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Scott_G1
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Enthusiast

Error trying to upgrade Vmware tools - minimum v-hardware levels?

Hi folks,

I recently patched all of my esxi 5.1 hosts and went to do a tools upgrade last night on a couple of VM's. When I try to update via right click and automatic install it simply errors out.

tools1.jpg

So I decide to go to the console and do an interactive update. It mounts the installer and when I run I get this

tools2.jpg

The VM in question is running Windows Server 2008R2. It is currently hardware version 7 and I found that if I upgrade virtual hardware sometimes I am able to then install the tools sometimes not.

This is the first time I have seen a minimum virtual hardware version for tools to be updated. Has anyone else seen this and is there a workaround? I have 500+ vms and dont have the ability to shut them all down and upgrade hw.

Thanks!

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wmarusiak
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Enthusiast

VMware suggest to go with VMware Tools upgrade firsts. https://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-51/index.jsp#com.vmware.vsphere.upgrade.doc/GUID-1C3E2CB6-D933-4D22-...

I had similar error to yours. When I tried to do automatic upgrade of VMware Tools it failed and I had to do cleanup afterwards. VMware KB: Unable to upgrade existing VMware Tools

It is not easy and friendly way to do it but I guess you don't have choice. I prefer to keep my all VM's updated via VM settings Edit \ VM Options \ Check and upgrade VMware Tools before each power on.

Perhaps you can create script which cleanups the mess caused by VMware Tools.

Best Regards, Wojciech https://wojcieh.net
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