In any case, I've fiddled with this for a while and it is not working.
The best I was able to do is add the line with Fusion shut down and start the VM, then copy a directory from the host and shut down the VM and start it. That worked. But when I tried it again, this time restarting instead of shutting down, the copied directory was still there. Fusion removes the added line and keeps adding new vmdk files. There's the original file and then ones with numbers added to the name. I'm up to Mac OS X Lion-000005.vmdk. Each one is a different size. Mac OS X Lion-000001.vmdk is actually larger than the original. Which of these is it safe to delete?
The best I was able to do is add the line with Fusion shut down and start the VM, then copy a directory from the host and shut down the VM and start it. That worked. But when I tried it again, this time restarting instead of shutting down, the copied directory was still there. Fusion removes the added line and keeps adding new vmdk files. There's the original file and then ones with numbers added to the name. I'm up to Mac OS X Lion-000005.vmdk. Each one is a different size. Mac OS X Lion-000001.vmdk is actually larger than the original. Which of these is it safe to delete?
The expected behavior (in VMware Workstation and VMware Player) is to delete the delta upon shutdown while rebooting maintains the delta. As far as the incremented number in the name of the virtual hard disk those are Snapshots and have noting to do with the .mode = "independent-nonpersistent" option. I used these options for years and have checked it jsut now and all is working as expected when this option is in play and no Snapshots are being taken.
The only thing I can suggest it... To help figure out what is what, the best way to provide comprehensive diagnostic information is to use the "Collect Support Information" command from the VMware Fusion (menu bar)> Help > Collect Support Information and then attach the .zip file (VMware Fusion 6) or .tgz file (VMware Fusion 5 and earlier) it created on your Desktop to a reply post.
Note: Use the "Use advanced editor" link in the upper right corner of the normal reply window to bring up the Advanced Editor where you'll be able to attach files via the Choose File button or Browse button (depending on the Browser) above the Post Message button!