Vmware tools Debian Squeeze vmxnet3 driver

[romgo]

Dear community,

I have some question about the vmxnet3 driver.

I discover that the kernel 2.6.32 has a module vmxnet3 so even without vmware tools installed on the guest OS (debian squeeze in my case) I can use vmxnet3 network card.

So my question is simple : is the driver in the kernel sufficient or should I use the one provided in the vmware tools software ?

If I should use the one from vmware tools software, how can I load it ?

Thank in advance !

Regards

[mwpreston]

I would install VMware Tools if it was me, there's more on there than just a nic driver...

i had some issues with squeeze though and had to follow a certain process...I documented it here

http://blog.mwpreston.net/2011/10/12/installing-vmware-tools-on-debian-6-squeeze/

Good luck..

Mike

[romgo]

Hello Mike,

thank you for your answer.

I did achieved to install it on Squeeze without any big problem.

But it seems that information about what the vmware tools bring to the system seems not really well documented.

I am not sure that the vmxnet 3 driver are inside as I didn't find the proper file for this in the package.

regards

[AndreTheGiant]

In latest kernel this driver (and also the PVSCSI one) are enough.

But VMware Tools are not only devices drivers, so I recommend to install them always.

[romgo]

I installed them, but I didn't any docs explaining what the vmware tools bring to the system, Is there any official documentation which describe this ?

[AndreTheGiant]

Maybe not a single doc (or I do not remember).But you can find in several docs.

Basically:

• device drivers for NET and Storage
• ballon driver (for memory management)
• heartbeat (that can be used also by HA VM)
• time sync
• sync driver or VSS integration
• custom script exec (for example to handle shutdown and restart or pre-backup action)