open-vm-tools + hgfs driver, how to apply(install/configure) VmWare Tools?

[WinXPvirtualize]

Upgrade of my Ubuntu virtual machine to Wily (from 15.04 to 15.10) was the occasion to get aware

of open-vm-tools existence. Prior that didn't have any idea there exists also open-vm-tools beside of VMWare Tools.

First reaction: whow, great, no more need to manually reapply Fusion agent on guest to get shared folders, high screen resolutions supported

on practically every or every second guest kernel update.

Yes, used virtual. solution is Fusion 7.1.3 with Windows XP and Ubuntu guests.

open-vm-tools seem to be a suite with lot of staff in user-space.

For shared folders the hgfs driver is needed however, which as it turns out is not included in open-vm-tools.

One article found in web reads (issued by VmWare, for Ubuntu 15.10) reads like not to use open-vm-tools in parallel with VmWare Tools,

Fusion 8.02 release notes, http://pubs.vmware.com/Release_Notes/en/fusion/8/fusion-802-release-notes.html#knownissues

Unclear how far applicable also to Fusion 7.1.3 used in my environm.

There is one yet article in web, again issued  by VmWare, which reads for shared folder support open-vm-tools

must be installed first then completed by hgfs driver installation using VmWare Tools attached to Fusion package.

That descriptions helped to get shared folders working.

However after the journey made some points are still not clear.

* General VmWare's recommendation is to use either VmWare Tools or open-vm-tools.

The observations made and described above do not comply to this recommendation.

* If for shared folder support to be enabled first the installation of open-vm-tools is needed than hgfs driver must be installed using VmWare Tools attached to Fusion

the installer detects open-vm-tools and tells it will check if any driver are missing. Following this the well-known installation and configuration procedure follows

as known from VmWare Tools stand-alone usage. Irritation arises how to answer the several questions asked by script

in order to install just hgfs driver but not other staff already made by open-vm-tools installation.

Any idea?

* If the article referred to as first in this posting does also apply to Fusion 7.1.3 there is some conflict between

found documents: "either ... other "  vs.  "open-vm-tools for user-space staff + VmWare Tools for hgfs driver".

Other knowledge sources in use

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=207380...

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=207380...

VMware Documentation for Ubuntu 15.10

http://partnerweb.vmware.com/GOSIG/Ubuntu_15_10.html‌

Problems encountered after guest upgrade to 15.10 chronologically

* Guest upgrade was started with VmWare Tools installed

* host's full screen resolution not utilized by guest operating in full screen

* then the Fusion 8.02 release note found with mentioned recommendation

* VmWare Tools removal and open-vm-tools installation using guest on-board packages management utilities

* Guest in full-screen uses max physical screen resolution

* However, the shared folders do not work

* Trial to apply open-vm-tools from VmWare github did not succeed due to build-time dependency against dnet,

  installer wants to configure the os, administrator wants to install dnet only for open-vm-tools own purposes,

  not to configure it to general usage by os, no knowledge to to accomplish it

Message was edited by: WinXPvirtualized

last edit 4:35 pm EST, Jan. 23th.

[wila]

Hi,

Haven't tested it in the past three weeks, but I think the hgfs driver is still broken.

Yeah, looks like ubuntu still has the issue open:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/open-vm-tools/+bug/1500581

For the rest see this article:

http://planetvm.net/blog/?p=2941

--

Wil

[avanish321]

on my machine running Fusion 8.1, removal of open-vm-tools followed by installation of VMware Tools + the fix as per release notes of fusion 8.0.2 helped in fixing all issues.

Copy paste, drag and drop, screen resolution and shared folders.   Probably you can give it a try and confirm if it works for Fusion 7.1.3 as well ( i.e remove open-vm-tools + install vmware tools + fix as per release notes) ?

I guess what it means is, use open-vm-tools for normal features ( copy paste, drag and drop, screen resolution etc) . But if you need shared folders use vmware tools.

[WinXPvirtualize]

Thanks for all your feedback.

Actually, all asked features (full resolution as provided by physical host, folder sharing) are working after

measures as described in initial posting here were applied. So, actually, no need for more troubleshooting.

However, the session as described has risen some gaps in understanding of whole situation,

or risen a question regarding VmWare Tools installation procedure while open-vm-tools are installed.

There are some further questions open like is the overall situation same for Fusion 8 as for Fusion 7.

VmWare uses in multiple terms when decomposing the system if to take multiple documents released by VmWare.

It is not easy to get understanding how many elements the system is actually composed from,

the name of particular element, and if there were any changes in this matter after Fusion 7.

[WinXPvirtualize]

The main irritating point is:

According to one of mentioned documents released by VmWare open-vm-tools is not sufficient enough.

For shared folders to be working the hgfs driver which is part of VmWare Tools must be installed as well,

so the leading argumentation pro open-vm-tools is broken.

Then while open-vm-tools are installed I start the VmWare Tools installer in order to get the missing driver.

VmWare Tools installer repeats again the known from other VmWare sources

The installer has detected an existing installation of open-vm-tools on this

system and will not attempt to remove and replace these user-space

applications. It is recommended to use the open-vm-tools packages provided by

the operating system. If you do not want to use the existing installation of

open-vm-tools and attempt to install VMware Tools, you must uninstall the

open-vm-tools packages and re-run this installer.

Than it is asking following

The installer will next check if there are any missing kernel drivers. Type yes

if you want to do this, otherwise type no [yes]

I was in hope that check will find that hgfs driver is missing and install it.

All what follows instead is the well known quite regulate VmWare Tools installation, not some check for missing kernel driver.

Lot of inconsistencies?

[VimaUser]

Main questions still open.

In the meantime I followed avanish321's recommendation and switched to Fusion bundled VmWare Tools + fix from Release Notes.

It helps, is simple and straightforward status, however it can be only short term resolution as VmWare stopped the maintenance of

bundled VmWare Tools, it recommends switching to open-vm-tools.

So, these days I live with old solution - Fusion bundled VmWare Tools - in parallel looking for long term solution.

One of conflicts to be found in VmWare statements:

1. Switch to open-vm-tools generally recommended

2. For those wanting open tools and shared folders the VmWare's recommendation reads to install both VmWare Tools and open tools

One yet conflict:

In case open tools are installed and bundled VmWare tools are going to be installed in order to have shared folders working

1. VmWare Tools install script claims: The installer will next check if there are any missing kernel drivers.

2. The further progress of installation looks like in quite regular case - open tools not present - bundled tools installed with their whole functionality

Github open-vm-tools project, following info was found (Readme.md file, last update 7 months ago):

This project did not include Linux drivers as those were available as part of Linux kernel itself.

Linux kernel versions 3.10 and later would include all of Linux drivers except the vmhgfs driver.

The question is by whom is the next step to be done?

By Linux distributions or the mainline kernel to start developing and inclusion of hgfs driver,

or rather by VmWare to provide the Open Source partners with all needed elements: technical specs, licenses, ....

The answer seems to be found on Ubuntu launchpad open-vm-tools project.

The guys are working on hgfs driver for Ubuntu distribution.

A version with working shared folders will hopefully available soon.