How to Use GuestStore for VMware Tools Upgrades

Products

• VMware vCenter Server

Issue/Introduction

Using the gueststore method in Distributing Content with GuestStore to upgrade VMware tools.

Environment

VMware vSphere ESXi 

Resolution

1. Download the gueststore version of VMware Tools from the Broadcom Portal (VMware Tools Packages for Gueststore): Downloading VMware Tools
   
   • Ex: gueststore-vmtools-12.5.2-24697584-24705409.zip
2. SSH into the ESXi host and create a folder on the datastore to set as gueststore: 
   • cd ds:/vmfs/volumes/DATASTORENAME/
   • mkdir gueststore
3. Extract the zip info 
4. Set the folder as gueststore via ESXi with command:
   • esxcli system settings gueststore repository set --url "ds:/vmfs/volumes/DATASTORENAME/FOLDERNAME/"

Additional Information

See: Use GuestStore