September 2012

About Installing and Configuring VMware Tools
Installing and Configuring VMware Tools provides information about using the various VMware
®
products to
install, upgrade, and configure VMware Tools.
VMware Tools is a suite of utilities that you install in the operating system of a virtual machine. VMware Tools
enhances the performance of a virtual machine and makes possible many of the ease-of-use features in VMware
products. For example, the following features are just some of the features that are available only if VMware
Tools is installed:
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Significantly faster graphics performance and Windows Aero on operating systems that support Aero
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Copying and pasting text, graphics, and files between the virtual machine and the host or client desktop
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Improved mouse performance
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Synchronization of the clock in the virtual machine with the clock on the host or client desktop
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Scripting that helps automate guest operating system operations
Not all features are supported on all guest operating systems or in all VMware products.
Intended Audience
This information is intended for anyone who wants to install, upgrade, or configure VMware Tools in a virtual
machine. The information in this book is written for experienced Windows or Linux system administrators
who are familiar with virtual machine technology and datacenter operations.
VMware, Inc.
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