VMware Tools Update on vSphere

tpitch-ssemc
tpitch-ssemc used Ask the Experts™
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This should be a simple question...

I updated my cluster to ESXI 5.0 u2 (build 914586). Before the update all of my tools were up to date with 8.6.5 (731933). After the update the tools needed updating again. I was surprised when the VM work load rebooted following the tools update. Now the tools are 8.6.10 (913593). Now the question...

I thought I read somehwere that the tools in ESXi 5.0 (8.6.5 in my case) no longer required rebooting when performing updates. Obviously that was not the case here. Like I said I'm sure I read it, hopefully I got mixed up on version numbers. Can anyone confirm for me if future VM tools updates will require a reboot?
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coolsport00
Top Expert 2010

Commented:
Hmm...I haven't read that anywhere. Should still need to reboot VMs after a VMware Tools install/upgrade.

~coolsport00
coolsport00
Top Expert 2010

Commented:
According to the vSphere Updgrade Guide, pg. 150 (http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-50/topic/com.vmware.ICbase/PDF/vsphere-esxi-vcenter-server-501-upgrade-guide.pdf), you do need to reboot VMs (see 3rd bullet on page under Downtime for Upgrading VMs).

~coolsport00
Andrew Hancock (VMware vExpert / EE Fellow)VMware and Virtualization Consultant
Fellow 2018
Expert of the Year 2017

Commented:
Personally, we do not upgrade the VMware Tools, unless a Security Avisory states you should.

or the VMware Internal Release notes state otherwise!
Commented:
Maybe you read here: http://www.vladan.fr/vmware-vsphere-5-1-virtual-hardware-version-9

But the vmtools update without reboot is available only from vSphere 5.1.
tpitch-ssemc

Author

Commented:
I believe that must have been it. I've considered upgrading to 5.1 and I bet I read that and somehow thought it was true of 5.0. Stinks I have to upgrade to 5.1 and upgrade my hardware versions- I'm not sure all of my machines will be compatabile with 9. I still have some running version 4!

I don't always upgrade my tools, but I do like for all of my statuses to be green. I'm OCD like that.

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