To resolve this issue, copy a valid VMware Tools ISO image from another ESXi host to the affected ESXi host.
Note: The resolution steps use a windows.iso file but can apply to any guest operating system version of VMware Tools stored in the vmtools directory.
To copy a valid VMware Tools ISO image to the affected ESXi host:
- Log in to an ESXi host that uses a valid VMware Tools ISO image. For more information, see Using ESXi Shell in ESXi 5.0 and 5.1 (2004746).
- Navigate to the vmtools directory using the command:
cd productlocker/vmtools
Note: This is a symlink to the local packages directory where VMware Tools is stored. Use the productlocker symlink to ensure the correct versions are copied.
- Copy the windows.iso file to a shared datastore by running the command:
cp windows.iso /vmfs/volumes/shared_datastore_name
- Log in to the affected ESXi host. For more information, see Using ESXi Shell in ESXi 5.0 and 5.1 (2004746).
- Take a backup of the windows.iso file on the affected ESXi host by running the commands:
cd productlocker/vmtools
cp windows.iso windows.iso.backup
- Copy the windows.iso file from the shared datastore to the vmtools directory on the affected host by running the command:
cp /vmfs/volumes/shared_datastore_name/windows.iso /path_to_vmtools_directory
Note: Use the cd productlocker/vmtools command to determine the /path_to_vmtools_directory.
- Install or upgrade VMware Tools for virtual machines running on the affected host. For more information, see General VMware Tools installation instructions (1014294).
Note: You can remove the windows.iso file on the shared datastore after it is copied to the vmtools directory of the affected host.