This article provides steps to install VMware Tools in a Solaris guest operating system.

Note:
For an overview of VMware Tools, see Overview of VMware Tools (340)
For general VMware Tools installation information, see Install VMware Tools (1014294)
 

To install VMware Tools in a Solaris guest operating system:

1. In the vSphere Client, ensure that your Solaris virtual machine is powered on.
2. If you are running a GUI interface on the Solaris virtual machine, open a command shell.
   
   Note: Log in as a root user, or use the sudo command to complete each of these steps.
    
3. In the vSphere Client, click VM in the virtual machine menu.
4. Click Guest > Install/Upgrade VMware Tools and click OK.
5. In the Solaris virtual machine, copy the vmware-solaris-tools.tar.gz file from /cdrom/vmwaretools to a temporary directory (/tmp/).
   
   Notes:
   • The /cdrom folder may need to be created before proceeding.
   • If the CD-ROM device is not mounted, run these commands and then attempt to copy the file:
     
     cd /var/svc/profile
     sudo svcadm enable -r volfs
      
6. Decompress the file using the gunzip command. For example:
   
   # gunzip vmware-solaris-tools.tar.gz
    
7. Extract the contents of the tar file using this command:
   
   # tar xvf vmware-solaris-tools.tar
    
8. Change directory using this command:
   
   # cd vmware-tools-distrib
    
9. To install the VMware Tools, run this command from the directory that you changed in step 7:
   
   # ./vmware-install.pl
    
10. Press Enter to accept all of the default values.
11. Reboot the virtual machine for the changes to take effect.
12. Check if VMware tools service is running using this command:
    
    # /etc/init.d/vmware-tools status
    
    You see output similar to:
    
    vmtoolsd is running
     
13. Add vmware-toolbox to the list of startup commands of your desktop.
    
    If you are using Java Desktop System, Release 3:
     
    1. Go to Launch > Preferences > Desktop Preferences > Sessions.
    2. Click Startup Programs tab and add these entries:
       
       /usr/bin/vmware-user
       /usr/bin/vmware-toolbox