VMware has stated, at least to us, serveral times that VMware Tools in virtual instances must always match the destination host server version synchronized. Meaning the correct version of VMTools for ESX 3.0.2 must be installed, in effect back-rev-ed if coming from ESX 3.5 for example. However, in actual practice it is hit and miss what actually does work or not work. We have asked VMware to once and for all, establish VMTools independence from ESX host version, explicitly enabling or disabling features in VMTools to it is in effect ESX version agnostic. VMware has consider this since ESX 2.5.x, but we have yet to see any factual action from VMware on resolving this. It is on the list of things to do, but since VMware routinely adds features versus improving exisiting features, it just has not bubbled up to the top. Not faulting VMware per se, but really wish they would improve things, not add new things as priority or strategic goal.
