Downloading VMware Tools

[CIS1Q]

Is it possible to download the latest version of VMware Tools for later installation on a standalone ESX Server?

Due to the restricted nature of our Virtual Machines, there is no Internet connection available to our ESX 3.5 Server. I need to update the VMware Tools on the server and to keep them up to date. I wish to download the latest version of VMware Tools and burn that to CD so that I can use that to upgrade the VMware Tools on the ESX Server.

Where are the VMware Tools available for download from and what is the format, please?

Many thanks

Joe.

[RParker]

The VM Ware tools are optimized for your version of ESX. If your ESX is at a certain build, it's not going to make any difference. You only need the tools version when you upgrade the ESX OS. When in upgrade the ESX version, it will upgrade the version of Tools at the same time (if Applicable)

So installing the tools is pre-mature. Therefore unnecessary.

[jmcdonald1 · Accepted solution]

Hey Joe,

I am not sure I understand how not having an internet connection prevents the upgrade of tools, if you are doing it from the VI Client. When you right click a virtual machine and select Install VMware Tools all it does is mount an ISO from the ESX Server, which has the installer for the tools on it. Therefore no internet is needed for this operation.

I also agree with RParker, I recommend having the same version of the tools as the version of ESX you are running.

This said for your reference, on ESX Server 3.5 the ISO files for the tools are located in the /vmimages/tools-isoimages folder.

Cheers,

/Jon

[Texiwill]

Hello,

If you are using Linux with kernels >= 2.6.24 then you may need to go the hybrid approach outlined in Wiki on VMWare Tools, otherwise you should never need to upgrade your VMWare Tools outside an ESX upgrade.

Best regards,

Edward L. Haletky

VMware Communities User Moderator

====

Author of the book 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers', Copyright 2008 Pearson Education.

CIO Virtualization Blog: http://www.cio.com/blog/index/topic/168354

As well as the Virtualization Wiki at http://www.astroarch.com/wiki/index.php/Virtualization

[CIS1Q]

Many thanks for the helpful responses and, particularly to Jon, for the pointer to where the tools are located.

I had misread some of the Communities' answers, which referred to installing the latest VMware Tools. I read this to mean that there were updates available for VMware Tools outside of the normal ESX Version updates. You all helped to correct that misunderstanding.

Thanks again

Joe.