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Huidobro
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Some questions related to VMtools installation

I need to uninstall and reinstall VMtools in a VM to solve some driver problem. My hosts are ESX 3.5.

  1. Is it advisable to download the latest available VMtools from VMware web site? (http://packages.vmware.com/tools/esx/latest/windows/x86/index.html)
    Or must I stick to the VMtools located in the hosts?

Other questions, related with the option “Check and upgrade Tools during power cycling”.

  1. Is it advisable to check that option in all my VMs?
  2. Why isn’t the default?
  3. Is there any way to enable it as default for all my VMs?

Thanks and best regards.

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vmroyale
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Hello.

Is it advisable to download the latest available VMtools from VMware web site? Or must I stick to the VMtools located in the hosts?

Stick with what is on the hosts. It is easier and less likely to get you into trouble.

1. Is it advisable to check that option in all my VMs?

If you are comfortable with it, then yes.

2. Why isn’t the default?

In my opinion, this is so that more control can be exerted over the behavior of the VMs. I have certain VMs that I wouldn't want to be upgraded at a reboot. What if it was a prodcution VM and the reboot had to happen in the middle of business hours? That could lead to unnecessary delays.

3. Is there any way to enable it as default for all my VMs?

Check out http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1010048 for a way to do this.

Good Luck!

Brian Atkinson | vExpert | VMTN Moderator | Author of "VCP5-DCV VMware Certified Professional-Data Center Virtualization on vSphere 5.5 Study Guide: VCP-550" | @vmroyale | http://vmroyale.com

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vmroyale
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Hello.

Is it advisable to download the latest available VMtools from VMware web site? Or must I stick to the VMtools located in the hosts?

Stick with what is on the hosts. It is easier and less likely to get you into trouble.

1. Is it advisable to check that option in all my VMs?

If you are comfortable with it, then yes.

2. Why isn’t the default?

In my opinion, this is so that more control can be exerted over the behavior of the VMs. I have certain VMs that I wouldn't want to be upgraded at a reboot. What if it was a prodcution VM and the reboot had to happen in the middle of business hours? That could lead to unnecessary delays.

3. Is there any way to enable it as default for all my VMs?

Check out http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1010048 for a way to do this.

Good Luck!

Brian Atkinson | vExpert | VMTN Moderator | Author of "VCP5-DCV VMware Certified Professional-Data Center Virtualization on vSphere 5.5 Study Guide: VCP-550" | @vmroyale | http://vmroyale.com
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Virtualinfra
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I need to uninstall and reinstall VMtools in a VM to solve some driver problem. My hosts are ESX 3.5.

  1. Is it advisable to download the latest available VMtools from VMware web site? (http://packages.vmware.com/tools/esx/latest/windows/x86/index.html)
    Or must I stick to the VMtools located in the hosts?


Its not advisable to download and install vmware tools directly from link.. unless other wise its necessary. If there is any recommendation from VMware then you can proceed with that incase of any issue like.. if not then no.. use the tools that is built with esx3.5

Other questions, related with the option “Check and upgrade Tools during power cycling”.

  1. Is it advisable to check that option in all my VMs?
  2. Why isn’t the default?
  3. Is there any way to enable it as default for all my VMs?

1. Yes that advisable to check, so that you need not reboot the VM immediatly after the vmware tools installation.. in windows guest OS reboot is require after a tools installation, if you dont check that VM will be rebooted automatically..

2. Is not default because only after the reboot the vmware tools update takes effect or just the tools will be installed and the effect will take place only after the reboot.

Award points for the helpful and correct answer by clicking the below tab Smiley Happy

Thanks & Regards Dharshan S VCP 4.0,VTSP 5.0, VCP 5.0
durakovicduro83
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Or you can use update manager

Cheers,

Denis

To err is human - and to blame it on a computer is even more so
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Huidobro
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Thank you vmroyale and Virtualinfra, your answers were pretty helpful.

But, after reading your explanations, I realized I’m not sure if I understand the option "Check and upgrade tools during power cycling".

As per vSphere Virtual Machine Administration Guide:

Configure Virtual Machines to Automatically Upgrade VMware Tools

The next time the virtual machine is powered on, it checks the ESX/ESXi host for a newer version of VMware Tools. If one is available, it is installed and the guest operating system is restarted (if required).

As far as I understand, selecting that option will only have an effect when I restart my VM, upgrading VMtools if there is a new version available in the host.

If the VM isn’t restarted, the option doesn’t do anything.

If the VMtools are manually upgraded, the option doesn’t have any effect.

Am I right?

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