How to install VMWare tools on BitNami Virtual Appliances

One of the most repeated questions in the BitNami forums is how to install vmware-tools in the BitNami Virtual Appliances. In this post we will try to explain the process to install them manually.

Before starting your Virtual Appliance, you should add a cdrom device to the machine if this device does not exist. If you have VMWare Workstation, VMWare Player or you simply are using a web interface you can add easily a new cdrom device from your Control Panel.

You should install the latest kernel, in case a new one has been released since the virtual machine was created. You can do so issuing the following command:

# zypper update kernel-default

If no newer version is found, the command will not take effect. If the zypper package tool installed a new kernel, you will need to reboot the machine:

# reboot

Once the machine is started using the new Linux kernel, you can access the VMWare tools. In the version of VMWare that we tested there is an option in the Control Panel: VM -> Install VMWare tools ...

This action simulates mounting a cdrom that includes the tools. Now it is necessary to mount the cdrom to install them:

# mkdir /mnt/cdrom
# mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom
# cd /mnt/cdrom
# rpm -i VMWareTools-.rpm

Before running the VMWare configuration tool it is necessary to install some dependencies:

# zypper install gcc make tar kernel-source

Finally you can configure the VMWare tools installed in the BitNami Virtual Appliance.

# vmware-config-tools.pl

Dec 16, 2009 | Tags: Infrastructure

Comments

Ubuntu Virtual Appliance

If you are using the Ubuntu Virtual Appliance, there is no "rpm" tool installed by default. Instead of using "rpm", you can uncompress the tarball: # tar -xzvf VMWareTools*.tar.gz Then install the same packages using the "apt-get" command: # apt-get install gcc make tar kernel-source # cd VMWare* # ./vmware-config-tools.pl I hope it helps

2010-08-26 08:41 AM by Beltrán Rueda Borrego

Ubuntu Virtual Appliance

Well, at first I was hopeful because 'beltran' had taken the time to post improved instructions for the Ubuntu V.A. specifically. However, when I ran the apt-get from within the Ubuntu V.A. it replied that gcc and make have no installation candidates, and it was unable to locate the kernel-source package. Basically even with using the tar option to expand out the VMware gzip file, I was zero for 3 on apt-get in my effort to get the packages required to rebuild the VMware Tools. Bottom line is Bitnami should deploy the virtual appliances AT LEAST WITH THE GCC, MAKE, AND KERNEL-SOURCE packages in-place ready to go. My bottom line is I am going with another stack, as the Ubuntu stack was utterly useless to me without VMware Tools to enable bi-direciton file transfer with my host.

2011-07-10 09:26 PM by

RE: Ubuntu Virtual Appliance

Please take a look at http://wiki.bitnami.org/Virtual_Appliances_Quick_Start_Guide#How_to_install_VMWare_tools_on_BitNami_Virtual_Appliances.3f and post in the forums if you find any problem following these instructions.

2011-07-11 07:06 AM by Beltrán Rueda Borrego

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