[vc_tta_tabs active_section=”1″ pagination_style=”outline-square”][vc_tta_section title=”Summary” tab_id=”1483657727692-588765df-8139e50c-cffe60ab-0c6f”][vc_custom_heading text=”Problem / Outcome Summary”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Foreword” tab_id=”1483656936153-fec58c10-e606e50c-cffe60ab-0c6f”][vc_custom_heading text=”Foreword”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Pre-Requisites” tab_id=”1483656936239-1facad3b-9216e50c-cffe60ab-0c6f”][vc_custom_heading text=”Pre-Requisites”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Summary Steps” tab_id=”1483657008528-9fc62da7-5742e50c-cffe60ab-0c6f”][vc_custom_heading text=”High Level Summary Steps”][/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Implementation” tab_id=”1483657023013-0e8f9bfb-cd0fe50c-cffe60ab-0c6f”][vc_custom_heading text=”Implementation”]Get a copy of the VMWare tools linux drivers from your host
Install the pre-requisites for installation
Install and configure the VMWare-Tools script
Reboot your system
[/vc_tta_section][vc_tta_section title=”Final Word” tab_id=”1483657035357-36e2d8d1-b325e50c-cffe60ab-0c6f”][vc_custom_heading text=”Final Word”][/vc_tta_section][/vc_tta_tabs]
- VMWare-tools won’t install properly (or at all) on Sabayon Linux by default
- VMWare says ‘VMWare Tools is not available for this guest’
- This article will show you how to get around this problem and have a fully functioning set of VMWare-Tools including copy / paste, screen resizing and other sharing functionality.
Why might I want to do this?
- To enable copy / paste between the guest and host within VMWare
- To enable automatic screen sizing and resolution adjustments within the VMWare client
- Improve movement of the mouse in the guest
- Make the sound work properly in the guest
- Improve the colour depth of the guest
- Synchronise the time between the guest and the host
VMWare tools are a small set of drivers and enhancements that are installed in the ‘guest’ OS. This then enables the guest to communicate more efficiently with the host OS and it’s hardware.
Additional resources
The official VMWare tools information can be found here.
Software Dependencies
- A running VMWare host
- An active VMWare guest with Sabayon Linux
- A copy of VMWare tools for linux guests
Hardware Dependencies
- None
Tools Required
- None
Other Dependencies
- A working internet connection
The below lists the high level summary of steps we’re about to take during this howto.
- Get a copy of the VMWare tools linux drivers from your host
- Install the pre-requisites for installation
- Install and configure the VMWare tools script
- Reboot Sabayon Linux
Get a copy of the VMWare tools linux drivers from your host
- Get this
Install the pre-requisites for installation
- Ensure your Sabayon linux is up-to-date
- Open a console
- Become root (su / password)
- Enter the following commands
- equo install sabayon-sources gcc binutils (Installs kernel headers, gcc and binutils)
- Create the missing rc directories (enter each command as one whole line)
- cd /etc/
- mkdir rc0.d rc1.d rc2.d rc3.d rc4.d rc5.d rc6.d
Install and configure the VMWare-Tools script
- Copy the VMWare-Tools file you obtained earlier to a directory of your choice
- Open a Console
- Extract and run the VMWare-Tools file
- tar -xvf <vmwaretoolsfile>
- cd vmware-tools-distrib
- ./vmware-install.pl
- Accept all defaults and click yes to create directories as requested
- If you get errors regarding vmhgfs modules you can ignore them.
Reboot your system
Now restart your system and VMWare-Tools is now installed and working.
- Shutdown -r now
That’s it, all done!
At time of writing the Sabayon version used was 15.05, this would likely apply to future and previous versions though.
As always, I welcome your insights and opinions in the comments section below.
Marshalleq
