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Overview of VMware Tools (340)
Details
This article includes an overview of VMware Tools, lists the product documentation that contains instructions for installing VMware Tools, and provides additional links to VMware Tools installation instructions and troubleshooting information.
VMware Tools is a suite of utilities that enhances the performance of the virtual machine's guest operating system and improves management of the virtual machine. Without VMware Tools installed in your guest operating system, guest performance lacks important functionality. Installing VMware Tools eliminates or improves these issues:
Low video resolution
Inadequate color depth
Incorrect display of network speed
Restricted movement of the mouse
Inability to copy and paste and drag-and-drop files
Missing sound
VMware Tools includes these components:
VMware Tools service
VMware device drivers
VMware user process
VMware Tools control panel
VMware Tools is provided in these formats:
ISOs (contain .tar files): These are packaged with the product and are installed in a number of ways, depending upon the VMware product and the guest operating system installed in the virtual machine. For more information, see the Installing VMware Tools section. VMware Tools provides a different ISO file for each type of supported guest operating system: Windows, Linux, NetWare, Solaris, and FreeBSD.
Operating System Specific Packages (OSPs): These are downloaded and installed from the command line on an ESXi/ESX host. VMware Tools is available as separate downloadable, light-weight packages that are specific to each supported Linux operating system and VMware product. OSPs are an alternative to the existing mechanism for installing VMware Tools and only support Linux systems running on ESXi/ESX. To download OSPs and to find important information and instructions, go to http://www.vmware.com/download/packages.html. For a list of supported guest operating systems, go to http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php?deviceCategory=software.
