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Detecting viruses

Symptoms

A guest or host operating system:

Stops responding.
Keeps rebooting for no apparent reason.
Has performance problems.
Is slow.
Has an application that isn’t working properly.
Has applications that keep closing.
Has network problems.
Experiences excessive disk access for no apparent reason.

Purpose

This article guides you through the process of determining if problems encountered on a virtual machine's guest operating system, or on a host computer where a VMware product is installed, are related to a virus infection.

Resolution

If an operating system is suddenly behaving unexpectedly it may be because of a virus. VMware recommends that a virus scan be performed to confirm a virus infection as the cause of this behaviour.

VMware does not provide a virus scanner. You must obtain from a virus scanner from the operating system vendor or through a third party application. Examples of third party utilities include:

AMaViS	http://www.amavis.org/
avast!	http://www.avast.com/
AVG	http://www.grisoft.com/
Avira	http://www.avira.de/
ClamAV	http://www.clamav.net
ClamWin	http://www.clamwin.com/
F-PROT Antivirus	http://www.f-prot.com/
Kasperksy	http://www.kaspersky.com/
McAfee	http://www.mcafee.com/
Panda Security	http://www.pandasecurity.com/
Solo Antivirus	ht tp://www.srnmicro.com/
Sophos	http://www.sophos.com/
Symantec	http://www.symantec.com
Trend Micro	http://www.trendmicro.com

Note: VMware does not endorse or recommend any particular third party utility, nor is the list above meant to be exhaustive.

THE CONTENT OF THIS ARTICLE IS PROVIDED "AS-IS," AND TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, VMWARE DISCLAIMS ALL OTHER REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, REGARDING THIS CONTENT, INCLUDING THEIR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, THEIR MERCHANTABILITY, OR THEIR NONINFRINGEMENT. VMWARE SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES ARISING OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE USE OF THIS CONTENT, INCLUDING DIRECT, INDIRECT, CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES, LOSS OF BUSINESS PROFITS OR SPECIAL DAMAGES, EVEN IF VMWARE HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES.

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KB Article: 1004008
Updated: Aug 14, 2009

Products:
VMware ACE
VMware Capacity Planner
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VMware Converter
VMware ESX
VMware Fusion
VMware GSX Server
VMware Player
VMware Server
VMware Virtual Desktop Manager
VMware VirtualCenter
VMware Workstation
VMware vCenter Lab Manager

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