How To Install VMware Tools on Ubuntu Guests
I’ve been playing more and more with virtualization lately. Partly in testing Ubuntu alpha and beta releases but also testing the folding project installer and compatibility with multiple distributions. You may have seen my previous tutorials on installing VMware Server on Ubuntu 7.04 or installing VMware Server on Ubuntu 7.10. This tutorial should maintain compatibility with either host (servers running 7.04 or 7.10) in installing vmware tools within the Ubuntu guests.
Install The Compiler Tools
You’ll need to install a few packages in order to compile the latest VMware Tools. These steps are done within the Ubuntu virtual guest:
sudo aptitude install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r)
Install VMware Tools
Next you need to tell VMware Server that you’d like to install the VMware Tools. This is done by clicking on VM > Install VMware Tools… in the VMware Server menu running on the host. This must be done while the virtual Ubuntu guest is already running.
This will load a virtual CDROM within your virtualized Ubuntu guest. You may see a window pop-up within the guest. You can close this as we’ll be compiling the VMware Tools on the command line.
Open a terminal (Applications > Accessories > Terminal) and use the following commands. It should be safe to copy-paste:
sudo aptitude updatesudo aptitude install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r)
cp -a /media/cdrom/VMwareTools* /tmp/
cd /tmp/
tar -vxzf VMwareTools*.gz
cd vmware-tools-distrib/
sudo ./vmware-install.pl
Simply select all the defaults (press ENTER) at the prompts and before you know it you’ll have VMware Tools installed on the virtual Ubuntu guests. The only prompt I had to make a different selection on in my machines was the video resolution.
note: considering we are compiling the tools for the current running version of the kernel these steps may need to be retaken if the virtualized Ubuntu guest upgrades its kernel.
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43 Responses to “How To Install VMware Tools on Ubuntu Guests”
Your VMWare tutorials are helpful, but have you ever tried VirtualBox? It’s much easier to set up (they provide DEBs and even a repository for Ubuntu) and use, and it’s open source! Try it out if you haven’t before.
Mo - I have used virtualbox and I’ve got a VirtualBox tutorial in the works. The problem is that VirtualBox does not do proper network bridging without a lot of extra work, whereas VMware Server does. This is really the primary reason I’m using VMware Server currently.
I’ll get it figured out, and you’re sure to see a tutorial once I do.
I am trying this on Ubuntu 7.10 Server and every module in VMware Tools fails to compile. I have all the prerequisites (build-essential, linux headers for the server edition, etc.).
vmmemctl-only/os.c:26:26: error: linux/config.h: No such file or directory
vmhgfs-only/driver.c: In function ‘HgfsGetSb’:
vmhgfs-only/driver.c:4454: error: too few arguments to function ‘get_sb_nodev’
I ran into a problem installing VMtools. When I enter the 2nd step in the 2nd section of your instructions (sudo aptitude install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r)) I receive the following error:
bash: rlc: command not found
When I enter: tar -vxzf VMwareTools*
I get this error: gzip: stdin: not in gzip format
tar: Child returned status 1
tar: VMwareTools-6.0.1-55017.tar.gz: Not found in archive
tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors
I’ve tried running the steps in root as well, with the same errors.
I’m running VMware Workstation 6.01, with WinXP as host and Ubuntu 7.04 as guest.
Could you give me any advice on what to do next?
Thanks,
Ron Cary
rlcary@gmail.com
[...] written on how to install VMware Server on Ubuntu 7.10, install VMware Server on Ubuntu 7.04 and install VMware Tools, but installing VirtualBox has a few of its own benefits. One, it is actually Open Source / Free [...]
When I enter: tar -vxzf VMwareTools*
I get this error: gzip: stdin: not in gzip format
tar: Child returned status 1
tar: VMwareTools-6.0.1-55017.tar.gz: Not found in archive
tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors
For the above error you need to change the step :
cp -a /media/cdrom/VMwareTools* /tmp/
to:
cp -a /media/cdrom/VMwareTools*.gz /tmp/
The problem is it tries to gunzip the .rpm file, which obviously fails..
I used this on Workstation 6, Vista32 as host and Ubuntu 7.10 server as guest.
I had a similar problem with the tar command. I received this error:
tar: Child returned status 1
tar: VMwareTools-6.0.1-55017.tar.gz: Not found in archive
tar: Error exit delayed from previous errors
I solved it by dropping the * and entering the complete file name of the .gz file as follows:
tar -vxzf VMwareTools-6.0.1-55017.tar.gz
AFAIK VmWare products don’t currently support Gutsy as guest. In fact, the vmware tools as shipped with player 2.0.1 (build 55017) ends up with compile errors on the hgfs (shared folders) module with kernel 2.6.22 and says it has no drivers for Xorg 1.3 (i.e. no enhanced mouse). Did anyone get the vmware-tools fully installed somehow in Gutsy?
Here is a tip on fixing the hgfs problem in vmware and ubunty 7.10:
http://communities.vmware.com/thread/107691
Hi,
Given that many people installing VMWare Tools will be windows users who are trying out Ubuntu, I suggest you make it explicit that the file names are case sensitive - something windows users will not be used to having to contend with.
It threw me for a while!
Alan.
Noob alert!
I got to the second of the commands on your list and it asked for a different disk name ‘Ubuntu 7.10 _Gutsy Gibbon_ - Release amd64 (20071016)’ than the disk (CD) I have which is “Ubuntu 7.10 amd6″ !???
VMware Fusion v1.1b1 on MacPro OSX 10.4.10
Hi,
tnx! for the tutorial, however i got this message:
The installation of VMware Tools 6.0.1 build-55017 for Linux completed
successfully. You can decide to remove this software from your system at any
time by invoking the following command: “/bin/vmware-uninstall-tools.pl”.
Before running VMware Tools for the first time, you need to configure it by
invoking the following command: “/bin/vmware-config-tools.pl”. Do you want this
program to invoke the command for you now? [yes]
sh: /etc/vmware-tools: Permission denied
Making sure services for VMware Tools are stopped.
Unable to stop services for VMware Tools
Execution aborted.
[...] here for more This entry was posted on Friday, October 26th, 2007 at 4:38 pm and is filed under tools. [...]
Hi farmer,
Make sure you either sudo or log in as root to run the command
For VMWare Tools 6.0.2 install on Gutsy Gibbon, the cp command needs to be:
cp -a /media/VMware\ Tools* /tmp/
Please note the space between VMware and Tools* that needs to be ‘escaped’. Also notice that there is no ‘cdrom’ in the path.
None of these instructions work for VMWare Tools 6.0.2. Please correct and repost once you figure out the correct sequence (and most important, syntax) of the commands.
I also run into a wall. Ubuntu as guest Virtual Machine of Vista on a Xeon 5160 cpu.
All the VMwaretools compile ok EXCEPT the vmhgfs module used for sharing directories with the host. I get
error: too few arguments to function ‘kmem_cache_create’
Any ideas?
[...] to Ubuntu Tutorials for the info. Share and Enjoy: These icons link to social bookmarking sites where readers can [...]
[...] to Ubuntu Tutorials for the [...]
Help…Clicking thing “install vm” thing doesn’t cause anything to happen in Ubuntu at all. I even tried to open the Media folder and go into cdrom, but there’s no VM folder at all.
Someone help!!
apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r) -y
cd /usr/src
ln -s linux-headers-$(uname -r) linux
cat </usr/src/linux/include/linux/config.h
#ifndef _LINUX_CONFIG_H
#define _LINUX_CONFIG_H
#include
#endif
EOF
rm /etc/vmware-tools/not_configured
then install tools as per generic linux guest guide…
Hey George,
I was having the same problem farmer was having:
sh: /etc/vmware: Permission denied
Unable to stop services for VMware Server
I tried using:
sudo /bin/vmware-config.pl
but it was to no avail. Trying to install vmware on ubuntu 7.10
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Clicking VM/Install VMware Tools. Enter the “cp -a /media/cdrom/VMwareTools* /tmp/” command and get the following error “cp: cannot stat `/media/cdrom/VMwareTools*’: No such file or directory” What do I do?
Re: error: too few arguments to function ‘kmem_cache_create’
See http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=595348
for a one-line patch to make vmhgfs in the VMware Tools compile.
All you need to do is change ‘<’ to ‘<=’ in compat_slab.h
Thanks for the small guide, so a small for it note too
For some reason it didn’t mount the downloaded .iso alone so I had to mount it myself (as root). The iso was found on my ~/.VirtualBox it took me 2 minutes looking for it
Ok, I visited this page and learned quite a bit about installing programs in Ubuntu (which is insanely complicated, but fun to play with). Anyway, VMware has a very good instruction in their webpage.
http://www.vmware.com/support/ws55/doc/ws_newguest_tools_linux.html
I didn’t follow these instruction though, I was kind of typing things in randomly. And it works. Oh, for those of you who really like to know more, here is a website explain how to “install ANYTHING in Ubuntu.”
http://www.monkeyblog.org/ubuntu/installing/
By the way, is there any of you guys know how to check if VMwareTools is installed or not?
What is it for and How do I use it anyway? (:P)
Thank you so much for your tutorial. I did experience some problems; but without your tutorial i wouldnt have known where to start, i would have been lost. I am a power user, but in windows and os x… (L)Unix Terminal is very new to me. Thanks again!
For the anyone with a more recent kernel that is getting compiling issues with some of the drivers, this web site has some patches to fix the code:
http://tuxx-home.at/archives/2007/06/29/T12_33_53/
The problem is that the most recent kernels had some changes which break the vmware tools source, but the toolsl source can be fixed.
This tutorial is now a bit out of date, anyone getting kernel issues at the compile step should upgrade their VMWare player/workstation to 5.5.6
You Know! I tried to install VMwareTools for around 5 days, searching in the web and couldn’t find the rigth way to do it, even the “VMware Manual” is USLESS. So your instrucctions are so easy to follow even for a Mexican guy like me.Thank You so much. “Eres un Cabron”
I tried to install vmware tools on ubuntu and currently I’m facing following issue when I’m trying to run ./vmware-install.pl
A previous installation of VMware software has been detected.
Unable to find the answer LIBDIR in the installer database (/etc/vmware-tools/locations). You may want to re-install VMware Tools.
Execution aborted
I’m also not able to uninstall tools.
Thanks in advance for a help
If you’re having problems getting the VMwareTools file, I had to unmount and remount the CDRom for it to show up.
ls /media/cdrom0/
You should see VMwaretools files. If not:
sudo umount /media/cdrom0/
sudo mount /media/cdrom0/
Then perform the ls /media/cdrom0/ again.
Perfect tutorial Works Perfect.
Thanks a lot !!!
ok well i got a question i got everything done fine no problems at all. But the last question it asked me i didnt understand completely i thought it was asking for a password so i typed that in and what i now think it wanted was my username. Will this create problems? Says installed when i rebooted into my system.. I hope i didnt spend all that time setting this up only to screw it up lol
Take care
G
Thank you for this article. Very appreciated.
I am new to Linux, and needed to install VMWare tools on my Macbook with VMWare fusion. I followed your instructions, and everything went perfectly.
Thanks for your tutorial as I would have been completely stuck without them.
Excellent info. After installing current VMware Workstation on a new Vista system and putting in Ubuntu 8.04.1 I found VMware Tools install didn’t work for this release of Ubuntu. I just followed the procedure given here … everything went in as advertised, although the kernel differences required a good bit of recompile in finishing up, all of which went in without a hitch. Thanks! I figure this saved me a good bit of grief trying to get the tools in by cruder means.
great work,
Well, congrats to all you Linux peeps, but once again, this thing has too many warts. Call me a troll, but how the h@!! can anyone say Linux is ready for the desktop when installing the VMWare tools takes a manual? Please, wake me when Ubuntu can compare with the XP procedure: Double-click the .exe and follow the prompts.
Your a troll! Hey you asked me too. I guess we won’t be waking you up anytime soon if you want easy GUI tools to install software that isn’t packaged for Debian/Ubuntu however the power of apt/aptitude makes a mockery of any Double click exe follow the prompts.
I followed the steps but after “sudo ./vmware-install.pl” I had a problem.
There was a question “What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running kernel? [/usr/src/linus/include]“.
When I pressed transmit I received the message “The paht “/usr/src/linux/include” is not an existing directory.”.
I checked and I had two directories under /usr/src. They are /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.24-19 and /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.24-19generic.
I tried both files and received the same message “The path “/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.24-19[or 2.6.24-19generic]/include” is a kernel header file directory, but it does not contain the file “linux/version.h” as expected. This can happen if the kernel has never been built, or if you have invoked the “make mrproper” command in your kernel directory. In any case, you may want to rebuild your kernel.”.
It just keeps repeating the question until I close the window.
Do you know what is wrong?
Sorry, I should have said I have just built the virtual machine using Ubuntu version 8.04
I think I have found the proper header files at /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.24-19-generic/include/linux/version.h. (Another possibility is /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.24-19-386/include, I have tried both.)
The question is:
What is the location of C header files that match your running kernel? [/usr/src/linux/include]
I have tried responding with:
/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.24-19-generic/include
/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.24-19-generic/include/
/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.24-19-386/include
/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.24-19-386/include/
All give the following response:
The directory of kernel headers (version @@VMWARE@@ UTS_RELEASE) does not match your running kernel (version 2.6.24-19-generic). Even if the module were to compile successfully, it would not load into the running kernel.
Then it asks for the location again.
Can anyone help me?