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Table Of Contents
Change the Guest Operating System in the VMware Host Client
When you change the guest operating system type in the virtual machine seings, you change the seing for
the guest operating system in the conguration le of the virtual machine. To change the guest operating
system itself, you must install the new operating system in the virtual machine.
When you set the guest operating system type for a new virtual machine, vCenter Server applies
conguration defaults based on the type of guest operating system. Changing the guest operating system
type seing aects the available ranges and recommendations of the virtual machine seings.
Prerequisites
Power o the virtual machine.
Procedure
1 In the VMware Host Client inventory, right-click the virtual machine and select Edit .
2 Click the VM Options tab and expand General Options.
3 Select a guest operating system type and version.
4 Click Save to apply your changes.
The virtual machine conguration parameters for the guest operating system are changed. You can now
install the guest operating system.
Introduction to 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:
n
Signicantly faster graphics performance and Windows Aero on operating systems that support Aero
n
The Unity feature, which enables an application in a virtual machine to appear on the host desktop like
any other application window
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Shared folders between host and guest le systems
n
Copying and pasting text, graphics, and les between the virtual machine and the host or client desktop
n
Improved mouse performance
n
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
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Runs pre-freeze and post-thaw quiescing scripts
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Enables capturing quiesced snapshots of guest operating systems
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Periodically collects and sends network, disk, and memory usage information from guest operating
systems to ESXi hosts.
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Sends heartbeat information to each virtual machine every second and collects guest heartbeat
information from guest operating systems. VMware HA uses the heartbeat information to determine
virtual machine availability.
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Transports the OVF environment to guest operating systems using the guest OS environment variable
guestinfo.ovfEnv that contains the XML document.
n
Enables guest customization for virtual machines.
Chapter 3 Virtual Machine Management with the VMware Host Client
VMware, Inc. 43