How to add VMTools version info to an existing OVF/OVA template
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How to add VMTools version info to an existing OVF/OVA template

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Article ID: 308331

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Updated On: 02-10-2025

Products

VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

A customization task fails with error message:

Customization of the guest operating system is not supported due to the given reason: Tools is not installed in the GuestOS. Please install the latest version of open-vm-tools or VMware Tools to enable GuestCustomization.

Cause

If VMTools version info is not set in a VMDK file, an OVF/OVA template created from that VMDK file will not include VMTools version info, and any VM deployed from the OVF/OVA template reports VMTools is not installed.

Resolution

Virtual Disk Development Kit (VDDK) can be used to add VMTools version info to an existing VMDK file:
  1. Download the Virtual Disk Development Kit (VDDK) - Requires login, and possibly appropriate paid for support contract, to download files.
  2. Install the VDDK package according to VDDK documentation.
  3. Develop your software to use the "Write Metadata Table to Disk" API.
  4. Use the software to write "ddb.toolsVersion=<version_build_number>" to the existing VMDK file.
For more information, see the API Documentation for Virtual Disk Development Kit Programming Guide.