VMware Tools services fail to start properly after updating Encryption Management Server

Products

• Encryption Management Server
• Gateway Email Encryption

Issue/Introduction

After updating Encryption Management Server to a newer release that reboots the system automatically, VMware Tools services fail to start properly.

On reboot, if you press the Esc key on the keyboard to view the startup messages, you will see failures like this:

Cause

Encryption Management Server updates that include a new kernel will trigger an automatic reboot. If a new kernel is installed, VMware Tools must create a new initrd boot image for the kernel.

Environment

Encryption Management Server 3.3 and above running as a VMware Virtual Machine.

Resolution

Create a new initrd boot image for the kernel by running the VMware Tools "configurator":

1. Log into the Server via SSH.
2. At the bash shell enter this command to reconfigure VMware Tools and accept the default settings. A new initrd boot image for the kernel will be created:
   vmware-config-tools.pl -d
3. Reboot the server and check that VMware Tools loads successfully.