How to: Upgrade VMWARE Server under Linux

Build 56528 is a release build of VMware Server 1.0.4. It is a maintenance bug fix release to address security issues. Upgrading VMWare server is a piece of cake under Redhat Enterprise Linux / CentOS Linux version 5.0.

Please note that following instructions are tested on RHEL 4.5, 5.0 and CentOS Linux 5.0 only. You can use tar ball based package to upgrade vmware under Debian Linux.

Find out current VMware server version

First find out current vmware server version, enter:
# vmware -v
Output:

VMware Server 1.0.3 build-44356

You can download the latest version from official site.

Shutdown all VMWARE guest oses / vps

Login to each running VM and bring down (halt) guest operating system. You can also use vmware server console or web based interface for the same purpose.
Stop VMWARE Server:
# /etc/init.d/vmware stop
Output:

Stopping VMware services:
   Virtual machine monitor                                 [  OK  ]
   Bridged networking on /dev/vmnet0                       [  OK  ]
   Virtual ethernet                                        [  OK  ]

Stop VMWARE Webbased interface:
# /etc/init.d/httpd.vmware stop
Output:

   Shutting down http.vmware:                              [  OK  ]

Download VMWARE Server

Use wget the ultimate command line downloader
# cd /tmp
# wget http://download3.vmware.com/software/vmserver/VMware-server-1.0.4-56528.i386.rpm
# wget http://download3.vmware.com/software/vmserver/VMware-mui-1.0.4-56528.tar.gz

Upgrade VMWARE server

Use rpm command to upgrade VMWARE server, enter:
# rpm -Uvh VMware-server-1.0.4-56528.i386.rpm
Output:

Preparing...                ########################################### [100%]
   1:VMware-server          ########################################### [100%]

Reconfigure VMWARE Server

Just reconfigure Vmware server with old values/options:
# vmware-config.pl
Just accept accept the End User License Agreement and press CTRL+C. Now configure server with old values:
# vmware-config.pl -d
Output:

aking sure services for VMware Server are stopped.

Stopping VMware services:
   Virtual machine monitor                                 [  OK  ]
   Bridged networking on /dev/vmnet0                       [  OK  ]
   Virtual ethernet                                        [  OK  ]

Configuring fallback GTK+ 2.4 libraries.

In which directory do you want to install the mime type icons?
[/usr/share/icons]

What directory contains your desktop menu entry files? These files have a
.desktop file extension. [/usr/share/applications]

In which directory do you want to install the application's icon?
[/usr/share/pixmaps]

Trying to find a suitable vmmon module for your running kernel.
...........
...
.....
*** Output truncated ***

Upgrade VMware Server Web-based management interface

The VMware Server Web-based management interface. Install on your VMware Server system to enable control from a Web browser. Untar and install the same:
# tar -zxvf VMware-mui-1.0.4-56528.tar.gz
# cd vmware-mui-distrib/
# perl vmware-install.pl
Just follow on screen instructions to install Web-based management interface. Finally just start all guest oses.

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