VMware Tools upgrade or installation fails with "The VMware Tools Image is inaccessible" due to misconfigured file permissions

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

When upgrading or installing VMware Tools on a virtual machine, users may encounter the following error message:

The VMware Tools image is inaccessible Unable to install VMware Tools

"Error upgrading VMware Tools. vix error code = 21009. The VMware Tools installation failed with an unknown error."

One common cause of this issue is improper file permissions, which prevent the installer from executing necessary components. This article will provide a solution focused on fixing permission-related problems that can cause VMware Tools installation failures.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0.x

VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0.x

Cause

The most common cause of this error is a misconfiguration of the permissions set for VMware Tools installation files.

Resolution

Resolution: Fixing the Permission Issue

To resolve the permission issue, follow these steps:

1. Identify the directory containing VMware Tools files. The default location for the VMware Tools files is typically /locker/packages/vmtoolsRepo/vmtools, but it may vary depending on your environment.
   
2. Set the correct execute permissions on the VMware Tools directory by running the following command:

   # cd /locker/packages/vmtoolsRepo
   # chmod 755 vmtools/

3. Set the correct permissions for the files in the VMware Tools directory using the following command:

   # cd /locker/packages/vmtoolsRepo/vmtools
   # chmod 644 *