On certain Linux guest operating systems, the VMware Tools process vmware-user does not start automatically

Products

• VMware
• VMware Desktop Hypervisor

Issue/Introduction

One of the executables used by VMware Tools in UNIX guests is vmware-user . This program implements the fit-guest-to-window feature and Unity mode, among other features.

Normally, vmware-user is started automatically after you configure VMware Tools and then log out of the desktop environment and log back in.

You must start the vmware-user process manually in the following environments:

• If you run an X session without a session manager (for example, by using startx and getting a desktop and not using xdm, kdm, or gdm)
• If you are using certain older versions of GNOME without gdm or xdm
• If you are using any session manager or environment that does not support the Desktop Application Autostart Specification

You must also start vmware-user manually after you update to a new version of VMware Tools.

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Resolution

To start the VMware User process manually if you do not use a session manager, do one of the following:

• To have vmware-user start when you start an X session, add vmware-user to the appropriate X startup script, such as the .xsession or .xinitrc file.

The vmware-user program is located in the directory where you selected to install binary programs, which defaults to /usr/bin . The startup script that needs to be modified depends on your particular system.

• To start vmware-user after a VMware Tools software update or if you notice that certain features are not working, open a terminal window and enter the following command:

vmware-user

Additional Information:

• Installing VMware Tools in a Linux virtual machine using RPM (1018392).
• Installing VMware Tools in a Linux virtual machine using Compiler (1018414).

For translated versions of this article, see:

• 日本語: 特定の Linux ゲスト OS 上で、VMware Tools プロセス vmware-user が自動的に起動しない (2101632)