VMware Tools is a set of software components that enhance the performance and functionality of virtual machines. VMware Tools also provides seamless integration between the host and the guest operating systems, enabling features such as shared folders, drag and drop, copy and paste, and graceful shutdown. VMware Tools is essential for optimal performance and user experience of virtual machines.
However, upgrading VMware Tools can be a hassle, especially if it requires rebooting the virtual machine. Rebooting can disrupt the availability and functionality of the applications and services running on the virtual machine. Moreover, rebooting can be time-consuming and tedious, especially if there are many virtual machines to upgrade.
Fortunately, there is a way to upgrade VMware Tools without rebooting the virtual machine. This method uses the VMware Operating System Specific Packages (OSPs), which are repositories of VMware Tools packages for supported guest operating systems. By using OSPs, you can leverage the native update mechanisms of the guest operating system to install, upgrade, and manage VMware Tools. This way, you can avoid rebooting the virtual machine and minimize the downtime and disruption.
In this article, we will show you how to upgrade VMware Tools without rebooting vSphere using OSPs. We will also provide some references and supplementary materials for further information and troubleshooting.
Table of Contents
Prerequisites
Before you proceed with the upgrade, make sure that you have the following prerequisites:
- A vSphere environment with VMware ESXi and VMware vCenter Server
- A virtual machine running a supported guest operating system
- A user account with administrative privileges on the virtual machine
- A network connection between the virtual machine and the OSP repository
Read more: Solved: How Do I Upgrade VMware Tools without Rebooting vSphere
Steps to Upgrade VMware Tools without Rebooting vSphere
The steps to upgrade VMware Tools without rebooting vSphere using OSPs are as follows:
- Identify the guest operating system and the corresponding OSP repository. You can find the list of supported guest operating systems and the OSP repository URLs on the VMware documentation site: https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Tools/11.3.0/com.vmware.vsphere.vmwaretools.doc/GUID-594F7E79-0B6C-4D9A-9F94-9E9D9A1099E8.html
- Configure the guest operating system to access the OSP repository. Depending on the guest operating system, you may need to add the OSP repository as a source, import the repository key, or enable the repository. You can find the detailed instructions for each guest operating system on the VMware documentation site: https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Tools/11.3.0/com.vmware.vsphere.vmwaretools.doc/GUID-0D44F362-9C24-4867-9271-ACAC980D8D2F.html
- Install or upgrade VMware Tools using the native update mechanism of the guest operating system. Depending on the guest operating system, you may need to use a command-line tool, a graphical interface, or a package manager. You can find the detailed instructions for each guest operating system on the VMware documentation site: https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Tools/11.3.0/com.vmware.vsphere.vmwaretools.doc/GUID-6788EA2A-6B72-4E0E-B18C-FC7912D7F4C4.html
- Verify that VMware Tools is installed or upgraded successfully. You can check the status of VMware Tools on the vSphere Client or on the guest operating system. You can also run the vmware-toolbox-cmd command on the guest operating system to get more information about VMware Tools. You can find the detailed instructions for verifying VMware Tools on the VMware documentation site: https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Tools/11.3.0/com.vmware.vsphere.vmwaretools.doc/GUID-9A5093A5-C54F-450E-940D-D20A6EDFF5E8.html
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Here are some frequently asked questions related to upgrading VMware Tools without rebooting vSphere using OSPs:
Question: What are the benefits of using OSPs over the traditional method of upgrading VMware Tools?
Answer: OSPs offer the following benefits over the traditional method of upgrading VMware Tools:
- You can avoid rebooting the virtual machine and minimize the downtime and disruption.
- You can leverage the native update mechanisms of the guest operating system to install, upgrade, and manage VMware Tools.
- You can automate the installation and upgrade of VMware Tools using scripts or tools such as Ansible, Puppet, or Chef.
- You can customize the installation and upgrade of VMware Tools by selecting the components and features that you need.
Question: What are the drawbacks or limitations of using OSPs?
Answer: OSPs have the following drawbacks or limitations:
- OSPs are not available for all guest operating systems. You can find the list of supported guest operating systems and the OSP repository URLs on the VMware documentation site: https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Tools/11.3.0/com.vmware.vsphere.vmwaretools.doc/GUID-594F7E79-0B6C-4D9A-9F94-9E9D9A1099E8.html
- OSPs may not have the latest version of VMware Tools. You can check the version of VMware Tools on the OSP repository or on the guest operating system. You can also compare the version of VMware Tools on the OSP repository with the version of VMware Tools on the VMware Product Interoperability Matrix: https://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/sim/interop_matrix.php#interop&224=
- OSPs may not have all the components and features of VMware Tools. You can check the components and features of VMware Tools on the OSP repository or on the guest operating system. You can also compare the components and features of VMware Tools on the OSP repository with the components and features of VMware Tools on the VMware documentation site: https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Tools/11.3.0/com.vmware.vsphere.vmwaretools.doc/GUID-0D35FBE9-8C65-4FAB-B7DA-04DA2DC9758D.html
Question: How can I uninstall VMware Tools using OSPs?
Answer: You can uninstall VMware Tools using the native uninstall mechanism of the guest operating system. Depending on the guest operating system, you may need to use a command-line tool, a graphical interface, or a package manager. You can find the detailed instructions for uninstalling VMware Tools on the VMware documentation site: https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Tools/11.3.0/com.vmware.vsphere.vmwaretools.doc/GUID-18F9F9A7-EE1A-49A1-9E13-173614C88C7F.html
Summary
In this article, we showed you how to upgrade VMware Tools without rebooting vSphere using OSPs. We also provided some references and supplementary materials for further information and troubleshooting. We hope that this article was helpful and informative for you. If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact us.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute professional advice. The information and instructions provided in this article are based on the best knowledge and experience of the author, but may not be suitable or applicable for every situation or scenario. The author is not responsible or liable for any errors, omissions, damages, or losses that may arise from the use or misuse of the information and instructions provided in this article.