Configure Software Update Preferences

You can configure Workstation Player to automatically download software updates, including new versions of VMware Tools. When you select automatic software updates, Workstation Player always includes the latest support for guest operating systems and virtual machines always have the latest version of VMware Tools.

Procedure

Select Player > File > Preferences.

Select when Workstation Player checks for software updates.

You can select one, both, or neither option. If you deselect all of the software update options, automatic software updates are disabled.

Option	Description
Check for product updates on startup	Checks for new versions of Workstation Player available to download and install when you start Workstation Player. This option is enabled by default. If you do not select this option, your system does not get the latest product updates.
Check for software components as needed	When a software component is required, for example, when you install VMware Tools, Workstation Player checks for a new version of the component.
Download All Components Now	Immediately download all of the available software components to the host system. This option is useful if you are planning to use the virtual machine at a later time when you do not have access to the Internet.

If you use a proxy server to connect to the VMware Update Server, click Connection Settings to configure the proxy settings.

Option	Description
No proxy	Select this option if you do not use a proxy server. This is the default setting.
Windows proxy settings	Workstation Player uses the host proxy settings from the Connections tab in the Internet Options control panel to access the VMware Update Server. Click Internet Options to set the guest connection options. Type a user name and password to use for proxy server authentication. If you leave either the Username or the Password text box blank, Workstation Player does not use either value.
Manual proxy settings	Select HTTP or SOCKS, specify the proxy server address and designate a port number to access the VMware Update Sever. Type a username and password to use for proxy authentication. If you leave either the Username or the Password text box blank, Workstation Player does not use either value (Windows hosts) or it uses the username and password set in the gnome settings (Linux hosts).

Option

Description

No proxy

Select this option if you do not use a proxy server. This is the default setting.

Windows proxy settings

Workstation Player uses the host proxy settings from the Connections tab in the Internet Options control panel to access the VMware Update Server.

Click Internet Options to set the guest connection options.
Type a user name and password to use for proxy server authentication.

If you leave either the Username or the Password text box blank, Workstation Player does not use either value.

Manual proxy settings

Select HTTP or SOCKS, specify the proxy server address and designate a port number to access the VMware Update Sever.
Type a username and password to use for proxy authentication.

If you leave either the Username or the Password text box blank, Workstation Player does not use either value (Windows hosts) or it uses the username and password set in the gnome settings (Linux hosts).

Click OK to save your changes.