Deploy VMware Tools using SCCM | ConfigMgr

In this post I will show you how to deploy VMware tools using SCCM or ConfigMgr. You can also deploy the VMware tools as part of task sequence.

After you image a Virtual Machine, before you start using it, you install the VMware tools. There are alternate methods to install the VMware tools on guest machine. I will cover some of these methods in this post.

You could either install VMware Tools manually or trigger the installation via the Server. However we will deploy VMware tools using SCCM because that makes our life easier.

VMware Tools is a suite of utilities that enhances the performance of the virtual machines guest operating system. It also improves management of the virtual machine. Without VMware Tools installed in your guest operating system, guest performance lacks important functionality.

Download VMware Tools

Download the latest version of VMware Tools directly from the VMware site. To download any product from VMware site, you need an account. If you already have one, sign-in or you create a new account.

Ensure you select the VMware Tools version (32-bit/64-bit) that you require and then click Download. Since I have got all VM’s running 64-bit OS, I have downloaded 64-bit Tools package.

Deploy VMware Tools using SCCM as Package

Before we deploy VMware tools using SCCM, let’s create a new package in SCCM to deploy VMware Tools.

• Launch the Configuration Manager console.
• Go to Software Library\Overview\Application Management\Packages.
• Right click Packages and click Create Package for VMware Tools.

Specify the Package name as VMware Tools. Next, select This package contains source files and click Browse. Specify the path of VMware Tools application. Click Next.

Select the Program Type as Standard Program. Click Next.

Specify the command line which is the VMware Tools install command.

VMware-tools-11.2.0-16938113-x86_64.exe /s /v/qn

Note that I have tried /norestart command but that doesn’t work. The computer will still restart even with /norestart switch.

According to VMware, the uninstall command listed below should work. However during my testing the uninstall command didn’t work. I will update this post with the correct uninstall command whenever I see it working.

"MsiExec.exe /I{766355C9-1851-4890-9C1F-9F043A43AFCE}"

Click Next.

On the Requirements page, click Next.

On the Completion window, click Close.

We have successfully created VMware Tools package in SCCM. Next, distribute the package to the distribution points. Deploy the VMware Tools package to the device collection. You may first deploy it to a test collection.

Login to one of the client computer. Launch the Software Center and click Install VMware Tools. Although your computer restarts the VMware Tools package installs fine.

Deploy VMware Tools Application using SCCM

To deploy VMware tools using SCCM.

• Launch the Configuration Manager console.
• Go to Software Library\Overview\Application Management\Applications.
• Right click Applications and click Create Application for VMware Tools.
• On the General window, click Manually specify the application Information.

Click Next.

Specify the Application Name as VMware Tools and click Next.

Here you may specify the icon for VMware Tools. Click Next.

Add a new deployment type.

Specify Type as Script installer. Select Manually specify the deployment type information. Click Next.

Specify the content location. The installation program is going to be the same as we used while creating a package.

VMware-tools-11.2.0-16938113-x86_64.exe /s /v/qn

Use the below detection rule to detect the presence of VMware Tools.

• Setting Type – File System
• Type – File
• Path – %ProgramFiles%\VMware\VMware Tools
• File or Folder name – vmtoolsd.exe
• Property – Version
• Operator – Greater than or equal to
• Value – 11.0.6.19689

After you specify these settings, click OK.

Specify the User Experience settings for the application based on your requirements. Click Next.

Click Next and complete the add deployment wizard. On the Completion Window, click Close.

Finally let’s test the VMware Tools application install. Launch the Software Center and select VMware Tools. Click Install.

Since the VMware Tools requires a system restart at the end of installation, the system will reboot without any notice.

After VMware Tools installation finishes and OS restarts, open Software Center. Click VMware Tools Installation Status. Verify VMware Tools is installed.

PatchMyPC VMware Tools Deployment

PatchMyPC tool creates the VMware Tools application for you and lets you deploy VMware tools using SCCM. However this software requires a license.

If you are new to Patch My PC tool, you can use the following guides to get started with Patch My PC. The advantage of this tool is along with application creation, it also updates the apps in the background.

Launch the Patch My PC tool and click ConfigMgr Apps. Under VMware category, select VMware Tools. Run the Publishing service sync and a new VMware Tools application should be created.

In the next step deploy VMware tools using SCCM to your endpoints.