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Install VMware Tools on Ubuntu 22.04 Jammy Jellyfish Linux

VMware Tools is a suite of utilities that enhances the performance and functionality of virtual machines (VMs) running on VMware hypervisors (e.g., VMware Workstation, Fusion, ESXi, or vSphere). It improves graphics rendering, enables seamless mouse movement between host and VM, supports shared folders, clipboard sharing, and automates guest OS updates.

For Ubuntu 22.04 LTS ("Jammy Jellyfish"), the recommended method to install VMware Tools is via Open VM Tools—an open-source implementation of VMware Tools maintained by the VMware community and included in Ubuntu’s official repositories. Open VM Tools is lightweight, regularly updated, and fully supported by both VMware and Ubuntu.

This guide will walk you through two methods to install VMware Tools on Ubuntu 22.04:

  1. Open VM Tools (Recommended): The easiest and preferred method using Ubuntu’s package manager.
  2. VMware Tools ISO (Legacy Method): Manually installing from the VMware-provided ISO (for advanced or legacy use cases).
2026-02

Table of Contents#

  1. Prerequisites
  2. Method 1: Install Open VM Tools (Recommended)
    • 2.1 Update System Packages
    • 2.2 Install Open VM Tools
    • 2.3 Verify Installation
  3. Method 2: Install from VMware Tools ISO (Legacy)
    • 3.1 Mount the VMware Tools ISO
    • 3.2 Extract and Install the Tools
    • 3.3 Verify Installation
  4. Post-Installation Steps
  5. Troubleshooting Common Issues
  6. Conclusion
  7. References

Prerequisites#

Before starting, ensure:

  • A Ubuntu 22.04 VM running on a VMware hypervisor (Workstation, Fusion, ESXi, etc.).
  • The VM is powered on and you have sudo privileges (administrative access).
  • Internet connectivity (to download packages for Method 1).

Open VM Tools (open-vm-tools) is the official open-source replacement for VMware Tools. It is pre-packaged in Ubuntu’s repositories, making installation quick and straightforward.

2.1 Update System Packages#

First, update your Ubuntu package list to ensure you install the latest version of Open VM Tools:

sudo apt update

2.2 Install Open VM Tools#

Install the appropriate package based on your Ubuntu 22.04 setup:

For Desktop Environments (GNOME, KDE, etc.):#

If you’re using a GUI-based Ubuntu 22.04 (e.g., the default GNOME desktop), install open-vm-tools-desktop to enable advanced features like shared folders, clipboard sharing, and drag-and-drop:

sudo apt install open-vm-tools-desktop -y

For Server (Headless) Environments:#

If you’re running Ubuntu 22.04 as a server (no GUI), install the base open-vm-tools package:

sudo apt install open-vm-tools -y

2.3 Verify Installation#

To confirm Open VM Tools is installed and running, check the status of the vmtoolsd service:

sudo systemctl status vmtoolsd

You should see output similar to:

● vmtoolsd.service - Service for virtual machine monitor to communicate with the host
     Loaded: loaded (/lib/systemd/system/vmtoolsd.service; enabled; vendor preset: enabled)
     Active: active (running) since Wed 2024-05-20 10:30:00 UTC; 5min ago
   Main PID: 1234 (vmtoolsd)
      Tasks: 1 (limit: 4567)
     Memory: 2.3M
        CPU: 1.2s
     CGroup: /system.slice/vmtoolsd.service
             └─1234 /usr/bin/vmtoolsd

Note: If the service is not running, start it with:

sudo systemctl start vmtoolsd

Method 2: Install from VMware Tools ISO (Legacy)#

If you need to use the official VMware Tools ISO (e.g., for compatibility with older hypervisors), follow these steps. This method is less common today but still valid for specific scenarios.

3.1 Mount the VMware Tools ISO#

  1. Power on your Ubuntu 22.04 VM.

  2. In the VMware hypervisor menu:

    • VMware Workstation/Fusion: Go to VM > Install VMware Tools (or Update VMware Tools if already installed).
    • ESXi/vSphere: Right-click the VM > Guest OS > Install VMware Tools.

    This mounts the VMware Tools ISO (linux.iso) to your VM’s CD/DVD drive.

3.2 Extract and Install the Tools#

  1. Create a temporary directory to mount the ISO:

    mkdir -p /mnt/cdrom

  2. Mount the ISO:

    sudo mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom

  3. List the contents of the mounted ISO to find the VMware Tools tarball (filename format: VMwareTools-<version>-<build>.tar.gz):

    ls /mnt/cdrom

  4. Extract the tarball to /tmp:

    tar -zxvf /mnt/cdrom/VMwareTools-*.tar.gz -C /tmp/

  5. Navigate to the extracted directory (replace <version> with the actual version from the tarball name):

    cd /tmp/vmware-tools-distrib/

  6. Run the installer script with sudo:

    sudo ./vmware-install.pl

  7. Follow the on-screen prompts. Press Enter to accept default values for most options (e.g., installation path, component selection).

3.3 Verify Installation#

After installation, check if the vmtoolsd service is running:

sudo systemctl status vmtoolsd

You should see active (running) in the output.

Post-Installation Steps#

For optimal functionality, restart your Ubuntu VM after installing VMware Tools:

sudo reboot

After rebooting, test key features like:

  • Shared Folders: Access host directories from the VM (configured via VMware settings).
  • Clipboard Sharing: Copy/paste text between host and VM.
  • Display Resolution: The VM should automatically adjust to the window size (for GUI desktops).

Troubleshooting Common Issues#

Issue 1: vmtoolsd Service Not Starting#

If the service fails to start, check for errors in the logs:

journalctl -u vmtoolsd

Common fixes:

  • Reinstall Open VM Tools: sudo apt reinstall open-vm-tools open-vm-tools-desktop
  • Ensure the VM is not running in "Safe Mode" or has restricted resources.

Issue 2: Shared Folders Not Working#

  • Verify shared folders are enabled in VMware VM settings (VM > Settings > Options > Shared Folders).
  • Ensure the open-vm-tools-desktop package is installed (for GUI) or open-vm-tools (for server).
  • Check if the shared folder is mounted: 
    mount | grep vmhgfs-fuse

Issue 3: Display Resolution Not Adjusting (GUI Desktops)#

  • Ensure open-vm-tools-desktop is installed: 
    sudo apt install open-vm-tools-desktop -y
  • Restart the display manager (e.g., for GNOME): 
    sudo systemctl restart gdm3

Conclusion#

Installing VMware Tools on Ubuntu 22.04 is straightforward, with Open VM Tools being the recommended method for most users. It provides all essential features and is maintained via Ubuntu’s package manager, ensuring easy updates. For legacy scenarios, the VMware Tools ISO method remains a viable alternative.

With VMware Tools installed, your Ubuntu VM will run more efficiently and integrate seamlessly with your VMware hypervisor.

References#