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Understanding the VMware Tools Service Understanding the VMware Tools Service
The VMware Tools Service performs various duties within the guest operating system, such as:
  • Passing messages from the host operating system or ESX Server to the guest operating system.
  • Passing information between the guest operating system and a VMware Scripting API script.
  • Sending a heartbeat to the VMware product so that it knows the guest operating system is running. When the virtual machine is running under ESX Server, GSX Server, or VMware Server, a gauge for this heartbeat appears in the VMware Management Interface.
  • Grabbing and releasing of the mouse cursor. When this is disabled, press Ctrl-Alt to release the mouse.
  • Dragging and dropping content within the virtual machine with the mouse (for virtual machines run under Workstation).
  • Synchronizing the time in the guest operating system with the time in the host operating system.
  • Running scripts in a virtual machine when the power state changes. See Using Scripts.
  • Executing commands in the virtual machine when you shut down or restart a Linux or FreeBSD guest operating system.
  • The VMware Tools Service starts automatically when the guest operating system boots. For more information about the service, see your product documentation.
     
     

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