VMware Tools is a crucial component for running a virtual machine (VM) with optimal performance. It is a suite of utilities that enhances the overall performance of the VM’s guest operating system (OS) and improves VM management. Without VMware Tools, the guest OS will lack some important functionalities.
This guide will walk you through the process of installing VMware Tools on CentOS 6.5. It is particularly useful for webmasters and website administrators who are using web servers like Apache, Nginx, or LiteSpeed on a dedicated server, VPS server, cloud hosting environment.
Step 1: Install the Prerequisites
Before you can install VMware Tools, you need to install some prerequisite software on your CentOS 6.5 system. Run the following command to install these packages:
yum install perl gcc make kernel-headers kernel-devel -y
This command installs Perl, GCC, Make, kernel headers, and kernel development packages, which are necessary for the installation of VMware Tools.
Example:
[root@centos6 ~]# yum install perl gcc make kernel-headers kernel-devel -y Loaded plugins: fastestmirror base | 3.7 kB 00:00 http://ossm.utm.my/centos/6.5/os/x86_64/repodata/617a880b84a87969e04bfeebb1b96d5f441da42ee931d374fa6b6d57decd821e-primary.sqlite.bz2: [Errno 12] Timeout on http://ossm.utm.my/centos/6.5/os/x86_64/repodata/617a880b84a87969e04bfeebb1b96d5f441da42ee931d374fa6b6d57decd821e-primary.sqlite.bz2: (28, 'Operation too slow. Less than 1 bytes/sec transfered the last 30 seconds') Trying other mirror. base/primary_db | 4.4 MB 00:49 extras | 3.4 kB 00:00 extras/primary_db | 18 kB 00:00 updates | 3.4 kB 00:00 updates/primary_db | 65 kB 00:00 Setting up Install Process Package 1:make-3.81-20.el6.x86_64 already installed and latest version Resolving Dependencies --> Running transaction check ---> Package gcc.x86_64 0:4.4.7-4.el6 will be installed --> Processing Dependency: libgomp = 4.4.7-4.el6 for package: gcc-4.4.7-4.el6.x86_64 --> Processing Dependency: cpp = 4.4.7-4.el6 for package: gcc-4.4.7-4.el6.x86_64 --> Processing Dependency: glibc-devel >= 2.2.90-12 for package: gcc-4.4.7-4.el6.x86_64 --> Processing Dependency: cloog-ppl >= 0.15 for package: gcc-4.4.7-4.el6.x86_64 --> Processing Dependency: libgomp.so.1()(64bit) for package: gcc-4.4.7-4.el6.x86_64 ---> Package kernel-devel.x86_64 0:2.6.32-431.el6 will be installed ---> Package kernel-headers.x86_64 0:2.6.32-431.el6 will be installed ---> Package perl.x86_64 4:5.10.1-136.el6 will be installed --> Processing Dependency: perl-libs = 4:5.10.1-136.el6 for package: 4:perl-5.10.1-136.el6.x86_64 --> Processing Dependency: perl-libs for package: 4:perl-5.10.1-136.el6.x86_64 --> Processing Dependency: perl(version) for package: 4:perl-5.10.1-136.el6.x86_64 --> Processing Dependency: perl(Pod::Simple) for package: 4:perl-5.10.1-136.el6.x86_64 --> Processing Dependency: perl(Module::Pluggable) for package: 4:perl-5.10.1-136.el6.x86_64 --> Processing Dependency: libperl.so()(64bit) for package: 4:perl-5.10.1-136.el6.x86_64 --> Running transaction check ---> Package cloog-ppl.x86_64 0:0.15.7-1.2.el6 will be installed --> Processing Dependency: libppl_c.so.2()(64bit) for package: cloog-ppl-0.15.7-1.2.el6.x86_64 --> Processing Dependency: libppl.so.7()(64bit) for package: cloog-ppl-0.15.7-1.2.el6.x86_64 ---> Package cpp.x86_64 0:4.4.7-4.el6 will be installed --> Processing Dependency: libmpfr.so.1()(64bit) for package: cpp-4.4.7-4.el6.x86_64 ---> Package glibc-devel.x86_64 0:2.12-1.132.el6 will be installed --> Processing Dependency: glibc-headers = 2.12-1.132.el6 for package: glibc-devel-2.12-1.132.el6.x86_64 --> Processing Dependency: glibc-headers for package: glibc-devel-2.12-1.132.el6.x86_64 ---> Package libgomp.x86_64 0:4.4.7-4.el6 will be installed ---> Package perl-Module-Pluggable.x86_64 1:3.90-136.el6 will be installed ---> Package perl-Pod-Simple.x86_64 1:3.13-136.el6 will be installed --> Processing Dependency: perl(Pod::Escapes) >= 1.04 for package: 1:perl-Pod-Simple-3.13-136.el6.x86_64 ---> Package perl-libs.x86_64 4:5.10.1-136.el6 will be installed ---> Package perl-version.x86_64 3:0.77-136.el6 will be installed --> Running transaction check ---> Package glibc-headers.x86_64 0:2.12-1.132.el6 will be installed ---> Package mpfr.x86_64 0:2.4.1-6.el6 will be installed ---> Package perl-Pod-Escapes.x86_64 1:1.04-136.el6 will be installed ---> Package ppl.x86_64 0:0.10.2-11.el6 will be installed --> Finished Dependency Resolution Dependencies Resolved ==================================================================================================== Package Arch Version Repository Size ==================================================================================================== Installing: gcc x86_64 4.4.7-4.el6 base 10 M kernel-devel x86_64 2.6.32-431.el6 base 8.7 M kernel-headers x86_64 2.6.32-431.el6 base 2.8 M perl x86_64 4:5.10.1-136.el6 base 10 M Installing for dependencies: cloog-ppl x86_64 0.15.7-1.2.el6 base 93 k cpp x86_64 4.4.7-4.el6 base 3.7 M glibc-devel x86_64 2.12-1.132.el6 base 978 k glibc-headers x86_64 2.12-1.132.el6 base 608 k libgomp x86_64 4.4.7-4.el6 base 118 k mpfr x86_64 2.4.1-6.el6 base 157 k perl-Module-Pluggable x86_64 1:3.90-136.el6 base 40 k perl-Pod-Escapes x86_64 1:1.04-136.el6 base 32 k perl-Pod-Simple x86_64 1:3.13-136.el6 base 212 k perl-libs x86_64 4:5.10.1-136.el6 base 578 k perl-version x86_64 3:0.77-136.el6 base 51 k ppl x86_64 0.10.2-11.el6 base 1.3 M Transaction Summary ==================================================================================================== Install 16 Package(s) Total download size: 40 M Installed size: 98 M Downloading Packages: (1/16): cloog-ppl-0.15.7-1.2.el6.x86_64.rpm | 93 kB 00:00 (2/16): cpp-4.4.7-4.el6.x86_64.rpm | 3.7 MB 00:42 (3/16): gcc-4.4.7-4.el6.x86_64.rpm | 10 MB 01:40 (4/16): glibc-devel-2.12-1.132.el6.x86_64.rpm | 978 kB 00:09 (5/16): glibc-headers-2.12-1.132.el6.x86_64.rpm | 608 kB 00:06 (6/16): kernel-devel-2.6.32-431.el6.x86_64.rpm | 8.7 MB 01:25 (7/16): kernel-headers-2.6.32-431.el6.x86_64.rpm | 2.8 MB 00:30 (8/16): libgomp-4.4.7-4.el6.x86_64.rpm | 118 kB 00:01 (9/16): mpfr-2.4.1-6.el6.x86_64.rpm | 157 kB 00:01 (10/16): perl-5.10.1-136.el6.x86_64.rpm | 10 MB 01:35 (11/16): perl-Module-Pluggable-3.90-136.el6.x86_64.rpm | 40 kB 00:00 (12/16): perl-Pod-Escapes-1.04-136.el6.x86_64.rpm | 32 kB 00:00 (13/16): perl-Pod-Simple-3.13-136.el6.x86_64.rpm | 212 kB 00:01 (14/16): perl-libs-5.10.1-136.el6.x86_64.rpm | 578 kB 00:05 (15/16): perl-version-0.77-136.el6.x86_64.rpm | 51 kB 00:00 (16/16): ppl-0.10.2-11.el6.x86_64.rpm | 1.3 MB 00:11 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Total 103 kB/s | 40 MB 06:35 warning: rpmts_HdrFromFdno: Header V3 RSA/SHA1 Signature, key ID c105b9de: NOKEY Retrieving key from file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-6 Importing GPG key 0xC105B9DE: Userid : CentOS-6 Key (CentOS 6 Official Signing Key) <centos-6-key@centos.org> Package: centos-release-6-5.el6.centos.11.1.x86_64 (@anaconda-CentOS-201311272149.x86_64/6.5) From : /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-CentOS-6 Running rpm_check_debug Running Transaction Test Transaction Test Succeeded Running Transaction Installing : 1:perl-Pod-Escapes-1.04-136.el6.x86_64 1/16 Installing : 4:perl-libs-5.10.1-136.el6.x86_64 2/16 Installing : 1:perl-Pod-Simple-3.13-136.el6.x86_64 3/16 Installing : 3:perl-version-0.77-136.el6.x86_64 4/16 Installing : 1:perl-Module-Pluggable-3.90-136.el6.x86_64 5/16 Installing : 4:perl-5.10.1-136.el6.x86_64 6/16 Installing : ppl-0.10.2-11.el6.x86_64 7/16 Installing : cloog-ppl-0.15.7-1.2.el6.x86_64 8/16 Installing : mpfr-2.4.1-6.el6.x86_64 9/16 Installing : cpp-4.4.7-4.el6.x86_64 10/16 Installing : libgomp-4.4.7-4.el6.x86_64 11/16 Installing : kernel-headers-2.6.32-431.el6.x86_64 12/16 Installing : glibc-headers-2.12-1.132.el6.x86_64 13/16 Installing : glibc-devel-2.12-1.132.el6.x86_64 14/16 Installing : gcc-4.4.7-4.el6.x86_64 15/16 Installing : kernel-devel-2.6.32-431.el6.x86_64 16/16 Verifying : 1:perl-Module-Pluggable-3.90-136.el6.x86_64 1/16 Verifying : kernel-headers-2.6.32-431.el6.x86_64 2/16 Verifying : cpp-4.4.7-4.el6.x86_64 3/16 Verifying : glibc-devel-2.12-1.132.el6.x86_64 4/16 Verifying : 1:perl-Pod-Escapes-1.04-136.el6.x86_64 5/16 Verifying : libgomp-4.4.7-4.el6.x86_64 6/16 Verifying : 4:perl-5.10.1-136.el6.x86_64 7/16 Verifying : mpfr-2.4.1-6.el6.x86_64 8/16 Verifying : 4:perl-libs-5.10.1-136.el6.x86_64 9/16 Verifying : 1:perl-Pod-Simple-3.13-136.el6.x86_64 10/16 Verifying : kernel-devel-2.6.32-431.el6.x86_64 11/16 Verifying : gcc-4.4.7-4.el6.x86_64 12/16 Verifying : 3:perl-version-0.77-136.el6.x86_64 13/16 Verifying : ppl-0.10.2-11.el6.x86_64 14/16 Verifying : cloog-ppl-0.15.7-1.2.el6.x86_64 15/16 Verifying : glibc-headers-2.12-1.132.el6.x86_64 16/16 Installed: gcc.x86_64 0:4.4.7-4.el6 kernel-devel.x86_64 0:2.6.32-431.el6 kernel-headers.x86_64 0:2.6.32-431.el6 perl.x86_64 4:5.10.1-136.el6 Dependency Installed: cloog-ppl.x86_64 0:0.15.7-1.2.el6 cpp.x86_64 0:4.4.7-4.el6 glibc-devel.x86_64 0:2.12-1.132.el6 glibc-headers.x86_64 0:2.12-1.132.el6 libgomp.x86_64 0:4.4.7-4.el6 mpfr.x86_64 0:2.4.1-6.el6 perl-Module-Pluggable.x86_64 1:3.90-136.el6 perl-Pod-Escapes.x86_64 1:1.04-136.el6 perl-Pod-Simple.x86_64 1:3.13-136.el6 perl-libs.x86_64 4:5.10.1-136.el6 perl-version.x86_64 3:0.77-136.el6 ppl.x86_64 0:0.10.2-11.el6 Complete!
Step 2: Attach the VMware Tools Software
The next step is to attach the VMware Tools software from the vSphere client. This guide assumes that the host is ESXi 4.1.
Step 3: Mount the Attached VMware Tools Software
After attaching the VMware Tools software, you need to mount it. Run the following commands to do this:
mount /dev/cdrom /mnt cd /mnt ls
These commands mount the CD-ROM drive, change the working directory to the mount point, and list the contents of the directory.
Step 4: Extract the VMware Tools
The VMware Tools software is distributed as a compressed tarball. To install it, you need to extract it first. Run the following command to do this:
tar xzvf VMwareTools-8.3.7-341836.tar.gz
This command extracts the contents of the VMware Tools tarball.
Step 5: Install VMware Tools
After extracting the VMware Tools, you can start the installation process. Run the following commands to do this:
cd vmware-tools-distrib ./vmware-install.pl
These commands change the working directory to the extracted VMware Tools directory and run the installation script.
During the installation process, you will be asked several questions about the installation directories. You can press Enter to accept the default values.
After the installation process completes, you will be asked if you want to run the VMware Tools configuration script. Press Enter to accept the default value, which is yes.
The configuration script initializes the VMware Tools services, installs the VMware Tools kernel modules, and configures the VMware Tools updatemanager. After the configuration process completes, you will be asked to restart your X session for the changes to take effect.
Example:
[root@centos6 vmware-tools-distrib]# ./vmware-install.pl Creating a new VMware Tools installer database using the tar4 format. Installing VMware Tools. In which directory do you want to install the binary files? [/usr/bin] What is the directory that contains the init directories (rc0.d/ to rc6.d/)? [/etc/rc.d] What is the directory that contains the init scripts? [/etc/rc.d/init.d] In which directory do you want to install the daemon files? [/usr/sbin] In which directory do you want to install the library files? [/usr/lib/vmware-tools] The path "/usr/lib/vmware-tools" does not exist currently. This program is going to create it, including needed parent directories. Is this what you want? [yes] In which directory do you want to install the documentation files? [/usr/share/doc/vmware-tools] The path "/usr/share/doc/vmware-tools" does not exist currently. This program is going to create it, including needed parent directories. Is this what you want? [yes] The installation of VMware Tools 8.3.7 build-341836 for Linux completed successfully. You can decide to remove this software from your system at any time by invoking the following command: "/usr/bin/vmware-uninstall-tools.pl". Before running VMware Tools for the first time, you need to configure it by invoking the following command: "/usr/bin/vmware-config-tools.pl". Do you want this program to invoke the command for you now? [yes] Initializing... Stopping VMware Tools services in the virtual machine: Guest operating system daemon: [ OK ] Virtual Printing daemon: [ OK ] Unmounting HGFS shares: [ OK ] Guest filesystem driver: [ OK ] The module vmmemctl has already been installed on this system by another installer or package and will not be modified by this installer. Use the flag --clobber-kernel-modules=vmmemctl to override. Found a compatible pre-built module for vmhgfs. Installing it... Found a compatible pre-built module for vmxnet. Installing it... Found a compatible pre-built module for vmblock. Installing it... Found a compatible pre-built module for vmci. Installing it... Found a compatible pre-built module for vsock. Installing it... The module vmxnet3 has already been installed on this system by another installer or package and will not be modified by this installer. Use the flag --clobber-kernel-modules=vmxnet3 to override. The module pvscsi has already been installed on this system by another installer or package and will not be modified by this installer. Use the flag --clobber-kernel-modules=pvscsi to override. No X install found. Creating a new initrd boot image for the kernel. Checking acpi hot plug [ OK ] Starting VMware Tools services in the virtual machine: Switching to guest configuration: [ OK ] VM communication interface: [ OK ] VM communication interface socket family: [ OK ] Guest operating system daemon: [ OK ] Virtual Printing daemon: [ OK ] The configuration of VMware Tools 8.3.7 build-341836 for Linux for this running kernel completed successfully. You must restart your X session before any mouse or graphics changes take effect. You can now run VMware Tools by invoking the following command: "/usr/bin/vmware-toolbox" during an X server session. To enable advanced X features (e.g., guest resolution fit, drag and drop, and file and text copy/paste), you will need to do one (or more) of the following: 1. Manually start /usr/bin/vmware-user 2. Log out and log back into your desktop session; and, 3. Restart your X session. Enjoy, --the VMware team /sbin/restorecon: Warning no default label for /tmp/vmware-block-restore0/tmp_file
Commands Mentioned
- yum install perl gcc make kernel-headers kernel-devel -y – Installs the prerequisite software for VMware Tools.
- mount /dev/cdrom /mnt – Mounts the CD-ROM drive.
- cd /mnt – Changes the working directory to the mount point.
- ls – Lists the contents of the current directory.
- tar xzvf VMwareTools-8.3.7-341836.tar.gz – Extracts the VMware Tools tarball.
- cd vmware-tools-distrib – Changes the working directory to the extracted VMware Tools directory.
- ./vmware-install.pl – Runs the VMware Tools installation script.
Conclusion
Installing VMware Tools on CentOS 6.5 is a straightforward process that involves installing some prerequisite software, attaching the VMware Tools software, mounting it, extracting it, and running the installation script. After the installation process completes, you need to run the VMware Tools configuration script and restart your X session for the changes to take effect. By following this guide, you can enhance the performance of your virtual machine’s guest operating system and improve virtual machine management.
FAQ
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What is VMware Tools?
VMware Tools is a suite of utilities that enhances the performance of the virtual machine’s guest operating system and improves virtual machine management.
-
Why do I need to install VMware Tools?
Installing VMware Tools is necessary for running a virtual machine with optimal performance. Without VMware Tools, the guest operating system will lack some important functionalities.
-
What are the prerequisites for installing VMware Tools?
The prerequisites for installing VMware Tools are Perl, GCC, Make, kernel headers, and kernel development packages. You can install these packages using the yum package manager.
-
How do I install VMware Tools?
You can install VMware Tools by attaching the VMware Tools software from the vSphere client, mounting it, extracting it, and running the installation script.
-
What happens after installing VMware Tools?
After installing VMware Tools, you need to run the VMware Tools configuration script. After the configuration process completes, you need to restart your X session for the changes to takeeffect.
1 Comment
Thanks!
There is another note too: By default, CentOS do not enable eth0. You need to enable it first to download dependences from yum. Please remember to set network to Bridge.
Open ifconfig-eth0 with NANO:
vi /etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0
Set PEERDNS=yes and change ONBOOT=yes.
Use the command:
service network restart
to start the eth0 interface.
Now yum should work fine.