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lakey81
Enthusiast
Enthusiast
‎07-11-2012 01:32 PM

VMware Tools Versions

I'm trying to find information about vmware tools versions and when it would trigger the guest to register is out of date.  And also why there are 3 different build numbers for the same set version of tools!

For instance on ESXi 4.1 with Update 2 and the 201201001 patch tools was version 8300 when queried by powercli, version 8.3.12.9814 in add remove programs, and 8.3.12 build 559xxx when looking at the about tab from the vmware tools icon in the system tray.

After installing the latest patches for 4.1 ( 201204001, 5001, 6001)  the version is still 8300 when queried by powercli, version 8.3.12.11880 in add remove programs, and 8.3.12 build 653xxx.

With the latest patches it did not trigger a status change in vcenter to display any VMs as out of date.  So my issue is how are we suppose to know that a VM needs tools updated on a minor revision when it doesn't show as out of date in vcenter?  Any why the heck are there 3 different build numbers for the same version of tools?

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Troy_Clavell
Immortal
Immortal
‎07-11-2012 01:56 PM

the guest tools come from ESXi.  In dot releases and U1 releases you will see a VMware Tools upgrade as well.  With that said, there are patches released that fix a specific use case, some of them will require the update of the guest tools.  So, in short if your tools are being reported as "current" or "OK", you should not have to worry. http://www.vmware.com/go/downloadpatches

The system tray icon will give you the toosl build as it pertains to ESX(i) (or as close to it as possible).  the PowerCLI gives you the API build. RVTools does the same thing.

see also, http://kb.vmware.com/kb/1972

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