Install ESX tools without GUI in Ubuntu

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Current revision as of 23:15, 6 July 2014

Instructions based in Installing VMware Tools in an Ubuntu virtual machine (1022525)

The below worked for me in Ubuntu 12.04 LTS and 14.04 LTS

Ubuntu Server with only a command line interface

In vCenter go to Guest > Install/Upgrade VMware Tools

In the Ubuntu guest, run these commands:

Create a directory to mount the CD-ROM by running the command:

guestvm$ sudo mkdir /mnt/cdrom

When 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.

Mount the CD-ROM by running the command:

guestvm$ sudo mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom or sudo mount /dev/sr0 /mnt/cdrom

The file name of the VMware Tools bundle varies depending on your version of the VMware product. Run this command to find the exact name:

guestvm$ ls /mnt/cdrom

Extract the contents of the VMware Tools bundle by running the command:

guestvm$ sudo tar xzvf /mnt/cdrom/VMwareTools-x.x.x-xxxx.tar.gz -C /tmp/

Note: x.x.x-xxxx is the version discovered in the previous step.

Change directories into the VMware Tools distribution by running the command:

guestvm$ sudo cd /tmp/vmware-tools-distrib/

Install VMware Tools by running the command:

guestvm$ sudo ./vmware-install.pl -d

Note: The -d switch 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:

guestvm$ sudo reboot