VMware Tools Help
Table of Contents Previous Next Index


Introducing VMware Tools

Introducing VMware Tools

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 by your VMware product. It is very important that you install VMware Tools in the guest operating system. Although a guest operating system can run without VMware Tools, you lose important functionality and convenience.

When you install VMware Tools, you install:

The VMware Tools service, called vmware-guestd on Linux, FreeBSD, and Solaris guests, that runs in the background of your virtual machine. For more information, see About the VMware Tools Service.

A set of VMware device drivers that smooth operations such as sharing folders and using the mouse. For more information, see About the VMware Device Drivers.

The VMware user process, called vmware-user on Linux and Solaris guests. For more information, see About the VMware User Process.

The VMware Tools control panel that lets you modify settings, shrink virtual disks, and connect and disconnect virtual devices. For more information, see Using the VMware Tools Control Panel.

A set of scripts that help automate guest operating system operations. The scripts run when the virtual machine’s power state changes. For more information, see Using Scripts.

Installation files for VMware Tools for all supported Windows, Linux, NetWare, FreeBSD, and Solaris guest operating systems are built into your VMware product.

About the VMware Device Drivers

Following is a description of the device drivers included with VMware Tools:

SVGA driver – With the VMware SVGA driver installed, the virtual machine can utilize up to 32-bit displays and high display resolution, with significantly faster overall graphics performance. If you run a guest operating system without VMware Tools, the graphics environment within the virtual machine is limited to VGA mode graphics (640x480, 16-color) and display performance might be unsatisfactory.

BusLogic SCSI driver – The VMware virtual SCSI driver is a BusLogic driver. Note that some recent guest operating systems contain LSI Logic drivers and can take advantage of the virtual LSI Logic adapter for better device performance. You specify whether to use the BusLogic or LSI Logic SCSI adapter when you create a virtual machine.

vmxnet driver – The vmxnet networking driver improves network performance. Search the VMware Knowledge Base for information on which guest operating systems are supported with the vmxnet driver.

When you create a virtual machine, by default the vlance driver is installed. Then when you install VMware Tools, the vmxnet driver is installed.

Mouse driver – The VMware mouse driver improves mouse performance in some guest operating systems. It is necessary for use with third-party tools such as Microsoft’s Terminal Services.

Kernel module for sharing folders – This module, called vmhgfs on Linux and Solaris, is recommended if you plan to use this virtual machine with Workstation or Fusion. Excluding this module prevents you from sharing a folder between your virtual machine and a Workstation or Fusion host.

Memory driver – The VMware memory control driver is recommended if you plan to use this virtual machine with ESX Server. Excluding this driver hinders the memory management capabilities of the virtual machine running on an ESX Server system.

 

About the VMware Tools Service

The VMware Tools service performs various duties within the guest operating system, such as:

Passing messages from the host operating system or ESX Server to the guest operating system.

Passing information between the guest operating system and a VMware Scripting API script.

Sending a heartbeat to the VMware product so that it knows the guest operating system is running. When the virtual machine is running under ESX Server, GSX Server, or VMware Server, a gauge for this heartbeat appears in the VMware Management Interface.

Synchronizing the time in the guest operating system with the time in the host operating system.

Running scripts in a virtual machine when the power state changes. See Using Scripts.

Executing commands in the virtual machine when you shut down or restart a Linux, Solaris, or FreeBSD guest operating system.

The VMware Tools service starts automatically when the guest operating system boots. For more information about the service, see your VMware product documentation.

Note: The VMware Tools service is not installed on NetWare operating systems. Instead, the vmwtool program is installed. It synchronizes time and allows you to turn the CPU idler on or off.

About the VMware User Process

The VMware Tools user process performs the following tasks in the guest operating system:

Enables you to copy and paste text between the guest and host operating systems. For virtual machines run under Workstation or Fusion, it enables you to copy and paste files between the host operating systems and Windows, Linux, and Solaris guest operating systems.

(For virtual machines run under Workstation or Fusion) Enables you to drag and drop files between the host operating systems and Windows, Linux, and Solaris guest operating systems.

On Linux and Solaris guests, grabs and releases the mouse cursor when the SVGA driver is not installed.

On Linux and Solaris guests, fits the guest’s screen resolution to the host’s.

Note: The VMware Tools user process is not installed on NetWare operating systems. Instead, the vmwtool program is installed. It controls the grabbing and releasing of the mouse cursor. It also allows you to copy and paste text. You cannot drag and drop or copy and paste files between hosts and NetWare guest operating systems.


VMware Tools Help