Uninstalling Open VMware Tools included with Linux distributions

Products

• VMware Desktop Hypervisor
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

If your guest includes the open-vm-tools-gui, open-vm-tools, or vmware-guest-kmp-desktop components, you must remove the components before installing the VMware Tools supplied by VMware.

Note:
As of Linux kernel version 3.9 or later, VMware supports the open-vm-tools package where it is included in a Linux distribution or its official repositories. For more information, see VMware support of open-vm-tools (2073803).

Resolution

This procedure explains finding and uninstalling open-vmware-tools for openSUSE Linux. You can use this as a guide to the identical or similar commands available in your particular Linux distribution.

Locating the preinstalled openSUSE Linux open-vm-tools

In an X terminal, log in as root ( su) and run this command:

 

rpm -qa | grep vm

Uninstalling open-vm-tools gui, open-vm-tools, or vmware-guest-kmp-desktop

1. In an X terminal, log in as root ( su) and run this command:
   • openSUSE 11.1 or earlier:
     
     rpm -e open-vm-tools-gui open-vm-tools vmware-kmp-default
      
   • openSUSE 11.2:
     
     rpm -e open-vm-tools-gui open-vm-tools vmware-guest-kmp-desktop
     
     Note: The exact package names varies by distribution and kernel version. Confirm the package name in your own installation.
      
2. Install the VMware Tools included with your VMware product. For details, see General VMware Tools installation instructions (1014294).
3. Restart the guest operating system.

For openSUSE 11.1, the rpm -e command fails with error. To resolve this:

1. In an X terminal, log in as root ( su).
2. Edit this file using the vi editor:
   
   vi /etc/init.d/vmware-guest
   
   Note: The guest vm package name may vary.
    
3. Find these lines and comment them out:
   
   umount /proc/fs/vmblock/mountPoint
   modprobe -r vmblock
   modprobe -r vmsync
   modprobe -r vmmemctl
   
   For example:
   
   # umount /proc/fs/vmblock/mountPoint
   # modprobe -r vmblock
   # modprobe -r vmsync
   # modprobe -r vmmemctl|
    
4. Save and close the file.
5. Run the command:
   
   rpm -e open-vm-tools-gui open-vm-tools vmware-kmp-default
    
6. Install VMware Tools.

Additional Information

Red Hat Linux Removing open-vm-tools and installing vm-tools