VMWare Tools on Ubuntu Server Instance – a script

I have been working on some Ubuntu server vmware instances and got tired of walking through the steps in my howto one-by-one.  As a result, I put together a script to automatically install the vmware tools using the steps from the howto.

If you would prefer using the script, start by downloading it from here into the /tmp directory (the wget command is chopped off in the theme, but you should still be able to cut/paste):

cd /tmp
wget -c http://github.com/cccarey/demisauce/raw/master/install/install_openvmtools.sh
chmod +x install_openvmtools.sh

Before you start the script, “install” the VMWare Tools from your VMWare Console by selecting the VM -> Install VMWare Tools… menu option.  This is important as it sets the VMWare Tools as the cdrom drive.  The script will mount the drive and extract the VMWare Tools tar ball automatically.

Now you are ready to start the script:

cd /tmp
sudo ./install_openvmtools.sh

Sit back, watch the text go by, then reboot and you are all set.

Note: the script does not install the X tools. I will try to post an updated script with those additional steps from the howto soon.

VMWare on Ubuntu 8.10 (Intrepid) – New HowTo

Over the past couple of years I developed a method of working where I devote my host desktop to multi-media and VMWare hosting.  I use VMWare predominantly for development instances and servers: Windows .NET, Ubuntu LAMP servers, Ubuntu desktop.  My new/old company uses VMWare for development and some QA servers and are considering more use in a production environment.

When I recently upgraded my host to Ubuntu 8.10, I ran into a couple of issues.  I found these excellent posts to help me resolve them:

• Getting the host software (VMWare Server v1.0.x) running – VMware Server 1.0.7 on Ubuntu 8.10 “Intrepid” (2.6.27-7-generic) – Note: these instructions work with the latest VMWare Server 1.0.8 and the 2.6.27-9.  BUT, you need to replace the “linux-kernel-header” package installed on the aptitude install line with “linux-headers-`uname -r`”.
  
• Keyboard mapping issues inside the VMWare instances from a Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid desktop – VMWare and the fubar keyboard effect

However, when it came to loading the VMWare tools on my 8.10 server and desktop instances, I found a couple of great posts that got me almost there.  I initially found the first post which I was really happy with, until it started having “Firefox has detected that the server is redirecting the request for this address in a way that will never complete.” issues.  The second filled the gap for a while, but I found myself filling in some blanks each time most likely because it was targeted at 8.04 (plus the red on the right side of the page assaulting to the senses).

• Ubuntu Hardy – Setting up VMWare Tools from the CLI
• How to Install VMware Tools on Ubuntu Hardy 8.04 under VMware Fusion

So, thanks to those guys, but I wrote a new HowTo for setting up the VMWare Tools.