How to Install VMware Tools on Windows Server Core VM

Prajwal Desai
Posted by Prajwal Desai
How to Install VMware Tools on Windows Server Core

In this post, I will show you how to install VMware tools on Windows Server Core. You can install the VMware tools on a VM running Server Core on ESXI or VMware Workstation.

The Server Core option is a minimal installation option that is available when you are deploying the Standard or Datacenter edition of Windows Server. Server Core includes most but not all server roles. Server Core has a smaller disk footprint, and therefore a smaller attack surface due to a smaller code base.

The Server Core doesn’t have the GUI features installed. Hence, you’ll require to mount the VMware tools on the Server Core VM or you need to manually copy the tools and run the installation.

After you create a Windows Server core VM, if the VMware tools aren’t installed automatically, there are 2 manual ways to install VMware tools.

  1. Download and Install VMware Tools from VMware Customer Connect site.
  2. Use the VMware Tools installer embedded in the VMware Workstation or ESXI.

Use the following guides to install VMware tools on other operating systems:

Install VMware Tools on Windows Server Core VM

Let’s look at the steps to install VMware tools on Windows Server Core virtual machine. Power on the Server Core VM. Right-click on the Sever Core VM title and select “Install VMware Tools“.

Mount VMware Tools on Server Core
Mount VMware Tools on Server Core

The VMware tools are now mounted on a separate drive on the Server core VM. Use the CD drive: command to change the directory to the one that’s mounted with VMware tools. Run the Dir command to list all the components of VMware Tools.

VMware Tools Components
VMware Tools Components

To install the VMware tools, run the command .\setup64.exe.

Run VMware Tools Setup on Windows Server Core
Run VMware Tools Setup on Windows Server Core

After you run setup.exe, the VMware Tools Setup window appears on the screen. In some cases, you may not see the setup window because it is hidden behind the SConfig screen or command prompt. On the VMware Tools Setup window, click Next.

Install VMware Tools on Windows Server Core
Install VMware Tools on Windows Server Core

On the Choose setup type windows, you must select a setup type.

To be completely honest, I never gave these options much thought and always went with Typical. However, let me describe what each option does so that it will help in choosing it.

  • Typical: Installs only program features used by VMWare product. This is the default option for all VMware tools installations.
  • Complete: Select the option to install all the mandatory, recommended and optional components.
  • Custom: Use this option to select which program features you want to install and the location to install.

For now, I am going to select the setup type as Typical. Click Next.

Install VMware Tools on Windows Server Core
Install VMware Tools on Windows Server Core

To begin the VMware tools installation of Windows Server Core, click Install.

Install VMware Tools on Windows Server Core
Install VMware Tools on Windows Server Core

The VMware tools installation is now complete on Server Core. Click Finish.

Install VMware Tools on Windows Server Core
Install VMware Tools on Windows Server Core

To complete the VMware tools installation, you must restart your system. Click Yes to restart the virtual machine.

VMware Tools Installation - Restart the Server Core
VMware Tools Installation – Restart the Server Core

Verify VMware Tools Installation of Server Core

After you have installed the VMware tools on Server Core, you can verify the installation by running a simple PowerShell command Get-Service -Name VMTools

The above command checks if the VMware Tools service is installed and running on the Server Core. In the output, if you see the Status of VMTools service as “Running“, it means the VMware Tools have been installed successfully on Server Core.

Verify VMware Tools Installation of Server Core
Verify VMware Tools Installation of Server Core
Share This Article
Prajwal Desai
Posted by Prajwal Desai
Follow:
Prajwal Desai is a Microsoft MVP in Intune and SCCM. He writes articles on SCCM, Intune, Windows 365, Windows Server, Windows 11, WordPress and other topics, with the goal of providing people with useful information.
Leave a comment