Vmtools install failed - on windows - internal error 2318.

Sometimes You may experience a vmtools / vmware-tools installation failed,
It prompts you to uninstall existing first to continue with vmtools upgrade,
and if you try to uninstall existing vmtools - it exits with various reasons
(may happen due to existing vmtools files / registry was corrupted)










Here is the trick for you to uninstall / clean the Registry.

1) Right click on Windows VM / guest at VC - Choose install / upgrade VMware tools
2) Select Manual installation
3) Goto RDP / console of VM - ensure you find virtual CD at MyComputer
4) Find drive letter for your Virtual CD (Ex : D:) -> Go to command prompt ->
     D:\> setup.exe /c (if your OS is 32bit) or setup64.exe /c (if 64 bit OS)
5) Now you try to reinstall the VMware tools - it should proceed to install.

 

           Vmtools Silent installation method

Windows Guest

When it comes to mass deploy / large scale of VM's (vmware tools update) - it will be cumbersome for you to click on each VM and update VMware tools. Here is the way you can use "Silent install method" via SSH log on script / Power CLI.

To perform a silent, non GUI with suppressed reboot VMware Tools installation in a Windows guest operating system:

Run the command:

setup.exe /S /v /qn REBOOT=R

Note: The installer might indicate if a reboot is necessary by exiting with ERROR_SUCCESS_REBOOT_REQUIRED.

Alternatively, in vCenter Server, right-click on a virtual machine, click Install/Upgrade VMware Tools, and enter /S /v /qn REBOOT=R the Advanced field.

Source - VMware KB --> 1018377

 

VMware ThinApp (Formerly Thinstall) - Application Virtualization

VMware ThinApp (formerly Thinstall) is an application virtualization and portable application creator suite by VMware  that can package conventional applications so that they become portable applications.

Ex   :  Ms-Office is Conventional App - Requires Installation & Registry updates, 
Ex   :  Putty.exe is Portable App - Portable app runs anywhere without actual 
          installation (may be from pen drive as well)
          
          To make a straight cut, ThinApp will emulate  Conventional Apps to 
          Portable Apps

VMware ThinApp is an application virtualization solution ThinApp is able to execute applications without them being installed in the traditional sense by virtualizing resources such as environment variables, files and Windows Registry keys. The virtual environment presented to the client is a merged view of the underlying physical and virtual resources, thereby allowing the virtualization layer to fool the application into thinking that it is running as if it were fully installed.

ThinApp Video Demo by VMware

All about VMware Data Recovery - Read on - Dont miss the video

VDR  - VMware Data Recovery (My understanding as below)

What is VDR

VDR is a Backup & Recovery Appliance - Customized on Cent OS

(available from VMware as an OVF - Open Virtualization format)

You can download .OVF file & install from vSphere Client

(VM will be created automatically attached to your chosen Phy.ESX Host) 

You can install VDR Plug-ins and execute Backup & Restore directly from vCenter, on any level of Infrastructure (entire Datacenter, Cluster or VM level)

 Click below --> "Read More" for Full Article (Why VDR, Why not VDR & Demo Video)..

Why VMware Tools (VM Tools) on Guest OS is "Very Important" - be aware of the Significance, read on..

VM Tools will provide the below for Guest OS

• Drivers for Guest OS 
• VmMemCtl  - Memory Mgt Driver (Baloon mechanism)
• Heartbeat to Vcenter (Important for HA, DRS & FT)
• Guest OS Clock Sync from ESX (As Guest OS have Virtual Mother Board - no RTC. So, VM will Sync the time from ESX Host (Physical M.Brd RTC) Recommended to sync Guest OS time with ESX (Provided no Time Server on Guest OS)

• Mouse & Video Acceleration  on Guest OS

--> VM tools installation in Windows & GUI of any Linux flavor       

      (while Guest OS is running, click VM Menu, install VM tools)
 

--> VM tools on CLI of Linux Flavors may follow KB Article from VMware

This video details installing VMware Tools in a Linux guest operating system using RPM (Red Hat Package Manager). This video uses VMware ESX 4.0, but the same basic steps apply to other products. The guest operating system in this video is CentOS, but the steps can be used in any Linux distribution that supports RPM. 

How to install VMware Tools in a Linux virtual machine using RPM Method
(If you require help on Compile Method / for Novell Netware - reach me on  HAIIAMPC at GMAIL dot COM)