ESXi installations usually come with VMware Tools pre-installed. While updating or upgrading vSphere on an ESXi host, VMware Tools may receive updates, but not necessarily to the newest version.
There are instances when we must update VMware Tools alone to ensure security vulnerabilities are addressed.
Various methods are available for updating VMware tools, and one simple way is to update ESXi VMware Tools using an offline VMware Tools VIB bundle.
Prerequisites:-
1. Download the necessary VMware Tools offline bundle file from the Broadcom website.
https://support.broadcom.com/group/ecx/productdownloads?subfamily=VMware%20Tools
Note:- To download the VMware Tools, you must have a Broadcom account.
Post-login, proceed to download the VMware Tools Offline VIB bundle. In my case, I downloaded the 12.4.0 bundle file. You have the option to download files of a specific version according to your requirements.
- Installation of the VIB file on ESXI requires root access.
- The SSH service should be turned on for ESXi.
Updating the VMware Tools :-
- Upload the downloaded offline zip file to the local or shared Datastore.
I am Upgrading the VMware Tools to version 12.3.5 from 12.14.0.
- Log into the ESXi Host with the root user login details.
In the first step, we uploaded the VMware bundle file to the datastore. Select Datastore; in the summary section, you will see the visible datastore path. Simply copy the Datastore path.
- Prepare the host
There is no need for hosts to be in maintenance mode. The Tools update can be performed seamlessly while virtual machines are running.
Learn about VIB installation requirements by referring to the following link–
esxcli software sources vib get –depot=file: VMware tools path
$ esxcli software sources vib install –depot=file:///vmfs/volumes/661681af-727d5450-b3c2-48df37bd3cec/VMwareTools_12.4/VMware-Tools-12.4.0-core-offline-depot-ESXi-all-23259341.zip
- After completing the preparation of the host, proceed with the installation of the VIB on the ESXi host.
esxcli software vib install –depot=file: VMwareTool file path
$ esxcli software vib install –depot=file:///vmfs/volumes/661681af-727d5450-b3c2-48df37bd3cec/VMwareTools_12.4/VMware-Tools-12.4.0-core-offline-depot-ESXi-all-23259341.zip
The VIB installation has been successfully completed, as illustrated in the screenshot above.
- Ensure to confirm the VMware Tools version.
Tools VIB updated 12.3.5 to 12.4.0
Note:- Following the update of the VMware VIB, it is important to wait for 5 minutes. In vSphere, the default time is set to 600 seconds. Once this time frame is completed, notifications regarding the availability of a VMware tool upgrade will appear for all virtual machines linked to the hosts.
- Upgrading the VMware tool to the new version.
Click on the Actions option. Choose the VMware Tools Upgrade option.
Choose between an Interactive upgrade or an Automatic one, depending on what suits you best.
I have chosen the Interactive type, and the VMware Tools ISO will be mounted to the VM.
Once you have chosen the option, proceed by clicking on Upgrade
VMware Tools ISO mounted to the VM. Right-click on the DVD drive and select autorun.
Click on RUN Setup64.exe.
Click on the Next.
Select the appropriate choices according to your needs. Proceed by clicking on the Next button.
Click on the Install.
Depending on your environment, the installation will be completed in just a few seconds.
After the installation is complete, please click on the Finish button.
A system reboot is necessary following the installation or upgrade of VMware tools. Please select “Yes” to restart the virtual machine.
After the VM reboot has finished, you may log in to verify the version of VMware tools.
Similarly, you can upgrade the VMware Tools version for each of the Windows VMs.
VMware tools are not needed for new LINUX VMs as they are equipped with open-vm tools by default. Yet, for older LINUX versions, VMware tools installation is required.