VMware tools on Ubuntu Server

Source documentation:

• Linux Kernel preparation: http://askubuntu.com/questions/40979/what-is-the-path-to-the-kernel-headers-so-i-can-install-vmware
• VMware: http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vmware-tools-installation-configuration.pdf

Installation

Start your Virtual Machine and log-in using the VM console.

Run all the following commands as "root" user (or with "sudo")

Setup kernel headers

Install the current linux headers

apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r)

Adjust symlinks

cd /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/build/include/linux
ln -s ../generated/utsrelease.h
ln -s ../generated/autoconf.h
ln -s ../generated/uapi/linux/version.h

From now on your kernel C headers are in /usr/src/linux-headers-$(uname -r)/include

Mount VMware Tools

Create the CDROM mount point

mkdir -p /mnt/cdrom

In VMware, "insert" the VM Tools CD.

• Right click on the VM
• Guest menu
• Install / upgrade VM Tools

Mount the CDROM

mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom

Install script

Go to a working directory and uncompress the installer

cd /tmp
ls /mnt/cdrom
tar zxpf /mnt/cdrom/VMwareTools-x.x.x-yyyy.tar.gz

Run the installer

cd vmware-tools-distrib
./vmware-install.pl

If the installer fails on the C header, just type the following path: /usr/src/linux-headers-$(uname -r)/include

Support

Official VMware support: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1008973