How to upgrade VMware tools on the Loadbalancer.org Enterprise VA

UPDATED November 2014 - ALL versions of the appliance come with VMware tools pre-installed by default. These tools enable functions such as controlled OS shutdown, controlled OS restart etc. When installing or updating the tools it's also possible to update various kernel modules and drivers, but this is not recommended by Loadbalancer.org as it can potentially cause issues for the load balancer. Important drivers will be updated as and when necessary via the online or offline software update feature available in the WUI on the appliance.

To install or update the tools on the appliance follow the procedure below, this procedure applies to v7.4 and later. For versions prior to v7.4, please contact support.

N.B. these steps apply to VMware tools v9.10.5-2981885, exact steps for other versions may vary

1. Prepare the VA:

• check if the VA has a CD/DVD drive – If not, shutdown the VA and add one
• power up the VA
• if the ESXi host already has the latest tools package available, right-click the appliance and select: Guest > Install/Upgrade VMware Tools
• if prompted, select the Interactive Tools Upgrade option
• if the latest Linux tools ISO file is downloaded manually, connect to the Linux tools ISO file in the normal way, i.e. open the VA's Settings and for the CD/DVD select the Datastore ISO file option, click browse and then browse to and select the relevant Linux tools ISO file, ensure the connected checkbox is selected and click OK

2. At the console of the VA login as root:

lbmaster login: root
Password: loadbalancer

-i.e.
username: root
password: loadbalancer

3. Now mount the ISO file from within the Linux guest:

mount /dev/cdrom2 /mnt

Note: on earlier versions of the VA you'll need to specify ‘cdrom′ rather than ‘cdrom2’

mount /dev/cdrom /mnt

4. Extract the VMware tools archive to the /tmp folder:

cd /tmp
tar xvf /mnt/VM

• hit the tab key after typing the 'M' to get the full file name as it changes every update

5. Run the installer:

cd /tmp/vmware-tools-distrib
./vmware-install.pl

• accept all defaults until prompted to run /usr/bin/vmware-config-tools.pl
• at this point, type "no" (without quotes) and press enter
• the install script will now end

6. Now run the following command to complete the installation:

/usr/bin/vmware-config-tools.pl -p

• ensure the -p is included at the end of the command

Set the following options:

• VMware Host-guest Filesystem option - set to 'no'
• Vmblock option - set to 'no'
• VMware automatic kernel modules - set to 'yes'
• guest Authentication - set to 'no'

7. Remove the temporary files:

rm -Rf /tmp/vmware*

8. Verify that the file /etc/vmware-tools/tools.conf exists and has the following content:

[vmbackup]
enableSyncDriver = false

if not, edit/create it (for later versions of the appliance this file will already exist)

this can be achieved with either 'nano' or 'vi'. It can also be done using something like WinSCP from a remote Windows host

9. Reboot the VM to activate cleanly:

reboot

10. Verifying the version of tools installed:

vmware-toolbox-cmd -v
9.10.5.49873 (build-2981885)

---

The previous tools update procedure below is no longer recommended as it also updates drivers and kernel modules which can potentially cause issues for the load balancer. Please follow the updated procedure above instead.

N.B. these steps apply to VMware Tools v9.4.0 build-1280544 , exact steps for other versions may vary

1. Prepare the VA & start the install:

• Check if the VA has a CD drive - If not, shutdown the VA and add one
• Restart the VA
• Log in as root
• From the VMware menu Select VM --> Guest --> Install/Upgrade VMWare Tools - if prompted, select the Interactive Tools Upgrade option
  (or if the latest ISO is downloaded manually, simply attach the Linux tools ISO file in the normal way)

2. Now mount the CD within the Linux guest:

mount /dev/cdrom /mnt

(N.B. on later VA’s you may to specify ‘cdrom2' rather than ‘cdrom’)

3. Extract the VMware tools archive to the /tmp folder:

cd /tmp
tar xvf /mnt/VM* (hit the tab key to get the name as it changes every update)

4. Create a folder for the header files:

mkdir /usr/src/headers/
cd /usr/src/headers/

5. Determine which kernel your VA is running:

uname -a

6. Download the appropriate header files:
   for kernel version 2.6.25.11CS3 use the command:

wget http://downloads.loadbalancer.org/kernel/kernel-2.6.25.11CS3-headers.tar

for kernel version 2.6.34CS4 use the command:

wget http://downloads.loadbalancer.org/kernel/kernel-2.6.34CS4-headers.tar

for kernel version 2.6.35sip4 use the command:

wget http://downloads.loadbalancer.org/kernel/kernel-2.6.35-sip4.tar.bz2

for kernel version 2.6.35sip9 use the command:

wget http://downloads.loadbalancer.org/kernel/linux-2.6.35sip9.tar.bz2

7. Extract the archive - use the command relevant to your Kernel:

tar xvf kernel-2.6.25.11CS3-headers.tar

or

tar xvf kernel-2.6.34CS4-headers.tar

or

tar xvf kernel-2.6.35-sip4.tar.bz2

or

tar xvf linux-2.6.35sip9.tar.bz2

8. Install the required utilities

yum install --disableexcludes=all make gcc eject

9. On the console (i.e. not via an SSH session) run the installer:

cd /tmp/vmware-tools-distrib
./vmware-install.pl

accept the defaults until asked for the location of the C header files - here, depending on your Kernel version enter:

(N.B. This should be auto-detected during the install, if not enter it manually)

/usr/src/headers/kernel-2.6.25.11CS3/include

or

/usr/src/headers/kernel-2.6.34CS4/include

or

/usr/src/headers/kernel-2.6.35-sip4/include

or

/usr/src/headers/linux-2.6.35sip9/include

Continue to accept defaults until the install completes.

10. Remove the temporary files:

rm -Rf /tmp/vmware*
rm -Rf /usr/src/headers

NB. You may want to leave the header files in case you need to update the tools again in the future.

11. Finally, re-boot the VM to activate cleanly.