starting-an-open-source-project/

• Dependencies

  • liblist: http://ohnopub.net/~ohnobinki/liblist/doc/

Donations

! [Bitcoin-accepted-here-printable.png] (https://bitbucket.org/repo/XE88rK/images/1985448334-Bitcoin-accepted-here-printable.png)

• Bitcoin address: 18T5tnGrUyKMnYw59bi7h2tt8CvEu19KrG
• Bitcoin URI: bitcoin:18T5tnGrUyKMnYw59bi7h2tt8CvEu19KrG?label=vsockets%20donations&message=vsockets%20development%20support%20donations

Who do I talk to?

• Repo owner or admin
• Other community or team contact