Need to install VMtools on a server what is the quickiest way to update it.

[James2000k]

I want to know the quickest way to update VMtools on a server and doesnt it rely on another program or you can just have VMtools installed by itself?

[Anjani_Kumar]

For a single server doing vmtools installation interactively is the fastest option.

For multiple server use the update manager to get it done fastly.

[James2000k]

Hi Anjani,

I was able to connect to the server thru vSphere but how do you go about installing vmware tools?

Someone suggested right clicking on the guest but it is not present to install tools

[James2000k]

Ok i actually choose to install the vmtools and selected  interactive install and it found the .exe to install.

But i have no idea how it found the setup.exe or it may have been downloaded previously. So my question is if i didnt have the .exe where is the download page to get the vmtools .exe and after its

installed how do you know it was installed because the guest still shows install vmware tools after i completed the install

[Anjani_Kumar]

James that works when you click on guest and install/upgrade vmware tools.

its shows in to cd rom if you look inside the guest os. Where you can autorun it and it will prompt. keep clicking next and finish the vmtools installation. (incase of OS is Windows)

Windows: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=101837...

Linux : http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=101839...

What is the os you are currently using?

[James2000k]

Im using a 2012 Server but the vmware tools installed after selecting the first option which i believe was interactive install. Somehow it found the .exe (someone may have already downloaded the .exe vmtools in the past and left it on the server is also poss) it needed to install the vmware tools.  My question is if it was never downloaded and i didnt have the cd to do it how would i have gotten it to install.  Also if i have a ESX server that has a virtual 2012 server running on it and i need to install a program from a cd onto that 2012 server how does that work if i am remoting into the ESX box via vsphere on a remote computer.  Do i just put the cd in my computer and it will pick it up on the virtual 2012 server?

[Anjani_Kumar · Accepted solution]

My question is if it was never downloaded and i didnt have the cd to do it how would i have gotten it to install.

Well. The vmtools are embadded in to the esxi host. Whenever you click on the VM by Guest>install/upgrade vmware tools. its automatically mount the vmtools iso in to the cdrom. you dont need to worry about the download of it.

Also if i have a ESX server that has a virtual 2012 server running on it and i need to install a program from a cd onto that 2012 server how does that work if i am remoting into the ESX box via vsphere on a remote computer.

As best practice we do create a separate datastore and add it in esxi host. Datastore keeps all the necessary iso and media contains on it. So whenever we need any thing to deploy we can just deploy and manage the vms by using the media from that datastore path.

Hope this cleared much doubts.

[James2000k]

I appreciate you clearing that up. I actually took the VCP boot camp a while ago and paid out of pocket because my job didnt want to pay for it. The problem was i never really got enough exposure to it other then troubleshooting virtual clients when i was at the other job. So I attempted to install a program in the past on my laptop that allow you to create a virtual network but that was lost when the laptop burned up.  So now I am back to square one trying to get back into the VMware but I probably have to start all over again. I am also attempting to study for my CCNA/CCNP as well and I also hear that its good to learn RedHat Linux to better understand VMware, is this true.

[Anjani_Kumar]

I also hear that its good to learn RedHat Linux to better understand VMware, is this true

Well your question is correct. Yes, for better troubleshooting you need to know some basics about linux. Basic because most of the commands and components are self developed by vmware so learn the vmware command lines too.

You can use to learn any flavour of linux like fedora, centos, ubuntu same have the same basic commandline and troubleshooting.

When i was new to vmware i was also searching for the new things badly and people here in community, blogs, Handsonlab youtube and other resources helped me very well. so keep looking in to them. they will surely help you a lot too. Good luck and happy learning