You can configure virtual machines that have Windows or Linux guest operating systems to update VMware Tools automatically. For other guest operating systems, you must manually update VMware Tools.
Automatic VMware Tools updates are supported for versions of VMware Tools included in Workstation 5.5 and later virtual machines only. Automatic updates are not supported for versions of VMware Tools included in virtual machines created with VMware Server 1.x.
If you update VMware Tools in a Windows virtual machine that was created with Workstation 4 or 5.x, some new components are not installed. To install the new components, you must uninstall the old version of VMware Tools and install the new version of VMware Tools.
Procedure
- Select the virtual machine and select .
- On the Options tab, select VMware Tools.
- Select a VMware Tools update setting.
Option
Description
Update manually (do nothing)
You must update VMware Tools manually. The virtual machine status bar indicates when a new version of VMware Tools is available.
Update automatically
VMware Tools is updated automatically. The virtual machine status bar indicates when an update is in progress. If you are logged in to a Windows guest, a restart prompt appears after the update is complete. If you are not logged in, the operating system restarts without prompting. An auto-update check is performed as part of the boot sequence when you power on the virtual machine. If the virtual machine was suspended and you resume it or restore it to a snapshot during the boot sequence before this check, the automatic update occurs as planned. If you resume the virtual machine or restore it to a snapshot after the check, the automatic update does not occur.
Use application default (currently update manually)
Use the default VMware Tools update behavior. The default behavior is set in Workstation Player preferences.
- Click OK to save your changes.
