VMware Communities: Message List - How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

AlexLudwig — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:49:59 GMT

?! lol ?!

VCPGuru wrote:Sehr geehrter Absender

Vielen Dank für Ihr E-Mail.

Ich bin ab 28.09.09 wieder persönlich für Sie erreichbar. Meine E-Mails werden nicht weitergeleitet.
In dringenden Fällen hilft Ihnen gerne das Team IT TSS, Email: tss@also.com oder Tel.: +41 41 266 11 11.

Besten Dank.

Freundliche Grüsse
Simon Ciglia

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

VCPGuru — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:45:26 GMT

Sehr geehrter Absender

Vielen Dank für Ihr E-Mail.

Ich bin ab 28.09.09 wieder persönlich für Sie erreichbar. Meine E-Mails werden nicht weitergeleitet.
In dringenden Fällen hilft Ihnen gerne das Team IT TSS, Email: tss@also.com oder Tel.: +41 41 266 11 11.

Besten Dank.

Freundliche Grüsse
Simon Ciglia

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

AlexLudwig — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 18:40:55 GMT

So, got the next problem on that.

We updated to Version ESX 4 175625. Seems like the old batch script and/or the Power CLI Script doesn´t work at all. I think it´s not longer possible to directly pass through the arguments to the installerm or better to say: They do not work anymore. Does anybody got a solution on that!? I tried hours and hours... Need to update 220 Servers without a reboot.

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

meistermn — Mon, 06 Jul 2009 22:15:48 GMT

the update script vmtools-mn-2.ps1 works.

Now optimize and addons:

1.) ping vm

2.) check disk space on drive c:

3.) check version of vmware tools

4.) create log file for a vmware tools upgrade

5.) hardware acceleration: good job from peetersonline.nl

get function : http://www.peetersonline.nl/index.php/vmware/getting-video-hardware-acceleration-level/

Getting Video Hardware Acceleration Level

http://www.peetersonline.nl/index.php/vmware/setting-video-hardware-acceleration-level/

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

rcx_fr — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:38:53 GMT

Thanks for the job !

Does it add Vss driver ?

Regards,

Ronald

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

rcx_fr — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 12:14:39 GMT

Hello,

Do you know how to add the Vss driver when you automaticaliy update the tools ?

Regards,

Ronald

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

halr9000 — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:50:10 GMT

This thread is incredibly long. Can someone summarize for those who haven't read all four pages and all the attached links--is there a good solution for installing the tools without a reboot, using PowerShell?

vExpert, PowerShell MVP, VI Toolkit forum moderator
Author of the book: Managing VMware Infrastructure with PowerShell
Co-Host, PowerScripting Podcast (http://powerscripting.net)
Need general, non-VMware-related PowerShell Help? Try the forums at PowerShellCommunity.org

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

meistermn — Mon, 15 Jun 2009 11:07:24 GMT

There seems to be a difference between a update installation and an New install

Update installation
"<Pfad-zu-Exe>\setup.exe" /S /v"INSTALLDIR=C:\APPS\VMWARE\Tools
REINSTALLMODE=vamus REINSTALL=ALL
TRANSFORMS=1033.mst REBOOT=REALLYSUPPRESS /qn"

New installation
"<Pfad-zu-Exe>\setup.exe" /S /v"INSTALLDIR=C:\APPS\VMWARE\Tools
ADDLOCAL=ALL
TRANSFORMS=1033.mst REBOOT=REALLYSUPPRESS /qn"

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

meistermn — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:48:06 GMT

The last part in the following script is not work.ing The cdrom is mounted , but th execution of setup.exe is to short and breaks. the script is directly started from vc-server.

#------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Set up variables

#------------------------------------------------------------------------------
#VM Server hostname
$VMServer = "vc-server"
#User account to connect to virtual infrastructure:
$username = "vc-user"

#Directory path to target list of VM's.
$servers = Get-Content "e:\serverlist.txt"

Write-Host "Serverlist:" $servers

#------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Connect to VM Server

#------------------------------------------------------------------------------

$server = Connect-VIServer -Server $VMServer -User $username

$server = Connect-VIServer -Server $VMServer
#Search for specific VM in the production cluster:
$cluster = Get-Cluster -Name "Cluster-DRS-AMD 2_ESX3i"

Write-Host "Var cluster:" $cluster

#------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Main()

#------------------------------------------------------------------------------
foreach ($svr in $servers)
{
$result = gwmi -class Win32_PingStatus -filter "Address='$svr'"
Write-Host "Var result:" $result
$results = $result.StatusCode
Write-Host "Var resultsstatuscode:" $results
$vm = Get-VM -Name $svr -Location $cluster #Search for specified VM in cluster
Write-Host "Var VM:" $vm

#If the VM is powered on, but guest OS is not responding to pings
$vm.PowerState -eq "PoweredOn"
Write-Host "Var PowerState:" $vm.PowerState
if (($vm.PowerState -eq "PoweredOn") -and ($results -eq 0))
{

# Mount the tools CD

$vmImpl = Get-VM $vm
Write-Host "Var vmImpl:" $vmImpl
# Get the VirtualMachine SDK object
$vmmmmmm = $vmImpl | Get-View
Write-Host "Var vmmmmmm :" $vmmmmmm
# Call the SDK method
$vmmmmmm.MountToolsInstaller()

# Get the drive letter for the CD Drive tools is mounted in
$DrvLetter = Get-WmiObject Win32_CDROMDrive -ComputerName $VM.name | Where-Object {$_.VolumeName -match "VMware Tools"}

Write-Host "Var DrvLetter :" $DrvLetter.Drive

$cmd ="$($DrvLetter.Drive)setup.exe /S /v`"/qn REBOOT=ReallySuppress REINSTALLMODE=vamus REINSTALL=ALL`""

Write-Host "Vari cmd :" $cmd

(WMICLASS"\\$vm\ROOT\CIMV2:win32_process").Create("cmd.exe /c $cmd")
#(WMICLASS"\\$vm\ROOT\CIMV2:win32_process").Create("cmd.exe /c notepad.exe")
#$c = WMIClass"Win32_Process"
#$c.create("cmd.exe /c notepad.exe")

}

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

meistermn — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 17:15:43 GMT

	Update Manager vSphere	Powershell	CMD + PSEXEC	vmrun command	upgrade on power on vm
VM's must be power on	yes, if power off , the vm is powered on, and vmware tools upgraded	yes	yes	yes	no, must be powered off and then powered on
Upgrade VMware Tools	yes	yes	yes	yes
Install Vmware Tools	no	yes	yes	yes
Disadvantage Copy Vmware tools	no	no	yes, VMware Tools have to be copied to the vm's, because network disconnection appears , wehn vmare tools are instaled
set Hardware accelation automatic	no	yes	yes	?

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

meistermn — Sun, 14 Jun 2009 15:33:01 GMT

Here is an other idea for PowerCLI Update VMware Tools without a reboot.

http://get-admin.com/blog/?p=714

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

beeswarm — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 15:47:16 GMT

Hi all,

I have done a quick article on this topic on my blog.

http://www.mycloudcake.com/vmware/install-vmware-tools-no-immediate-reboot/

Hope this helps.

Cheers

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

AlexLudwig — Wed, 03 Jun 2009 12:23:14 GMT

Non of these worked on my side. At least I used this one as a batch script. At the End you´ll have a logfile where you can see which server is patched, which not and which one is unreachable.

************************************************************************************

REM In the srv.txt enter a list of all serversr / export em out of the VC

set log=C:\logfile.txt
for /f %%i in (C:\srv.txt) do call :PingMe %%i

:PingMe

REM If you have another language on your system change the word "Reply" wich you receive on a ping

ping -n 1 -w 40 %1 | find "Reply" >nul || goto :Offline

if errorlevel 0 goto :Online

:Online
echo "%1"

echo Now installing...

REM After -p you have to write the password of the User , that´s the only problem. If you don´t do so u have to type in your password for every server

psexec %1 -u USER -p Password \\SHARE\setup.exe /S /v"/qn /norestart REBOOT=ReallySuppress REINSTALL=ALL REINSTALLMODE=VOMUS"

REM You need to copy all the files in the share you normally get if you map the CD for VMWare Tools over the VC

IF %errorlevel%==0 goto good else goto bad

:bad
echo "Not successful on
%1" >>%log%
goto End

:good
echo "Successful on
%1" >>%log%
goto End

goto End

:Offline
echo "
%1 is offline" >> %log%
goto End

:End

*******************************************************************************

I patched at least for about 180 Servers within 1 hour....

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

PhilippNoack — Tue, 26 May 2009 11:13:15 GMT

Hello, I used a little workaround for that. Here is the batch script that I used:

:: Creating a temp folder to get the newest tools
+md C:\vmwaretools-update+
+set TMP=C:\vmwaretools-update+

C:
cd "C:\Programme\VMware\VMware Tools\"

:: Running the Upgrader with a wrong parameter to get the newest Version only! It doesn't update, yet!
start "" /wait VMwareToolsUpgrader.exe -p "/s /v\"/qn /noreboot\""

cd C:\vmwaretools-update\00*

:: Now the actual update begins
start "" /wait setup.exe /s /v"/qn REBOOT=ReallySuppress"

C:

set TMP="C:\Dokumente und Einstellungen\Administrator\Lokale Einstellungen\Temp\"
+rd C:\vmwaretools-update+

exit

I hope it helps you!

Greetings Phil

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

Gpeto — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:18:00 GMT

Hi,

I'm looking for any way to make a scheduled VM massive reboot.

Anybody knows any script to make this easily? I haven't find anything about that.

Thanks.

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

dconvery — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:43:01 GMT

That's what I thought. Thanks.

I have seen the NIC drop during upgrade on Windows guests as well.

Dave Convery
VMware vExpert 2009
http://www.dailyhypervisor.com

Careful. We don't want to learn from this.
Bill Watterson, "Calvin and Hobbes"

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

LucD — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:38:59 GMT

I'm afraid not.
If I'm not mistaken for *nix VMs the Tools are installed with rpm. So other parameters.

In our experience we noticed that on *nix guests the NICs tend to loose their connection during/after a Tools upgrade.

Update : if someone knows how to avoid this please let us know!
We're using RHES 4 & 5 and some Suse.

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

dconvery — Fri, 27 Mar 2009 00:14:23 GMT

Hey LucD -

WIll this work for *nix VMs as well? DO I just need to change the parameters to "-" instead of "/"?

Dave Convery
VMware vExpert 2009
http://www.dailyhypervisor.com

Careful. We don't want to learn from this.
Bill Watterson, "Calvin and Hobbes"

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

RobMokkink — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 16:59:05 GMT

sorry that doesn't work as well is i thought, it takes some time before the server reboots.

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

RobMokkink — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 09:42:50 GMT

I think i got it working, i tested it 2 times, here is the code:

#ADD VMWARE PSSNAPIN

Add-PSSnapin -Name "VMware.VimAutomation.Core"

#FORCE TO LOAD VMWARE POWERSHELL PLUGIN

[void][http://Reflection.Assembly|http://Reflection.Assembly]::LoadWithPartialName("vmware.vim")

#ON ERROR CONTINUE

$ErrorActionPreference = "Continue"

#VARIABLES

$vm = "<name of vm>"

$VCSERVER = "localhost"

$INSPARAM = '/S /v"/qn REBOOT=ReallySuppress"'

#CONNECT TO THE ESX HOST

connect-viserver $VCSERVER

$GETVM = get-vm $vm | get-view

$GETVM.Name

$GETVM.UpgradeTools_Task($INSPARAM)

So if other people can test, that wil be great.

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

RobMokkink — Fri, 13 Mar 2009 06:50:15 GMT

Thats correct luc. I wan to upgrade from tools version 110268 (in windows 3.1.2.5.692) to tools version 143128 (in windows 3.1.2.9374)

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

LucD — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:45:19 GMT

Out of curiosity, to which tools version are you upgrading ?
To VC2.5u4 ?

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

RobMokkink — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 21:13:54 GMT

@Luc,

I am testing the script, i wan't replace it with our current way of updating the vmware tools (SCCM)

However the script still reboots the vm's

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

padesjar — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:05:56 GMT

ewannema wrote:
I have not done this with PowerShell yet, but this is how I do it via shell script on the Windows VMs. VMwareToolsUpgrader just get the tools distribution and passes the rest of the arguments after -p to Setup.exe. You can see that arguments are then passed to msiexec using the /v switch. Not sure if adding /v"/qn /norestar" will help you in this case or not.

"C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools\VMwareToolsUpgrader.exe" -p "/s /v\"/qn /norestart /L*v C:\Windows\Temp\ToolsUpgrade.log\""

I would recommend using something like Process Monitor or Process
Explorer to see what is actually running on the VM when you run your
code (in PM you can filter on vmwaretoolsupgrader.exe, setup.exe, and msiexec.exe). This is how I managed to get a working command string like above. Snapshots are clearly a good thing in this situation so you can repeat the same actions.

Thanks, this worked well for me. I don't have time for installing powershell on every machine. It's good stuff, don't get me wrong, and I'm sure a windows update would install it fine on all machines, but this is more native and worked great for me. Now I can set up a chron on this and have it run periodically to keep my VMs up to date and ready for update manager to do its thing as well. Thanks!

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

LucD — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:06:54 GMT

That script is indeed for PowerShell but you need to know that you can use 2 types of objects.
First there are the objects from the VITK, their name mostly ends with Impl, and then there are the objects from the SDK.
Have a look at how to reference config.hardware.device for further details on this.

The Get-View cmdlet allows you to go from the VITK objects to the SDK objects.
And that is what jp1960's script does with the "...Get-View $_.ID..." cmdlet (on line 4).
This is required since the UpgradeTools_Task method is only available on the SDK object.

Are you sure you aren't missing that part.

I'll include the script for completeness


$insParm = '/s /v"/qn /norestart"'
$updList = get-cluster -name <clustername> | get-vm | `
where-object {$_.powerstate -eq "PoweredON"} | % {
	get-view $_.ID} |where {$_.guest.toolsstatus -match "toolsOld" } | where {$_.guest.guestfamily -match "windowsGuest"}
{
	$uVM.name
	$uVM.UpgradeTools_Task($insParm)
}

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

sunchaser — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 14:15:17 GMT

Thank you for this explanation! indeed i have missed that part because I don't want to look for old tools (..and thought I don't need this )

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

sunchaser — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:57:44 GMT

The Object has the type "VMware.VimAutomation.Client20.VirtualMachineImpl", and get-member shows me there is no such method.

Now I'm a bit confused, I thought the script from jp1960 is for powershell ??

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

LucD — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 13:45:14 GMT

UpgradeTools_Task is a method of the VirtualMachine object.
This is an SDK object not a VITK object, so in principle has nothing to do with the VITK.

It looks as if the $uVM variable doesn't contain a VirtualMachine object.
You can check the object type with

$uVM.GetType()

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

sunchaser — Thu, 05 Mar 2009 12:39:11 GMT

May it be that the method "UpgradeTools_Task()" is not anymore included to the actual toolkit (1.5)?

I'll get this error:

VirtualMachineImpl] doesn't contain a method named 'UpgradeTools_Task'.
At :line:14 char:23
+ $uVM.UpgradeTools_Task <<<< ($insParam)

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

VCPGuru — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 14:42:14 GMT

I would like to have a powershell script which runs at "Hosts & Clusters" level.

What the script should do:
Install VMware Tools whitout reboot on VMs which have "OldTools" or "Tools not Installed"

This script didnt work for me:
$insParm = '/s /v"/qn /norestart"'
$updList = get-cluster -name "My_Cluster_name"|get-vm | where-object {$_.powerstate -eq "PoweredON"} | % {get-view $_.ID} |where {$_.guest.toolsstatus -match "toolsOld" } | where {$_.guest.guestfamily -match "windowsGuest"}
{
$uVM.name
$uVM.UpgradeTools_Task($insParm)

Any help would be appreciated

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

meistermn — Sun, 18 Jan 2009 23:29:16 GMT

The old way, like you describes works.

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

justin.emerson — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:49:22 GMT

Results:

"C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools\VMwareToolsUpgrader.exe" -p "/s /v\"/qn /norestart\""
FAILED (system rebooted)

Mount VMware Tools CD and run:
msiexec /i "D:\VMware Tools.msi" /qn REBOOT=ReallySuppress REINSTALL=ALL REINSTALLMODE=VOMUS
SUCCESS (no reboot)

Mount VMware Tools CD and run:
setup.exe /S /v"/qn /norestart REBOOT=ReallySuppress REINSTALL=ALL REINSTALLMODE=VOMUS"
SUCCSES (no reboot)

if I set $insParm = '/S /v"/qn /norestart REBOOT=ReallySuppress REINSTALL=ALL REINSTALLMODE=VOMUS"'
FAILURE (vm reboots)

so something with Powershell is not working here.

EDIT: Also tested
"C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools\VMwareToolsUpgrader.exe" -p "/S /v\"/qn /norestart REBOOT=ReallySuppress REINSTALL=ALL REINSTALLMODE=VOMUS\"'
FAILED.

So either the problem is PowerShell or that PowerShell is using VMwareToolsUpgrader on the backend, which doesn't support the noreboot option or at least that option is undocumented.

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

c_shanklin — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:25:52 GMT

We plan to add this feature, but if the problem you have is in the tools installer itself that's going to make it quite a bit harder. Do you get the same results if you run it in the guest directly using those switches?

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

justin.emerson — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:13:38 GMT

Using all the permutations of various $insParm configs, I still cannot get the VMtools installer not to pop up the dialog box at the end saying Yes/No to a reboot which eventually times out and reboots the machine. I think the problem may be that the Tools' setup.exe is the part of the installer causing this reboot, so passing these parameters to the MSI that's chained off of it isn't going to do us any good. We need a switch for the actual tools installer which says to forgo a reboot. Does anyone know of one?

I suppose building this into the Upgrade-Tools cmdlet would be ideal, though... has there been a response to your feature request?

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

meistermn — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 15:58:26 GMT

Which Powershell exists already for this above overview

description	function	todo	script
without reboot switch in cmdlet	"ReallySuppress"	fix by vmware
check for vmware tools version	check version		http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2008/04/21/powershell-vi-toolkit/
case 1 upgrade one vm	upgrade		cmdlet
case 2 upgrade per t.xt file	upgrade	read from csv
case 3 upgrade per cluster	upgrade		in this thread
case 4 upgrade resource pool	upgrade		in this thread
set hardware acceleration	config change of vm		http://www.peetersonline.nl/index.php/vmware/setting-video-hardware-acceleration-level/
"UpgradeAtPowerCycle"	config change of vm		http://www.vmachine.de/cms/index.php/de/downloads?task=files.download&cid=3 http://tech.zsoldier.com/2008/11/powershell-script-to-enable-check-and.html
shutdown all Vm's	shutdown vm		http://communities.vmware.com/servlet/JiveServlet/previewBody/3740-102-1-2674/VI%20Toolkit%20(for%20Windows)%20Admin%20Guide.pdf

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

meistermn — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 13:49:24 GMT

In the following overview, I put together which vmware tools upgrade cases we have now with esx 3.5 update 3.

This a service view. A special case is the Upgrade of Vmware Tools, when an existing ESX Server Cluster is replaced with new ESX Server, where the EVC Option

could only be actived, when all VM's in a cluster have be shutdowned for activating EVC in a DRS Cluster.

Allthough in the next Version of Vmware Update Manager this would be a good to have it.

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

ftempel — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 08:41:42 GMT

I've used the standard MSI method to supress a VMware Tools reboot (REBOOT=ReallySupress) for a while now since I use Altiris to schedule the install and reboot. Beware though, the upgrade of VMware Tools will still do a NIC reset inside the VM causing a possible service failure!

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

c_shanklin — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 18:15:50 GMT

I've logged it.

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

meistermn — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 09:07:42 GMT

Did anyone open a feature / support request for an updated Update-Tools cmdlet ?

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

meistermn — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:09:30 GMT

In the blog of laspina is told following:

This did not address any Linux or Unix systems so here is what I came up with to address the lack of automation

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

halr9000 — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:36:54 GMT

meistermn wrote:
Automated VMware Tools upgrades using your VC and Perl
http://blog.laspina.ca/roller/Ubiquitous/entry/automated_vmware_tools_upgrades_using

This does the same thing as the PowerShell examples shown.

PowerShell MVP, VI Toolkit forum moderator
Author of the upcoming book: Managing VMware Infrastructure with PowerShell
Co-Host, PowerScripting Podcast (http://powerscripting.net)
Need general, non-VMware-related PowerShell Help? Try the forums at PowerShellCommunity.org

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

meistermn — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:32:49 GMT

to nice solutions:

Automated VMware Tools upgrades using your VC and Perl
http://blog.laspina.ca/roller/Ubiquitous/entry/automated_vmware_tools_upgrades_using

Batch Script:
Script to upgrade VMWare tools on multiple Servers
http://communities.vmware.com/message/965998;jsessionid=55B5314F6FF4FE26F249A3C4EC80CFAF

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

meistermn — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 01:30:53 GMT

New Idea from this yellow brinks blog.

This means to me that you can use a bat, cmd or vbscript to remote install the vmware tools .

http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2008/12/12/zero-out-all-vms-from-just-one-script/

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

Adidas6 — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 15:15:24 GMT

I had run into similar issues with trying to update tools with Powershell, so I came up with a version that uses more of a batch script and then psexec to execute it on remote machines. It requiers a little bit of setup but is very easy to pull of once its all set.

First, you'll want to put the list of VM's you want to upgrade (Windows only) in a text file. (*list.txt*)

===== list.txt =====
VM1
VM2
VM3
etc...
===== /list.txt =====

You'll want to copy the VMtools install files to a network share that all computers can access. You can get these by mounting the VMTools in the VM and copy all the files off the mounted cdrom.

Now, you'll want to create the batch file that will run on each computer. (*vmtools.bat*)

===== vmtools.bat =====
\\location_of_tools\setup.exe /s /v"/qn REINSTALLMODE=voums REINSTALL=ALL REBOOT=REALLYSUPRESS"
===== /vmtools.bat =====

Make sure list.txt and vmtools.bat are in the same directory and run the following command from that directory:

===== CMD =====
psexec @list.txt -d -u <domain\account> -p <password> -c vmtools.bat
===== /CMD =====

This will copy the vmtools.bat to the remote computer and then run it. Make sure you run this from a DOS/CMD window and not a Powershell prompt. Powershell will attempt to interpret the @ and will prevent the command from running properly.

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

moosethumbs — Sat, 13 Dec 2008 16:19:13 GMT

I see now. I didn't test it out before, I just assumed. How about this one, though? This worked for me.

$updList = get-cluster -name "DMZ-AMD-CLUSTER"|get-vm | where-object {$_.powerstate -eq "PoweredON"} | % {get-view $_.ID} |where {$_.guest.toolsstatus -match "toolsOld" } | where {$_.guest.guestfamily -match "windowsGuest"}

I am wondering if the problem with the script not always working has to do with the version of Windows Installer on the VM. JP1690's script arguments should work for the newest version, but I think old versions of installer use /reboot=reallysuppress

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

justin.emerson — Fri, 12 Dec 2008 21:49:32 GMT

freefall: that was the problem I was having too. Still can't make it work, dunno why it works for some but not us. =(

moose: The problem is, that osfullname is not a property of the VM object, I have to Get-VMGuest after the Get-VM in order to check the OS type. That's why I need help - how can I look inside the Guest object, check if its windows, then pop back out to the VM object, since Get-View needs to be piped a VM object (not a VMGuest object)?

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

Freefall13 — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 04:08:08 GMT

I can't get the tools to install without rebooting the VM either. I've tried jp1960's script and while it upgrades the VMware tools the VMs still reboot. If I log into the VM and run the setup command I can get it to install without rebooting, e.g.:

setup /s /v"/qn REBOOT="ReallySuppress" REINSTALLMODE=vamus REINSTALL=ALL"

The upgradetools_task method isn't passing through the no reboot to the msiexec.

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

moosethumbs — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 01:50:36 GMT

I think you've pretty much answered your own question. I think you can just add where-object {$_.osfullname -like "Windows"} | to the second line:

$updList = get-cluster -name "DMZ-AMD-CLUSTER"|get-vm | where-object {$_.powerstate -eq "PoweredON"} | where-object {$_.osfullname -like "Windows"} |% {get-view $_.ID} |where {$_.guest.toolsstatus -match "toolsOld" }

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

justin.emerson — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 00:26:35 GMT

As a follow up to this - the command used will only work for Windows VMs. How can you modify the command to only affect windows virtual machines? I'm just learning powershell, and I'm trying to figure out how (without sticking if statements into the large for each block) to limit it to only VMGuests whose OSFullName -like "Windows"

Any quick help?

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

justin.emerson — Fri, 05 Dec 2008 21:09:29 GMT

Replace get-cluster -name "DMZ-AMD-CLUSTER" with get-folder -name "FOLDER NAME" or get-host -name "HOSTNAME"

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

FIISupport — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 22:11:46 GMT

Hi there,

I would like to modify JP1960's script to only apply to a folder
or alternately a specific host (vs the entire cluster) . Can anyone shed some light
on how to do this?

Cheers

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

Rajeev S — Sat, 29 Nov 2008 06:56:57 GMT

JP1960's script works fine. Thanks for your help.

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

justin.emerson — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 22:10:51 GMT

Unfortunately none of these scripts have worked for me properly. jp1960, your script does function and run, however my VMs still reboot after installing VMware tools. Ade, your script gives me an error message because the $installerArgs seems to think it's a null variable (even though I can go in and see the contents of the variable just fine). It seems like if I try to add REBOOT=ReallySuppress to any of the scripts, it fails. Do I need to escape the = character or something?

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

jp1960 — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:35:30 GMT

Combining bits of information from different postings, I came up with this Powershell script that will update VMWare tools without reboot for all VMs within a specified cluster that have a VMWare tools status of "old":

$insParm = '/s /v"/qn /norestart"'
$updList = get-cluster -name "DMZ-AMD-CLUSTER"|get-vm | where-object {$_.powerstate -eq "PoweredON"} | % {get-view $_.ID} |where {$_.guest.toolsstatus -match "toolsOld" }
foreach ($uVM in $updList)
{
$uVM.name
$uVM.UpgradeTools_Task($insParm)
#Wait 30 seconds before starting another update task
Start-sleep -s 30
}

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

wharlie — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 03:28:55 GMT

The following command works for me if I copy the install files to the vm and run the setup.exe (silent, no reboot)

setup.exe /S /v"REBOOT=R /qb"

But I can't get powershell to pass the arguments correctly using the scripts above.
The install runs silently and I get no errors but it still reboots.

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

gboskin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:45:40 GMT

ok Cheers !!!!!!!

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

ade.orimalade@e-mis.com — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:42:58 GMT

For No reboot

$cluster = "< >" # Enter the required cluster name

$installerArgs = 'REBOOT="ReallySuppress"'

Get-Cluster -Name $cluster | Get-VM | % { (Get-View $_).UpgradeTools_Task($installerArgs) }

As stated above

Cheers

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

gboskin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 15:10:35 GMT

Get-VM | % { (Get-View $_).UpgradeTools_Task($null) }

Works but the virtual machines reboot

Trying the no-reboot option tomorrow

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

gboskin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:25:47 GMT

Auto upgrading vmwaretools with the no rebbot option will be just great..

Please let me know when you get this ???

Cheers

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

ade.orimalade@e-mis.com — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:07:53 GMT

Hi I came accross this ..

We also have the requirement to automate the upgrade vmware tools on 190 windows virtual machine with the no-reboot option in a cluster.

If powershell can do this ..it will be a massive plus

Any one got this working yet

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

leisibae — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 08:55:47 GMT

Thank you very much for the info. I am going to investigate this approach as well.

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

ewannema — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 21:31:43 GMT

I have not done this with PowerShell yet, but this is how I do it via shell script on the Windows VMs. VMwareToolsUpgrader just get the tools distribution and passes the rest of the arguments after -p to Setup.exe. You can see that arguments are then passed to msiexec using the /v switch. Not sure if adding /v"/qn /norestar" will help you in this case or not.

"C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools\VMwareToolsUpgrader.exe" -p "/s /v\"/qn /norestart /L*v C:\Windows\Temp\ToolsUpgrade.log\""

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

leisibae — Tue, 11 Nov 2008 15:25:01 GMT

We have the same need to install VMware Tools automatically without a reboot. The reboot will be done during a security patch rollout. In this case we can combine tasks together.

I followed this blog as other ones. The following command can be performed by PowerShell successfully, but a reboot is done after the VMware Tools upgrade.

connect-viserver -server rbams3t3-v2
get-vm -name rkams517-v3 | get-view | % { $_.UpgradeTools_task("") | get-viobjectbyviview | wait-task }

Afterwards I followed the advise from the previous blog, with the following command which should perform it without reboot:

$installerArgs = 'REBOOT="ReallySuppress"'
get-vm -name rkams517-v3 | get-view | % { $_.UpgradeTools_task($installerArgs) | get-viobjectbyviview | wait-task }

In the virtual machine I received the following message:

InstallShield
Command line parameters:
/L language ID
/S Hide initialization dialog. For silent mode use: /S/v/qn
/V parameters to MsiExec.exe
/UA<url to InstMsiA.exe>
/UW<url to InstMsiW.exe>
/UM<url to msi package>

OK

What could be the correct parameter?

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

halr9000 — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 00:37:36 GMT

If you want to supply switches you'll have to do it the hard way as Update-Tools cmdlet doesn't support this feature. Luckily, the hard way isn't all that hard, and I happened to blog about last night. http://halr9000.com/article/605

In the article where you see $null, you can supply arguments to the installer. I've never done so, so I can't tell you precisely how the command will work but that's how its done.

e.g.

$installerArgs = 'REBOOT="ReallySuppress"'
Get-VM | % { (Get-View $_).UpgradeTools_Task($installerArgs) }

Test it on a test VM first of course. Just put a VM name following Get-VM to do that.

Author of the upcoming book: Managing VMware Infrastructure with PowerShell
Co-Host, PowerScripting Podcast (http://powerscripting.net)

Re: How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

meistermn — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 20:34:20 GMT

Looked at this document:

http://www.vmware.com/files/pdf/vi_toolkit_win_1.0_samples.pdf

tried the command : help update-tools

But this did not helped me. I though it could be the common parameters, but i think it is the wrong direction.

http://www.vmware.com/support/developer/windowstoolkit/wintk10/doc/viwin_admin.pdf

Ok tried look at this command . Get-Help about_CommonParameters

Allthough did not help.

Last i look at the vi toolkit cmdlets reference, but it is nothing telling about a no reboot switch.

So what i am looking for is a paramater for <code>REBOOT="ReallySuppress"like you cando it from cmd in windows.
</code>

<code>msiexec -i "C:\install\vmware-tools\ESX-61618\vmware tools.msi" addlocal=all REMOVE=Hgfs /qn REBOOT="ReallySuppress"</code>

How to install VMware tools without a reboot?

meistermn — Sun, 14 Sep 2008 08:40:48 GMT

On the following url the a script for updating vmware tools. What is the parameter for no reboot?

It must be in line 48 . Is the command update-tools by vmware with all there switches described?

http://poshcode.org/521