VMWare Tools Compatibility: ESX, Workstation, Server

[Franz_Walder]

i am wondering if there is a major difference between those three types of tools. if i'm planning to create a VA, what toolset should i install on the machine to have maximum compatibility with all three systems?

thanks and GzG

Franz

[Texiwill]

Hello,

It is better to use the latest tools for whichever environment you choose. There is no tool that is compatible with all currently. If there is one, it would have performance or bug issues with any one environment.

When you use VMware Converter to transfer VMs between different environments, first remove the tools from the old environment and install the new as part of the migration. Or create templates that have no tools so you can convert and add the appropriate tools.

Best regards,

Edward L. Haletky, author of the forthcoming 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers', publishing January 2008, (c) 2008 Pearson Education.

[Franz_Walder]

thanks for the reply! that is a very interresting answer. one i wouldn't have expected at all, too!

i see tons of VA's with "tools installed" but i can't remember having seen any that tell me i should only run it on certain host programs. until now i was pretty sure that player, server and workstation tools were 100% compatible. the reason i asked my question in the first place was the lack of knowledge about ESX tools.

are you saying that a VM with the latest vmware tools from WS6 won't run on ESX and vice versa?

GzG

Franz

[Texiwill]

Hello,

The tools for VMware WS6 are more cutting edge than the tools for ESX. While they may work, they tend to cause performance issues as ESX just does not understand some of what they are doing. Older versions of tools also cause issues.

Workstation, most cutting almost bleeding edge.

Server many WS features available.

ESX mainframe ish. Does not change all that often. Not at all cutting edge when it comes to VMware(s) products.

Best regards,

Edward L. Haletky, author of the forthcoming 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers', publishing January 2008, (c) 2008 Pearson Education.