Hello, Im taking over a VMware Environment that is running a good handful of Linux VM's. We are currently running VMware 5.1 update 3 on all the hosts.
Im not a Linux guy and im going to have to start learning more about Linux, but I noticed allot of the VM's here that have Linux, either don't have VMware tools installed or are out of date. Its a mixture of Red Hat Enterprise 6, SUSE Linux 11, CentOS 4/5/6/7, and Ubuntu.
My first concern is Security, from a Security standpoint should I be getting these Linux VM's updated with the latest VMware Tools, or for that matter getting it installed on them?
From a functionality standpoint im told the VM's are running fine.
Thanks
Mike
Hi Defrogger,
I have a few Linux VMs in my environment and I have VMware tools installed, Its always good to keep them up to date.
They also provide the necessary drivers for the VM Client to interact with the ESXi host reliably. This interface also allows the ESXi host to be able to check on the health of the VM client while it is operating.
Here is a link below to help you install vmware tools on linux servers
Rob
If security is your main concern, the best option is not to have vmware-tools installed at all. First it needs modular kernel with auto-loading (which can be quite dangerous feature), and moreover it insists on some strange options in kernel-sources being activated (i.e. direct graphics rendering).
If you can live without clean shutdown from vmware-client ability (you can still use "suspend" instead, which is maybe even better), there is no reason to have tools installed. Driver for vmxnet3 is included in kernel-tree already for some time...
Hi Defrogger,
I have a few Linux VMs in my environment and I have VMware tools installed, Its always good to keep them up to date.
They also provide the necessary drivers for the VM Client to interact with the ESXi host reliably. This interface also allows the ESXi host to be able to check on the health of the VM client while it is operating.
Here is a link below to help you install vmware tools on linux servers
Rob
Hi,
As far as security is concerned VMtools are no way related to the security of the VM ( Linux server)
VMware Tools is a suite of utilities that enhances the performance of the virtual machine's guest operating system and improves management of the virtual machine. Without VMware Tools installed in your guest operating system, guest performance lacks important functionality. Installing VMware Tools eliminates or improves these issues:
VMware Tools includes these components:
.
Thanks everyone for the info. Ill check out the link for installing vmware tools in Linux, that will definitly be helpful.
So ill start by just upgrading the ones that already have vmware tools installed and need upgrading.
From what it sounds like from a Security standpoint i dont need to be in a rush to update things.