Virtual machine configuration is stored in files with the .vmx file extension. The set of virtual machine configuration files also includes other system files that support virtual machine operation. Examples of these system files include log files (.log), BIOS state files (.nvram), paging files (.vmem), and snapshot data files (.vmsd).

Virtual machine data is stored on virtual disks, in files with the .vmdk file extension.

VMware Storage Policies allow you to distinguish between virtual machine configuration and data files and to specify storage locations based on the distinction.