Open Virtual Machine Tools vs VMware Tools on Linux VM's

[macgreen]

I have just installed OpenSUSE 11 Linux in a virtual machine on my ESX 3.5 platform and on completion ran update of the kernel and other auto-installed packages.

I noticed that included for update were 2 packages:

open-vm-tools

vmware-kmp-default

Both are described as 'Open Virtual Machine' tools.

Kernel update required a reboot.

Post-reboot the following was noticed:

1. Better mouse performance in the OpenSUSE Virtual Machine console (running GNOME gui) within the VI Client.

2. My Virtual Machine clock was now in sync with the ESX Host

3. VMware Tools in the VI Client for this VM was now reporting OK

All this and I had not installed 'VMware Tools'. either the tar or the rpm

Q: Which set of Tools should I be using or gives best performance at the moment.? Any references?

Q: If I were to install the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server should I definitely be using the VMware Tools?

Hope to hear your opinions.

[Texiwill]

Hello,

Moved to VI: Virtual Machine and Guest OS forum.

Q: Which set of Tools should I be using or gives best performance at the moment.? Any references?

Both should be the same as they are developed by Vmware employees as well.

Q: If I were to install the SUSE Linux Enterprise Server should I definitely be using the VMware Tools?

That is up to you. Open VM Tools are the 'latest' VMware Tools and support a wider range of OS' than the ones direct from VMware.

Best regards,

Edward L. Haletky

VMware Communities User Moderator

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

SearchVMware Blog: http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/virtualization-pro/

Blue Gears Blogs - http://www.itworld.com/ and http://www.networkworld.com/community/haletky

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