When you select the command to install or upgrade VMware Tools, the virtual machine’s first virtual CD-ROM disk drive temporarily connects to the VMware Tools ISO file for your guest operating system.

Each type of guest operating system, including Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X, has an ISO image file. The CD-ROM in your guest operating system detects the ISO image file. The installers for VMware Tools are ISO image files. When you install VMware Tools, the utilities in the suite enhance the performance of the guest operating system in your virtual machine and improve the management of your virtual machines.įor information about creating virtual machines, see the documentation for the applicable VMware product. Although your guest operating systems can run without VMware Tools, many VMware features are not available until you install VMware Tools.

Installing VMware Tools is part of the process of creating a new virtual machine, and upgrading VMware Tools is part of the process of keeping your virtual machine up to current standards.