What is VMware Tools?

VMware Tools is a software package used to enhance the performance and functionality of virtual machines (VMs) running on VMware virtualization platforms. It provides better integration with virtualization platforms and offers various benefits.

Benefits of VMware Tools

Some of the benefits of VMware Tools include:

Enhanced graphics drivers for improved graphics performance.
File and data copying functionality between virtual machines.
Operating system integration and improved mouse functionality.
Power management options specific to virtual machines.

How to Install VMware Tools

The process of installing VMware Tools can vary depending on the guest operating system. Below, we provide step-by-step instructions for installing VMware Tools on commonly used operating systems:

Installing VMware Tools on Windows Operating Systems

Open your virtual machine and connect using your VMware application.
In the virtual machine's main window, select the "VM" menu.
Click on the "Guest" tab and select "Install/Upgrade VMware Tools."
VMware Tools ISO file will be automatically mounted in the CD drive of your virtual machine.
Inside Windows, open this drive, and run VMwareToolsSetup.exe.
Follow the installation wizard to complete the process and restart your virtual machine.

Installing VMware Tools on Linux Operating Systems

Open your virtual machine and connect using your VMware application.
Open a terminal window and log in as the root user (sudo su).
In the terminal, run the following commands to install VMware Tools:

mkdir /mnt/cdrom
mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom
tar -C /tmp -zxvf /mnt/cdrom/VMwareTools-*.tar.gz
cd /tmp/vmware-tools-distrib
./vmware-install.pl

Follow the installation wizard and configure the necessary settings.
Once the installation is complete, restart your virtual machine.

Installing VMware Tools on macOS Operating Systems

For macOS operating systems, VMware Tools typically does not require manual installation because products like VMware Fusion integrate this functionality. However, you can install VMware Tools by following these steps:

Open your virtual machine and connect using your VMware application.
In the virtual machine's main window, select the "VM" menu.
Click on the "Guest" tab and select "Install/Upgrade VMware Tools."
VMware Tools ISO file will be automatically mounted in the CD drive of your virtual machine.
Inside macOS, open this drive, and run the VMwareTools.pkg file.
Follow the installation wizard to complete the process and restart your virtual machine.

This article provides a guide on what VMware Tools is and how to install it on different operating systems. Having VMware Tools installed is essential for improving the performance and integration of virtual machines when using VMware virtualization platforms.