VMware Fusion 13 on iMac running Ventura. No VMwar...

Tony030942 · ‎10-04-2023

As a newbie I have managed to install VMware Fusion 13 and create a Guest with OSX 10.7 Lion running.

I have downloaded VMware tools for Mac but there is no VMware Toolbar visible to enable installation of Tools.

All I have is the Mac Finder for Host and Finder for Guest. There is no assistance in VMware Manual and no YouTube video that I can find to help.

Help please.

Technogeezer · ‎10-05-2023

The article you are posting a screen shot of is for VMware Workstation on a PC, not for VMware Fusion (and since it's talking about using a macOS VM on a PC, further discussion about that article is a off-limits in this forum as it's a violation of Apple licensing to run macOS on non-Apple hardware).

Open the Fusion in-product documentation (Help -> VMware Fusion Help) and search for "install vmware tools mac". The search page will give you a list of help articles, and one of them is "Manually Installing VMware Tools in a macOS Virtual Machine". That article will tell you how to install VMware Tools in a macOS VM.

This being said, there is a bug in Fusion 13 where the correct VMware Tools installer is not mounted for some older guest operating systems. That bug will mount a Tools installer in the Lion VM that won't install. See https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-Fusion-Discussions/VMware-Tools-does-not-install-in-Mac-OS-... for a solution for that issue.

Another warning. You may need to turn the clock back in the VM to sometime before 2020 as the code signing certificate in the VMware Tools installer for those older macOS release has an expiration date that has passed. And no, VMware is not going back to fix that because they have stopped all development for VMware Tools for all macOS releases.

- Paul (Technogeezer)
Editor of the Unofficial Fusion Companion Guides

Tony030942 · ‎10-05-2023

Dear Technogeezer,

Thank you for that helpful information.

Alas, on Mac, VMware Help offers no install assistance or tools link. I have downloaded the VMware tools for Mac manually from VM Customer Connect website and have a folder containing darwin.iso; darwin.iso.sha; darwin.iso.sig

This Customer Connect page offer no installation instructions however I found https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Tools/12.3.0/com.vmware.vsphere.vmwaretools.doc/GUID-FC74F5F1-ECC1... which gives directions for install on Mac using an Installer Assistant. I assume the ‘Install VMware Tools’ package is the Installer assistant VMware refer to. The Tools version is 12.3.0 which appears to be the latest version.

I double click the package and the installation process does not run.

VMwareTools will Not install!

I read Parent Topic which explained install process and need to cancel virus-ware.

I read your 08-24-2023 article which referred to Package Contents which are not in the current Tools version.

I searched VMware site and found https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/90203?lang=en_US&queryTerm=vmware%20tools%20packages%20for%20macos and drilling further found "VMware Tools installed in a virtual machine can be upgraded independently from the underlying VMware platform product. VMware Tools will gracefully degrade depending on the virtual machine hardware version and the VMware platform product's capabilities (forward and backward compatible).".

So RDPetrushka’s reference to earlier and later versions of VMware Tools for Mac may be redundant. I say MAY. Perhaps the solution IS to use an earlier version of Tools as you describe if it is available?

Can you provide a link to old version of VMTools as VMware site now only offers current Tools versions.

Many Thanks

Tony

Technogeezer · ‎10-05-2023

Tony,

Fusion 13 includes the old version of VMware Tools that you will need for Lion, it’s just that a bug prevents them from being installed the way they should. See the forum posting for the solution to this. Even though the post references macOS Snow Leopard, the solution that locates the correct version of the tools installer ISO and has you mount then manually via the virtual CD/DVD drive will work for Lion as well.

- Paul (Technogeezer)
Editor of the Unofficial Fusion Companion Guides

Tony030942 · ‎10-05-2023

Dear TechnoGeezer,

Yes, I read and understood the explanation you gave regarding Snow Leopard and I recognise its relevance.

My concern is accessing the file components in order to select and if necessary - change clock time. As I showed in my previous screenshots, there are three darwin files which I displayed open and they did not include the x86-x64 file you identified.

Alternatively; I found http://softwareupdate.vmware.com/cds/vmw-desktop/fusion/ which offers earlier packages.

I downloaded VMware Tools for OSX 11.5.0 and the package actually ran and installed then Error message said ‘Installation failed’ and it quit.

I cannot follow your procedure as Right Click on Installer Folder offers ‘Open’ which reveals Finder list of file content. Right click on darwin.iso does not offer Show Package Contents’

How do I ‘drill down’? what am I missing? Are you on a different OS? Can we blame Ventura? Do I need an extractor app?

Technogeezer · ‎10-06-2023

Tony,

First forget about anything you've downloaded from VMware. The file "darwin.iso" that you've download is not the right one. It does not contain the version of Tools that is required for 10.7 Lion and will not install. Unfortunately VMware does not seem to make it easy to find and download the right version from their web sites.

However, you don't need to download a thing from VMware. Everything you need is contained in Fusion 13. Here's what to do:

Assuming you have Fusion 13 installed and the Lion VM is shut down, go to Finder on your Mac, select “Go”, then “Go to Folder…”

When asked for a folder, type in “/Applications/VMware Fusion.app/Contents/Library/isoimages/x86_x64”, then type Enter.

You will then see a list of .iso and .plist files - these are the VMware Tools files that are bundled with Fusion:

While holding the Option key, drag the file “darwinPre15.iso” to the Desktop. NOT DARWIN.ISO. This will make a copy of the file in a place that is easily found by Fusion for the next steps.

Now, switch to Fusion.

In the Fusion Virtual Machine Library, open the Settings on the Lion VM, then click on the CD/DVD drive. Use the pull-down to “Choose a disc or disc image…”

A dialog will open. Use it to select the ‘darwinPre15.iso” file that you moved to your Desktop. Then click
Open.

You will be returned to the CD/DVD setting dialog. Make sure the “Connect CD/DVD Drive” box is checked, then close the Settings window.

Now power up your Lion VM.

After you log into the VM, the VMware Tools installer "CD" should be visible. Depending on your VM’s settings, it should be visible on its Desktop, or in the sidebar of a Finder window. Open the Tools installer drive if Lion did not do it for you automatically.

Double click on “Install VMware Tools”. The installer will start.

The installer may warn about an expired certificate. If it does, elect to continue because you know what you’re doing.

When installation is finished, the installer will reboot the VM.

After reboot you may eject the VMware Tools install CD from the VM. You may also move the 'darwinPre15.iso" file from your Desktop to the Trash as it's no longer needed. You can also modify the VM's settings to uncheck the "Connect CD/DVD drive" option.

- Paul (Technogeezer)
Editor of the Unofficial Fusion Companion Guides

View solution in original post

Tony030942 · ‎10-06-2023

Dear Technogeezer,

You are a Champion.

Everything worked as you described. No notice of expired Certificate. All operating perfectly.

Given the dearth of useful information from MVware Your advice has proved invaluable. The time and attention you provide to help others is most generous and most admirable. Speaking as a professional graphic designer, if there is anything I can do for you do not hesitate to ask. I shall be honoured to assist.

tonyfostergraphicdesign.com

Sincere Best Wishes.

Tony

Technogeezer · ‎10-06-2023

Tony, you are welcome and glad you were able to get this fixed.

The real problem is that VMware made it harder than it had to be. The documented procedure for installing VMware Tools by using the Fusion menu Virtual Machine -> Install VMware Tools should have mounted the correct ISO. But Fusion 13 has a bug that doesn't select the right iso file for older operating systems. The bug appears to be fixed in the Fusion 2023 Tech Preview, and should be fixed for good in the next Fusion release (fingers crossed).

- Paul (Technogeezer)
Editor of the Unofficial Fusion Companion Guides

Tony030942 · ‎10-06-2023

Dear Technogeezer,

It seems I am not quite out of the woods.

I cannot get Migration Assistant to import settings, apps and account files from an external drive/dock. Cannot find drive on Host desktop.

Alternatively, VMware see’s the external drive and a window states "The device 'Lion (ASMedia ASM1156-PM)' offers me the option of importing to Host or Guest then states "unable to connect to its ideal host controller.” I am warned connection may make MVware unstable. I go ahead and click import and that is the end of the process. No external drive icon on Guest Lion desktop. Finder has external disk ticked in preferences for visibility along with HDD and iMacs etc.

I tried with an old LaCie external drive with a complete boot clone of Lion. Same problem. Actually linking an old computer via USB is a bit difficult at this point in time. Perhaps that is the only option?

Cheers.

Technogeezer · ‎10-06-2023

Sounds like a USB 2/USB 3 issue.Lion doesn’t understand USB 3.1., and the default USB settings for a new VM may be set for a virtual USB 3 controller

Check this: In the VM’s settings, open the USB & Bluetooth setting. Click on the triangle to the left of the text “Advanced USB options” and make sure the USB compatibility is set to USB 2.0.

- Paul (Technogeezer)
Editor of the Unofficial Fusion Companion Guides

Tony030942 · ‎10-07-2023

OK, all checked - USB 2.0 is default setting. No changes necessary.

Tony030942 · ‎10-08-2023

I have OSX lion set up and running in MVware Fusion 13 on a 2019 Intel iMac.

Can anyone explain how I use Migration Assistant and to import settings, files and apps from 2007 iMac into the Guest VMware Lion

When I open Migration assistant from within MVware Guest Account Lion, Migration Assistant is not able to find any servers/drives/files.

I have external drives visible on Host desktop but Fusion 13 window identifies the external drive 'Lion (ASMedia ASM1156-PM)' offering me the option of importing to Host or Guest then states "unable to connect to its ideal host controller.” I am warned connection may make MVware unstable. I go ahead and click import and that is the end of the process. No external drive icon on Guest Lion desktop. Finder has external disk ticked in preferences for visibility along with HDD and iMacs etc.

I assume Migration assistant wants a Mac attached. So I connected 2007 iMac to 2019 iMac via ethernet and open file sharing on both computers. I also open Migration Assistant on 2007 iMac, set "To anther Mac". I run Migration Assistant from Guest Lion but Migration Assistant can find nothing. (I have detached all external drives for this exercise). Search spiral rotates ad infinitum.

Technogeezer asked me to check VMware USB settings which I found at 2.0. Decided to refit the garden shed while I waited for USB 2.0 to operate but not such luck, it is still spinning!

Is this a limitation of the free, basic application? Any idea’s will be appreciated.

VMware Fusion 13 on iMac running Ventura. No VMware toolbar visible.Help please!