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

Prerequisites

  • On a Linux host, become root. On Linux systems, non-root users are not allowed to modify the preference setting for VMware Tools updates.

  • Verify that the host system is connected to the Internet.

Procedure

  1. Select Edit > Preferences and select Updates.
  2. Select a software update download option.

    If you deselect all of the software update options, automatic software updates are disabled.

    Option

    Description

    Check for product updates on startup

    When Workstation Pro starts, it checks for new versions of the application and installed software components.

    Check for software components as needed

    When a software component is needed, for example, when you install or upgrade VMware Tools on a virtual machine, Workstation Pro checks for a new version of the component.

    Download All Components Now

    Click this button to download all software updates immediately. This option is useful if you are planning to use a virtual machine at a later time when you do not have access to the Internet.
  3. If you use a proxy server to connect to the Internet, click Connection Settings and select a proxy setting.

    Option

    Description

    No proxy

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

    Windows proxy settings

    (Windows hosts only) Workstation Pro 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 Password text box blank, Workstation Pro does not use either value.

    Manual proxy settings

    Select an HTTP or SOCKS proxy, specify the proxy server address and designate a port number to access the VMware Update Server. Type a user name and password to use for proxy server authentication. If you leave either the Username or Password text box blank, Workstation Pro does not use either value (Windows hosts) or it uses the user name and password set in the gnome settings (Linux hosts).

  4. To update VMware Tools when you power on a virtual machine or shut down the guest operating system, select Automatically update VMware Tools on a virtual machine.

    You can override this setting for a specific virtual machine by modifying virtual machine settings.

    When you power on a virtual machine, you are prompted to download VMware Tools if a new version is available.

  5. Click OK to save your changes.

What to do next

To override the VMware Tools update setting for a specific virtual machine, edit the virtual machine settings. See Configure VMware Tools Updates for a Specific Virtual Machine.