Troubleshooting VMware Tools Not Running for a Shutdown VM Action Status

A Shutdown VM action task has a Failed status in the Recent Task list and the Message indicates that VMware Tools were required.

Problem

The Shutdown VM action did not run successfully.

The Recent Tasks list indicates that a Shutdown VM action has a tasks status of Failed. When you evaluate the Messages list for the selected job, you see VMware Tools: Not running (Not installed).

Cause

The Shutdown VM action requires that VMware Tools is installed and running on the target virtual machines. If you ran the action on more than one object, then VMware Tools was not installed, or installed but not running, on at least one of the virtual machines.

Solution

• ♦ In the vCenter Server instance that manages the virtual machine that failed to run the action, install and start VMware Tools on the affected virtual machines.