VMware Tools Status "Out of Date"

[MrVmware9423]

Dear Team,

In vcenter server inventory list, VM Tools status is displayed as "Out of date", just want to know what does it mean (vmware tools functions will work or not),

regards

Mr VMware

[julienvarela]

Hi,

Yes vmware tools functions will work, but you haven't the last version available regarding to your ESX.

Regards,

Julien

[MrVmware9423]

Thanks friend

Is there any impact if V tool status is "Out of Date"

[julienvarela]

No impact, but it is not a best practice. It is important to keep your vmware tools up to date. This way you will prevent any potential issue.

So, i will recommend you to update your tools.

Regards,

Julien

[MrVmware9423]

we have mix environment (3.5, 4.0, 4.1 ) once we take a clone from 3.5 to 4.0 or 4.0 to 4.1 then we are getting this problem, please help me with the latest version of vmware tools so that VMs which r running on 3.5., 4.0, 4.1 we will install latest version of vmware tools on all VMs so that we won't face this kind of issue in future.

[julienvarela]

for update your VMware tools, just select your vm-> right-click-->Guest--> Install/Upgrade vmware tools.

Regards,

Julien

[ScreamingSilenc]

Check this compatibility blog before you upgrade your VMware tools

Is a VMware Tools Upgrade Required When Upgrading vSphere? | VMware vSphere Blog - VMware Blogs

[TomHowarth]

Basically when you see VMware Tools out of date. it means that you have updated your vCenter and ESXi hosts to an newer version that has an updated version of the tools.  there is no need to worry as your currently installed Tools will continue to do their work.

[habeebth7]

Is there any chances that the VMware Tools status becomes out of date even though the host or vCenter is not upgraded? have seen in some VM the tool status became out of date after few months. Till then it was OK/Current..Have you guys seen this kind of behaviour??

[kashifkarar01]

Hi,

It is always recommended to have VMware tools up to date.

Reason:

VMware Tools is a suite of utilities that enhances the performance of the virtual machine's guest operating system and improves management of the virtual machine. Without VMware Tools installed in your guest operating system, guest performance lacks important functionality. Installing VMware Tools eliminates or improves these issues:

• Low video resolution
• Inadequate color depth
• Incorrect display of network speed
• Restricted movement of the mouse
• Inability to copy and paste and drag-and-drop files
• Missing sound
• Provides the ability to take quiesced snapshots of the guest OS

Here is the KB from VMware which has the detailed information on VMware tools : 

kb.vmware.com/kb/1008907

[vThinkBeyondVM]

I agree with kashifkarar01.

It is good to keep VM tools up to date.

[Jam1eG]

Whilst I would agree pretty much we have found a problem with vmtools that comes with ESXi 5.5U2 vmtools v9.4.10 giving poor NIC performance so we've had to downgrade to previous version to fix, have not yet gone to 9.4.11 on these performance hit machines but have on some others and observed no issues yet.