Debian Squeeze guest idenfication

[dr_nuke]

I've imported a Debian Squeeze 32-bit guest to ESXI 5.1.

Using vSphere Client 5.1 Build 941893, I do not have Debian 6 (squeeze) as an available guest OS. 

(For the mean time I've used Linux Other Guest 32-bit but would like to use Debian 6 32-bit.)

I've seen Debian 6 32-bit as an option on some screen shots from people who have set up Debian Squeeze as a guest OS but that option isn't available in the vSphere Client drop down. 

Why or where would this option be hiding in the dialog box?  I have Debian 5, 4 as available options.

Can this be done manually via the CLI?

[AKostur]

Really?  I've got vSphere Client v5.1.0 build 786111 and I've got it.  Actually, just checking one of my machines,  if it's got hardware rev 7, it didn't show me Debian 6.  I upgraded the VM hardware to vmx-09, and now it shows Debian 6.

However.. VMware... Debian 7 has been released... hint, hint

[nielse]

You say you are using that specific client but is your vCenter and ESXi host running on 5.1 ?

[dr_nuke]

Thanks for your help.  I'm a newbie so I'm not sure I understood exactly what you mean.  I'm not sure where to look to answer those questions.  So here is what I can find so far. 

I have vSphere Client 5.1 Build 941893. VMware ESXI 5.1.0 1021289 is shown in the top level of the vsphere client.  Image Profile in the Summary tab shows ESXI-5.1.0 799733-standard.  I don't know why they are different.

In the guest image it says VM Version: 7.  It also shows VMWare Tools: Running (3rd party/Independent).  I have no idea how to update this or what the Running (3rd-party/Independent) is supposed to mean.  I did try to install VMWare tools but it seems to run and run without actually completing.  It's been 20 min. already.

As you can tell, I'm a bit confused.  Any help is appreciated.  Thanks.

[AKostur · Accepted solution]

Check my answer again about where I'd stated that I had to upgrade the VM hardware before Deb 6 showed up as an option.  Shut down the VM, right-click on it, Upgrade Virtual Hardware.

Do be sure to check that your guest OS will support the newer virtual hardware configuration.  Since you have a 3rd party VMware Tools installed, this seems to suggest that your guest is some sort of prepackaged VM from somewhere else....

[dr_nuke]

Thanks.  I can see it now and have updated to vmx-09.  Now I can set Debian 6.

I too hope that this is updated soon to allow the new stable Debian 7!!

[Yes.  This is a Turnkey-Linux appliance.  I'm trying to figure out what they have installed so I can updated the tools properly.]

Message was edited by: dr_nuke Added a comment re third party tools.