This post describes how you can download and install the latest version of VMware Tools to a linux guest from a ESXi 5.0 host. You need SSH access rights to a VMware host to follow this guide.

1. Allow SSH access to the VMware host you are about to access.
   • This can be done in the vSphere Client: Choose the VMware host you would like to access.
   • Go to the Configuration tab and select Security Profile under Software. Edit Services Properties and start the SSH daemon.
   • Verify that the firewall allows SSH traffic
2. All the VMware Tools are located in the /vmimages/tools-isoimages/ folder on the host. Download the ISO-image with the tools you need

   • Issue this command from a machine that has access to the VMware host.

     sftp username@vmhost.tld:/vmimages/tools-isoimages/linux.iso

     Type in your password and the download will start

• Mount the ISO-file and copy the VMware Tools installer file to the desired VMware linux guest using SSH

  • # mount linux.iso /media/cdrom/ -t iso9660 -o loop
    

scp /media/cdrom/VMwareTools-8.6.5-652272.tar.gz username@vmguest.tld:

      * Manual install of VMware Tools on a vmguest as a privileged user 
          * <pre># tar xfz VMwareTools-8.6.5-652272.tar.gz

cd vmware-tools-distrib

./vmware-install.pl

            Follow the instructions and finish the installer. A reboot may be required to load the necessary kernel modules.</li> </ul> </li> </ol> 
            
            Your VMware Tools are now installed and should work as it would on a normal VMware Tools installation.
            
            This procedure can also be used on other operating systems. This is a list of all the VMware Tools ISO-images available in the /vmimages/tools-isoimages/ folder on a ESXi 5.0 host
            
            <pre>sftp&gt; ls -l

-rwx------ 1 root root 12576768 Apr 13 09:17 darwin.iso -rwx------ 1 root root 256 Apr 13 09:17 darwin.iso.sig -rwx------ 1 root root 16021504 Apr 13 09:16 freebsd.iso -rwx------ 1 root root 256 Apr 13 09:18 freebsd.iso.sig -rwx------ 1 root root 65200128 Apr 13 09:15 linux.iso -rwx------ 1 root root 256 Apr 13 09:17 linux.iso.sig -rwx------ 1 root root 1738 Apr 13 09:17 linux_avr_manifest.txt -rwx------ 1 root root 540672 Apr 13 09:17 netware.iso -rwx------ 1 root root 256 Apr 13 09:16 netware.iso.sig -rwx------ 1 root root 13006848 Apr 13 09:17 solaris.iso -rwx------ 1 root root 256 Apr 13 09:16 solaris.iso.sig -rwx------ 1 root root 451 Apr 13 09:17 tools-key.pub -rwx------ 1 root root 13664256 Apr 13 09:18 winPre2k.iso -rwx------ 1 root root 256 Apr 13 09:17 winPre2k.iso.sig -rwx------ 1 root root 49 Apr 13 09:18 winPre2k_avr_manifest.txt -rwx------ 1 root root 62128128 Apr 13 09:17 windows.iso -rwx------ 1 root root 256 Apr 13 09:18 windows.iso.sig -rwx------ 1 root root 1069 Apr 13 09:17 windows_avr_manifest.txt