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?

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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