There are a couple methods to install the VMWare Tools bundle on VMWare virtual machines (when you don’t install a GUI).

1. Use the tarball which builds modules against the installed kernel.
2. Use the VMWare repo to install via yum.

The disadvantage of using the tarball is the necessity of updating the install each time a new kernel is installed.

To simplify the installation, use the method below:

1. Create a new file called vmware-tools.repo

[vmware-tools]
name=VMware Tools
#baseurl=http://packages.vmware.com/tools/esx/3.5latest/rhel5/$basearch
baseurl=http://packages.vmware.com/tools/esx/4.1latest/rhel5/$basearch
#baseurl=http://packages.vmware.com/tools/esx/4.1latest/rhel6/$basearch
#baseurl=http://packages.vmware.com/tools/esx/5.0u1/rhel5/$basearch
#baseurl=http://packages.vmware.com/tools/esx/5.0u1/rhel6/$basearch
enabled=1
gpgcheck=1


Modify this file based on the release of ESX you are running and the version of RHEL (or it’s clones). Uncomment the appropriate baseurl line and comment out the others.

2. Import the GPG keys for the repo

# rpm --import http://packages.vmware.com/tools/keys/VMWARE-PACKAGING-GPG-DSA-KEY.pub
# rpm --import http://packages.vmware.com/tools/keys/VMWARE-PACKAGING-GPG-RSA-KEY.pub

3. Specify the nox version of vmware tools

# yum install vmware-tools-nox

Or (for VMWare 5.x hosts)

# yum install vmware-tools-esx-nox


This will install the required rpm’s and anytime you invoke a yum update, these tools will also be updated.