HOW TO: Install VMware Tools for Windows on a VMware Windows virtual machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.5 (ESXi 6.5) Host Server

Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)VMware and Virtualization Consultant
CERTIFIED EXPERT
EE Fellow, MVE, Expert of the Year 2021,2017-11, Scribe 2016-2012, Author of the Year 2018-6,2013-2012 VMware vExpert Pro, vExpert 2022-2011
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In this article, I will show you HOW TO: Install VMware Tools for Windows on a VMware Windows virtual machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.5 (ESXi 6.5) Host Server, using the VMware Host Client. The virtual machine has Windows Server 2016 installed.
In my previous Experts Exchange Articles, most have featured Basic and Intermediate VMware and Virtualisation Topics. 

If you would like to read my Basic VMware articles, they are listed at the end of this article for your convenience.

In this series of basic VMware articles for the Novice, I'll be showing you the basic VMware skills required to install, configure and deploy virtual machines using VMware's FREE VMware vSphere Hypervisor (ESXi).

In this article we will show you HOW TO: Install VMware Tools for Windows on a VMware Windows virtual machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.5 (ESXi 6.5) Host Server. This procedure can be followed to install VMware Tools on any Microsoft Windows operating system Virtual Machines provided they are supported by the version of VMware vSphere. You may want to consult the the VMware Hardware Compatibility Lists or HCL, see here to check your operating system is compatible with VMware vSphere.


What are VMware Tools?

VMware Tools are a suite of utilities that enhances the performance of the virtual machine's guest operating system and improves management of the virtual machine. Installing the VMware Tools package will greatly enhance graphics and mouse performance in your virtual machine. Without VMware Tools installed in your guest operating system, guest performance lacks important functionality. You can check if you have VMware Tools installed by checking the Summary of your virtual machine using the VMware Host Client if using VMware vSphere 6.5 or 6.5. If VMware Tools is installed VMware Tools will read OK, an IP Address and DNS hostname will appear in the Summary page. If VMware Tools is not installed, it will state No, and Not installed.

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Also a warning message will be displayed as follows

https___esx001.cyrus-consultants.co..jpg1. Connect to the VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.5 (ESXi 6.5) or vSphere vCenter Server using the VMware Host Client.


Please refer to my EE article on HOW TO: Connect to the VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.5 (ESXi 6.5) using the vSphere (HTML5 Web) Host Client 6.5

https___esx001.cyrus-consultants.co..jpgClick the virtual machines icon.

Edit-Article-000410.jpgClick the virtual machine.
 

2. Checking if VMware Tools is installed in the Virtual Machine

Check the summary information for the virtual machine.
https___esx001.cyrus-consultants.co..jpgunder VMware Tools, if No is present next to Installed, VMware Tools is not currently installed.

If VMware Tools is installed and running, VMware Tools Running Status states Installed and Running, and an IP Address is displayed. Also the VMware Tools Version Status states - Current. If VMware Tools is not installed, please continue with the following steps.

As you can see from the above information VMware Tools has not been installed on any of our virtual machines, "My First Linux VM" or "My First Windows VM".  Please see my previous EE Article HOW TO: Tutorial Video - Install VMware Tools for Linux on a VMware Linux virtual machine to install VMware Tools on "My First Linux VM". To install VMware Tools on Windows, please continue with this tutorial.
 

3. Interacting with the Virtual Machine

Right-Click the virtual machine "My First Windows VM" and Select Power On, the virtual machine should automatically boot the operating system. Then select the Open Console function so you can interact with the virtual machine. You may find it easier if you Right-Click the virtual machine "My First Windows VM" and Select Open Console.

The virtual machine should automatically boot the operating system. The Open Console function is similar to the Keyboard/Video Machine (KVM) function in a datacentre, which allows you to toggle between console screens of computers, it allows you to interact with the virtual machine, with keyboard and mouse movements, and displays the screen. The Microsoft Windows Server 2016 console screen will be displayed.
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4. Login to the virtual machine

Select Actions > Guest OS > Send Keys > CTRL-ALT-DEL

https___esx001.cyrus-consultants.co..jpgPassword Entered

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5. Installing Vmware Tools for Windows

Select Actions > Guest OS > Install VMware Tools
https___esx001.cyrus-consultants.co..jpgThis process connects a VMware Tools for Windows  (windows.iso) iso file image to the CD-ROM device in the virtual machine. If VMware Tools fails to run, ensure that your virtual machine has a CD-ROM device added. If Autorun for CD-ROM is enabled in the virtual machine operating system, the VMware Tools for Windows setup.exe installation program will start to run automatically. However, in later operating systems, it was discovered that enabling Autorun in the operating system, highlighted a security risk, so in modern operating systems it has been disabled. If Autorun has been disabled on your operating system, you will need to manually select the CD-ROM drive.
https___esx001.cyrus-consultants.co..jpgSelect the CD-ROM/DVD-DRIVE, this could be your D: drive.
https___esx001.cyrus-consultants.co..jpghttps___esx001.cyrus-consultants.co..jpgRight Click the CD-ROM/DVD-DRIVE and select Install or run program from your media, this statement could be different for your operating system.
https___esx001.cyrus-consultants.co..jpgThe VMware Tools installation will start
https___esx001.cyrus-consultants.co..jpgAt the Welcome to the installation wizard for VMware Tools click Next to continue with the installation
https___esx001.cyrus-consultants.co..jpgAt the Setup Type select Typical and Click Next to continue with the installation
https___esx001.cyrus-consultants.co..jpgAt the Ready to Install the Program, click Install to continue the installation.
https___esx001.cyrus-consultants.co..jpgVMware Tools will start installing...
https___esx001.cyrus-consultants.co..jpghttps___esx001.cyrus-consultants.co..jpghttps___esx001.cyrus-consultants.co..jpghttps___esx001.cyrus-consultants.co..jpghttps___esx001.cyrus-consultants.co..jpgClick Finish.
https___esx001.cyrus-consultants.co..jpgAt the VMware Tools, You must restart your system...." prompt select Yes to restart the virtual machine. When the virtual machine has restarted.

If you now repeat Step 2 above Checking if VMware Tools is installed in the Virtual Machine

https___esx001.cyrus-consultants.co..jpghttps___esx001.cyrus-consultants.co..jpgAn IP address is now displayed, which is the IP address of the virtual machine, VMware Tools Status - Installed and Running, and VMware Tools Version Status - 10272.

Congratulations, you have successfully Installed VMware Tools for Windows on a VMware Windows virtual machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 6.5 (ESXi 6.5) Host Server

Please see my next article in this series HOW TO: Install VMware Tools for Windows on a VMware Linux virtual machine on a VMware vSphere Hypervisor 5.1 (ESXi 5.1) Host Server

Basic VMware Articles Series: 

These articles are also applicable to VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi 5.0, 5.5 and 6.0.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert PRO / EE Fellow/British Beekeeper)VMware and Virtualization Consultant
CERTIFIED EXPERT
EE Fellow, MVE, Expert of the Year 2021,2017-11, Scribe 2016-2012, Author of the Year 2018-6,2013-2012 VMware vExpert Pro, vExpert 2022-2011

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