How To Install VMware Tools in a Solaris virtual machine

Installing VMware Tools in a Solaris virtual machine

Purpose

This article provides steps to install VMware Tools in a Solaris guest operating system.

Note: For an overview of installing VMware Tools, see Installing VMware Tools (340).

Resolution

To install VMware Tools in a Solaris guest operating system:

1. Ensure that your Solaris virtual machine is powered on.
2. If you are running a GUI interface, open a command shell.
   
   Note: Log in as a root user, or use the sudo command to complete each of these steps.
3. Click VM in the virtual machine menu, then click Guest>Install/Upgrade VMware Tools and click OK.
4. Copy vmware-solaris-tools.tar.gz from / cdrom/vmwaretools to a temporary directory (/tmp/).
5. Decompress the file using gunzip command. For example:
   
   # gunzip vmware-solaris-tools.tar.gz
6. Extract the contents of the tar file with the command:
   
   # tar xvf vmware-solaris-tools.tar
7. Change directory using the command:
   
   # cd vmware-tools-distrib
8. To install VMware Tools, run this command from the directory you changed to in step 7:
   
   # ./vmware-install.pl
9. Press Enter to accept all of the default values.
10. Reboot the virtual machine for changes to take effect.
11. Check if VMware tools service is running with the command:
    
    # /etc/init.d/vmware-tools status
    
    The output is similar to:
    
    vmware-guestd is running
    vmware-memctld is running
12. Add vmware-toolbox to the list of startup commands of your desktop.
    
    If you are using Java Desktop System, Release 3:

1. Go to Launch>Preferences>Desktop Preferences>Sessions.
2. Click Startup Programs tab and add these entries:
   
   / usr/bin/vmware-user
   /usr/bin/vmware-toolbox