You could also download the "open-vm-source" and "open-vm-tools" packages from Debian testing, http://packages.debian.org/testing/admin/open-vm-{source,tools} to some Download directory. From that directory, installation as follows:

1. Install the "debhelper", "dpatch" and "module-assistant" packages.
2. Run the "sudo m-a prepare" command.
3. Install the above mentioned source package with the "sudo dpkg -i open-vm-source.....deb" command.
4. Compile/install the modules with the "sudo m-a a-i open-vm" command.
5. Install the above mentioned tools package with the "sudo dpkg -i open-vm-tools.....deb" command

That should do it, works for me.

After trying it out for an hour or, I am not very happy with the solution. The mouse-movement is very sluggish, the pointer moves very unresponsive. If it doesn't get better I will have to roll back to my snapshot of ubuntu 7.10. I saw another thread with some people upset about VMWare:s slow Linux support, I agree fully with them. Having to mess with things like this for one of the most common software developer platforms (debian/ubuntu) is not what I expected, I think vmware are a bit out of touch with their customers.

Update:

I found a solution:

http://peterc.org/2008/64-how-to-enable-vertical-mouse-wheel-scrolling-in-ubuntu-hardy-on-vmware-fusion.html

It need a reboot to work good, restarting only X got me two mouse pointers. Which is a feature I always have wanted for pair programming and for keeping people behind my shoulder from putting greasy fingerprints on my screen. But that bonus dissappeared after a reboot.

OK, npw pt. 4 is OK as for suggestions from previous 3d.

The problem is now lots of errors at pt. 3 regardless also installing the libicu-dev package... very sad for my 2nd experience with a Linux Distro... hope it's just a virtualization problem but I don't want it now as a direct boot until I get familiar with it.