When the GuestStore repository has been configured on ESXi host, resources from the GuestStore repository can be easily accessed using VMware Tools command line utility.

You can fetch a resource content from the GuestStore repository using the VMware Tools Toolbox command line utility.

"C:\Program Files\VMware\VMwareTools\VMwareToolboxCmd.exe" gueststore getcontent <resource path> <output file>

/usr/bin/vmware-toolbox-cmd gueststore getcontent <resource path> <output file>

where, <resource path> is the path under the GuestStore repository datastore root URL.

For example:

"C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools\VMwareToolboxCmd.exe" gueststore getcontent /vmware/apps/vmtools/windows64/metadata.json C:\Temp\metadata.json

"C:\Program Files\VMware\VMware Tools\VMwareToolboxCmd.exe" gueststore getcontent /vmware/configurations/vmtools/windows/tools.conf C:\Temp\tools.conf

Guest admin can use the following tools.conf settings to control access to the GuestStore repository.

[guestStore]

disabled = false (By default, access to the GuestStore repository is enabled when configured on the ESXi host side)

adminOnly = false (By default, admin privilege is not required to access the GuestStore repository)

If disabled = true, then all guest access to the GuestStore repository is disabled including VMware Tools GuestStore based upgrade and GlobalConf features.

When GuestStore access is enabled ( disabled = false), setting adminOnly = true restricts that only administrators or root users can get content from the GuestStore repository by running the following command:
  • Windows

    "C:\Program Files\VMware\VMwareTools\VMwareToolboxCmd.exe" gueststore getcontent <resource path> <output file>

  • Linux

    /usr/bin/vmware-toolbox-cmd gueststore getcontent <resource path> <output file>