How to install Open-VM Tools on Ubuntu 24.04

Install Open-VM Tools for Desktop VMs

Desktop environments running Ubuntu need the dedicated desktop package for full feature support.

Execute the following command in the terminal:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt install open-vm-tools-desktop

Restart the 🔄 virtual machine afterward to ensure all drivers load correctly.

Install Open-VM Tools for Server VMs

To install open-vm-tools ubuntu on a server virtual machine, update your system package list and run the primary apt install command in your terminal. This sets up the essential drivers and background services that help your virtual machine run smoothly on VMware, including better mouse movement, screen resizing, and folder sharing between the host machine and your guest operating system.

Update package lists and install the core server package with this command:

sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade
sudo apt install open-vm-tools

Core server packages deploy immediately with this routine.

Development builds require a different package variant. Run this command instead:

sudo apt install open-vm-tools-dev

Reboot the system to apply the newly installed modules.

Verify the active package version by running this query:

apt-cache policy open-vm-tools*

Configuration finishes here.

Conclusion:

• Installing Open-VM Tools on Ubuntu 24.04 is essential for optimizing the performance and functionality of virtual machines in VMware environments.
• Depending on whether you are running a desktop or server VM, you can choose to install the Open-VM Tools desktop package or the Open-VM Tools server package, respectively.
• Additionally, for those interested in the development version, there is an option to install the open-vm-tools-dev package.
• After installation, reboot the VM to apply the changes and validate the version installed using the apt-cache policy open-vm-tools* command.