When GSS support team collects the vm-support bundle from the customers, the installer log files are also included in it. The installer logs reside in the virtual machine as well as the host. The installer log files are critical for diagnosis and triaging of installation related issues.

The Windows installer log files are all guest only and go to the %Temp% folder of the user account which launches the bootstrapper setup application.

The log files generated are:

Install log (vminst.log): Contains VMware controlled components log output.

MSI log (vmmsi.log): Contains Microsoft MSI controlled log output. To enable or disable MSI logging output, see the Microsoft knowledge base article KB 22330.

Prerequisites

Install the VMware Tools version 11.0.0 and vSphere 7.0 (and later).

Procedure

  1. For new installation or uninstallation or upgrade, vmx.log.guest.level option is used to enable or disable the installer logging to the host.
    The allowed values to be set for this option are listed below:
    Value Description
    vmx.log.guest.level = "off" Logging to host is disabled.

    This is the default value.
    vmx.log.guest.level = "error" The installer logs vminst.log and vmmsi.log are not sent to the host. Both the installer logs remain in the virtual machine.
    vmx.log.guest.level = "warning" The installer logs vminst.log and vmmsi.log are not sent to the host. Both the installer logs remain in the virtual machine.
    vmx.log.guest.level = "notice" The installer logs vminst.log and vmmsi.log are not sent to the host. Both the installer logs remain in the virtual machine.
    vmx.log.guest.level = "info" The installer log vminst.log is sent to the host but vmmsi.log remains in the virtual machine.
    vmx.log.guest.level = "verbose" Both the installer logs vminst.log and vmmsi.log are sent to the host.
    vmx.log.guest.level = "trivia" Both the installer logs vminst.log and vmmsi.log are sent to the host.
    Note: Guest admin can use "/mg" or "LOGMODE=G" command line options to control and suppress logging to the host.

    For example:

    setup.exe /mg

    setup.exe /v "LOGMODE=G"

    setup.exe /S /v "/qn LOGMODE=G"

    setup.exe /S /mg /v "/qn LOGMODE=G"

  2. For auto upgrade, install-vmxGuestLogDisabled is read and parsed instead of vmxGuestLogDisabled in tools.conf file.
    The allowed values to be set for this setting are listed as below:
    Value Description
    install-vmxGuestLogDisabled = true The installer logs are not sent to the host during auto upgrade.

    This is the default value.
    install-vmxGuestLogDisabled = false The installer logs are sent to the host during auto upgrade.
    Note: These settings go into the logging section. For example:

    Under the [logging] group,

    [logging]

    install-vmxGuestLogDisabled = false

  3. vMotion Impact:
    1. New Host to Old Host:
      For VMware Tools 11.0.0 and later versions, before vMotion, logs went to host guest log. After vMotion, logs stopped going to the host.
      For versions earlier to VMware Tools 11.0.0, before vMotion, logs went to guest %TEMP% folder only. After vMotion, logs go to guest %TEMP% folder only.
    2. Old Host to New Host:
      For VMware Tools 11.0.0 and later versions, before vMotion, logs went to guest %TEMP% folder only. After vMotion, logs go to guest %TEMP% folder only.
      For versions earlier to VMware Tools 11.0.0, before vMotion, logs went to guest %TEMP% folder only. After vMotion, logs go to guest %TEMP% folder only.
      Note: vSphere administrator can set the VM option to redirect to host guest log after vMotion.