Installing or upgrading VMware Tools from the ESX console

Symptoms

This article provides command to install or upgrade VMware Tools from the ESX console. 

Resolution

Note: Before you install or upgrade VMware Tools, ensure that the the virtual machine is powered on and that the correct operating system type is selected in Edit Settings.
 
To install VMware Tools from the ESX console, run the command:
 
vimsh -n -e "/vmsvc/tools.install /vmfs/volumes/"
 
To upgrade VMware Tools from the ESX console, run the command:
 
vimsh -n -e "/vmsvc/tools.upgrade /vmfs/volumes/"
 
To update VMware Tools using VMware PowerCLI, run this command in the VMware PowerCLI command prompt:
 
Get-VM [-Name VMNAME] [-NoReboot] | Update-Tools
 
 
To verify the VMware Tools version of a virtual machine, run this command in VMware PowerCLI prompt:
 
Get-view -ViewType VirtualMachine -Property Name,Guest.ToolsVersion,Guest.ToolsRunningStatus | select Name

Based on VMware KB 1005573
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