I just got the email update below sent to me about VMware Tools Operating System Specific Packages (OSPs). What is an OSP? Basically VMware has broken out the tools into their own packages. This way you can take these OSPs and use your existing software management and deployment tools to install and upgrade VMware Tools. I had previously written a small script to go through and upgrade VMware Tools programatically. I presented that tool at VMworld 2008. It looks like my little script has now been replaced by a much more elegant way to upgrade VMware Tools. Now only if we could get something similar for Microsoft operating systems.
Here’s the email with the details:
We are pleased to announce the General Availability of VMware Tools Operating System Specific Packages (OSPs) for Linux.
VMware Tools OSPs are separately downloadable, light-weight packages which are specific to each supported Operating System and VMware product. OSPs are designed to facilitate easy installation, upgrade and management using the native software management tools of the operating system which it supports. OSPs provide an alternative to the existing mechanism for installing and managing VMware Tools and are especially well suited for large scale deployments.
VMware Tools OSPs are available for the following VMware products:
ESX 3.5 Update 2
ESX 3.5 Update 3This release provides OSPs for the following operating systems:
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 (RHEL 4) [GA release and Updates 1 through 7]
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 (RHEL 5) [GA release and Updates 1 and 2]
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 (SLES 9) [GA release and Service Packs 1 through 4]
- SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 (SLES 10) [GA release and Service Packs 1 and 2]
- Ubuntu Linux 8.04 [GA release and the 8.04.1 update]
For a complete set of instructions for downloading, installing, and upgrading VMware Tools OSPs, please see the VMware Tools Installation Guide Operating System Specific Packages, at:
http://www.vmware.com/pdf/osp_install_guide.pdf
Regards,
The VMware Tools OSP Team
December 24th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
[...] 24, 2008 VMware Tools Operating System Specific Packages Released: [...]
January 2nd, 2009 at 12:32 pm
I am assuming that these are the same tools that VMWare Workstation installs when you do an “easy install” of Ubuntu, for example?
I always had issues getting VMWare Tools to install before – I just need to try an “easy install” of Ubuntu JeOS again as this failed the first time I tried it … otherwise I will look at this, thanks.
January 2nd, 2009 at 2:37 pm
Yes, these are the same tools – just pre-compiled and ready to go for these certain OS builds to help with install and patching.
January 2nd, 2009 at 7:32 pm
I am assuming that these are the same tools that VMWare Workstation installs when you do an “easy install” of Ubuntu, for example?
I always had issues getting VMWare Tools to install before – I just need to try an “easy install” of Ubuntu JeOS again as this failed the first time I tried it … otherwise I will look at this, thanks.
January 2nd, 2009 at 9:37 pm
Yes, these are the same tools – just pre-compiled and ready to go for these certain OS builds to help with install and patching.