Purpose
This article provides the steps to install VMware Tools in an Ubuntu virtual machine.
Note: Whenever the Linux kernel (operating system) is updated, VMware Tools needs to be reinstalled.
Resolution
To install VMware Tools, you must mount the VMware Tools CD image, extract the contents (VMware Tools), and then run the installer.
Note: If VMware Tools is already installed, these steps uninstall Tools and then reinstall Tools. When the product updates, so do the Tools package included so an update of VMware Tools is required.
Ubuntu or Ubuntu Server with a Graphical User Interface
To mount the CD image and extract the contents:
- Power on the virtual machine.
- Log into the virtual machine using an account with administrator or root privileges.
- Go to Virtual Machine > Install VMware Tools (or VM > Install VMware Tools)..
Note: If you are running the light version of Fusion, a version of Workstation without VMware Tools, or VMware Player, you are prompted to download Tools before they can be installed. Click Download Now to begin the download. - Open the VMware Tools CD mounted on the Ubuntu desktop.
- Right-click the file name that is similar to
VMwareTools.x.x.x-xxxx.tar.gz, click Extract to, and select the Ubuntu Desktop to save the extracted contents.
Thevmware-tools-distribfolder is extracted to the Ubuntu Desktop.
To install VMware Tools in Ubuntu:
- Go to Applications > Accessories > Terminal.
- In Terminal, run this command to navigate to the
vmware-tools-distribfolder:cd Desktop/vmware-tools-distrib - Run this command to install VMware Tools:
sudo ./vmware-install.pl -d
Note: The-dswitch assumes that you want to accept the defaults. If you do not use-d, press Return to accept the defaults or supply your own answers. - Enter your Ubuntu password.
- Restart the Ubuntu virtual machine after the VMware Tools installation completes.
Ubuntu Server with only a Command Line Interface
- Go to Virtual Machine > Install VMware Tools (or VM > Install VMware Tools).
Note: If you are running the light version of Fusion, or a version of Workstation without VMware Tools, or VMware Player, you are prompted to download the Tools before they can be installed. Click Download Now to begin the download. - In the Ubuntu guest, run these commands:
sudo mkdir /mnt/cdromWhen prompted for a password, enter your Ubuntu admin user password.
Note: For security reasons, the typed password is not displayed. You do not need to enter your password again for the next five minutes.sudo mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom or sudo mount /dev/sr0 /mnt/cdromThe file name of the VMware Tools bundle varies depending on your version of the VMware product. Run this command to find the exact name:ls /mnt/cdromtar xzvf /mnt/cdrom/VMwareTools-x.x.x-xxxx.tar.gz -C /tmp/
Note:x.x.x-xxxxis the version discovered in the previous step.cd /tmp/vmware-tools-distrib/sudo ./vmware-install.pl -d
Note: The-dswitch assumes that you want to accept the defaults. If you do not use-d, press Return to accept each default or supply your own answers.
- Run this command to reboot the virtual machine after the installation completes:
sudo reboot
