Q. I’m using OpenSuse as Guest OS (VPS). Installing SUSE Linux as a VMware Workstation guest operating system was easy task. But how do I setup and install SUSE Linux as a VMware Guest? How do I install vmware tools to improve performance?

A. In order to install Vmware tools, you need to build kernel modules. Building kernel modules is easy provided that following packages are installed on the guest OpenSuse / Suse Linux (VPS):

=> kernel-source

=> binutils

=> make

=> gcc

=> gcc-c++

Install required software

Login to guest oses using SSH or Vmware server console. Use yast command (yast control center) to install required software:
# yast
Select Software > Software management > Add above packages > Accept and install the softwares

(YaST text mode software installation)

If you are using a GUI, you should see screen as follows (YaST2 screen):

Start VMWARE Tools installation

You need to start VMware tools installation from Vmware server console or Vmware Workstation VM menu.
Click on VM Menu > Select Install Vmware Tools… > Click on Install

Mount the VMware Tools virtual CD

If you are using guest system’s desktop, you should have mounted a CD. If you are using text mode, run mount command as follows:
# mount /dev/hdc /media
Output:

mount: block device /dev/hdc is write-protected, mounting read-only

Replace /dev/hdc with actual virtual cd rom drive.

Install the VMware Tools RPM

Finally install rpm file,
cd /media
ls
rpm -ivh VMwareTools-1.0.3-44356.i386.rpm

Configure Vmware tools

Next you need to run the VMware Tools configuration script. You must run script from VMWare server console / Workstation and not from SSH session:
# vmware-config-tools.pl
OR
# vmware-config-tools.pl -default