Installation guide

Table Of Contents
You can optionally install WYSE Multimedia Redirector, which improves streaming video performance in
Windows guest operating systems running on WYSE thin client devices.
The installers for VMware Tools for Windows, Linux, Solaris, and NetWare guest operating systems are built
into ESX/ESXi as ISO image files. An ISO image file looks like a CD-ROM to your guest operating system and
even appears as a CD-ROM disc in Windows Explorer. You do not use an actual CD-ROM disc to install
VMware Tools, nor do you need to download the CD-ROM image or burn a physical CD-ROM of this image
file.
When you choose to install VMware Tools, vCenter Server temporarily connects the virtual machine’s first
virtual CD-ROM disk drive to the ISO image file that contains the VMware Tools installer for your guest
operating system. You are ready to begin the installation process.
Limitations
VMware Tools has the following limitations:
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Shrink disk is not supported.
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For Microsoft Windows NT, the default scripts for suspend and resume do not work.
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The mouse driver installation fails in X windows versions earlier than 4.2.0.
NOTE If you do not have VMware Tools installed in your virtual machine, you cannot use the shutdown or
restart options. You can use only the Power options. If you want to shut down the guest operating system,
shut it down from within the virtual machine console before you power off the virtual machine.
Install VMware Tools on a Windows Guest
Install the most recent version of VMware Tools to enhance the performance of the virtual machine’s guest
operating system and improve virtual machine management.
To determine the status of VMware Tools, select the virtual machine and click the Summary tab. The VMware
Tools label indicates whether VMware Tools is installed and current, installed and not current, or not installed.
NOTE During VMware Tools installation, a Windows guest operating system might display a message
indicating that the package has not been signed. If this message appears, click Install Anyway to continue the
installation.
Prerequisites
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A supported guest operating system must be installed on the virtual machine.
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You must have an ESX/ESXi license or be using evaluation mode to power on the virtual machine.
Procedure
1 From the vSphere Client, right-click the virtual machine, select Power, and select Power On.
2 Click the Console tab to make sure that the guest operating system starts successfully, and log in if
necessary.
3 Right-click the virtual machine, select Guest, and select Install/Upgrade VMware Tools.
4 Select Interactive Tools Installation and click OK.
This step initiates the installation process by mounting the VMware Tools bundle on the guest operating
system.
5 If the New Hardware wizard appears, go through the wizard and accept the defaults.
vSphere Basic System Administration
124 VMware, Inc.