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mrudloff
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Why isn't VMWare Tools actually installing the proper video driver?

Wondered this for a while so I thought I actually ask. When working with Server 2008(R2), you are getting pretty much a bad performance when working with the console until you have increased the video memory to 32-64MB and installed the proper video driver.

Quite a while back I noticed that the driver are installed onto the hard drive but the video card inside of windows is still using the the standard VGA driver provided by Windows. You then have to update the driver manually (which is in C:\Program Files\Common Files\VMware\Drivers\wddm_video) and reboot and voila, working with the console is as quick as RDP ...

Is this simply a bug which was never reported / fixed or is this a "feature" Smiley Happy

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FredPeterson
Expert
Expert

Same thing here, though I've never had to touch the video memory, thats interesting.

Also, I don't install the /wddm_video driver (SVGA II 3D or something) I've been installing the one under /video

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Troy_Clavell
Immortal
Immortal

this is a known issue with vHardware4.  Are you running v4 or v7 hardware?

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mrudloff
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

7 .... 2008R2 wasn't even supported before that Smiley Wink

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Troy_Clavell
Immortal
Immortal

Michael R. wrote:

7 .... 2008R2 wasn't even supported before that Smiley Wink

huh?

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mrudloff
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Wasn't hardware version 7 only introduced with vSphere (4) ? As far as I remember ESX (3.5), which was hardware version 4, only had "experimental" support for Server 2008R2 ....

Anyway, on a 4.1u1 host, fresh Server2008R2 VM, same deal Smiley Happy 

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FredPeterson
Expert
Expert

This is occuring for me with a brand new template built on vSphere v4.1 so it is hardware v7.  Not an upgraded template either.

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seansquared
Contributor
Contributor

Take 1 brand new, fully patched ESXi 4.1 U1 host. Create a new VM, type Windows Server 2008 R2, all defaults, hardware level 7, no other customization. Install VMware Tools. Go through the typical reboots. Poof, Standard VGA Adapter. Smiley Sad

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stever777
Contributor
Contributor

This is not limited to new installations. I'm running a W2K virtual machine that I use daily. Upgraded to 4.1 today. Installed VMWare Tools, reboot, and *shazam* back to standard VGA video adapter. This is horrible, and I'm not quite sure how to deal with it.

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bigvern2
Contributor
Contributor

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=101677...

"Unless there is an explicit requirement for enhanced graphics, the preferred driver for Windows Server 2008 R2 is the Microsoft-provided VESA driver. "

If I remeber correctly one of drivers used to crash windows 2008 R2 when going in via console (as opposed to rdp)

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