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Although the guest operating system can run without VMware Tools, many VMware features are not
available until you install VMware Tools. For example, if you do not have VMware Tools installed in your
virtual machine, you cannot get heartbeat information from guest operating systems or cannot use the
shutdown or restart options from the toolbar. You can only use the power options and you have to shut
down your guest operating systems from each virtual machine console. You cannot use VMware Tools for
connecting and disconnecting virtual devices, and shrinking virtual disks.
The installation procedure varies, depending on the operating system. For information about installing or
upgrading VMware Tools on your guest operating systems, see the Upgrading Virtual Machines chapter. For
instructions about installing VMware Tools, see the VMware Knowledge base article at
hp://kb.vmware.com/kb/1014294.
VMware highly recomments that you always run the latest version of VMware Tools. You can congure
your virtual machine to automatically check for and apply VMware Tools upgrades each time you power on
your virtual machines. For information about enabling automatic upgrade of VMware Tools on your virtual
machines, see vSphere Virtual Machine Administration.
Installing VMware Tools
Although you can use guest operating systems without VMware Tools, many VMware features are not
available unless you install VMware Tools. VMware Tools enhances the performance of the guest operating
system of your virtual machines.
Installing VMware Tools is part of the process of creating new virtual machines. It is important to upgrade
VMware Tools as updates become available. For information about creating virtual machines, see the Virtual
Machine Administration Guide.
The installers for VMware Tools are ISO image les. An ISO image le looks like a CD-ROM to your guest
operating system. Each type of guest operating system, including Windows, Linux, Solaris, FreeBSD, and
NetWare, has an ISO image le. When you install or upgrade VMware Tools, the rst virtual CD-ROM disk
drive of the virtual machine temporarily connects to the VMware Tools ISO le of your guest operating
system.
For information about installing or upgrading VMware Tools in Windows virtual machines, Linux virtual
machines, Mac OS X virtual machines, Solaris virtual machines, NetWare virtual machines, or FreeBSD
virtual machines, see Virtual Machine Administration Guide.
Install VMware Tools from the VMware Host Client
VMware Tools is a suite of utilities that you install in the operating system of a virtual machine. VMware
Tools enhances the performance and management of the virtual machine.
You can install VMware Tools in one or more virtual machines by using the VMware Host Client.
Procedure
1 Click Virtual Machines in the VMware Host Client inventory.
2 Select a virtual machine from the list.
The virtual machine must be powered on to install VMware Tools.
3 Click Actions, select Guest OS from the drop-down menu, and select Install VMware Tools.
Upgrading VMware Tools
You can upgrade VMware Tools manually, or you can congure virtual machines to check for and install
newer versions of VMware Tools.
The guest operating system checks the version of VMware Tools when you power on a virtual machine. The
status bar of your virtual machine displays a message when a new version is available.
vSphere Single Host Management - VMware Host Client
44 VMware, Inc.