Upgrading VMware Tools Using RPM on a Linux Guest

Upgrading VMware Tools Using RPM on a Linux Guest Imported from Workstation Might Fail (1004319)

Details

Upgrading VMware Tools using RPM on a Linux guest might fail with a message similar to the following:
Error: unpacking of archive failed on file /usr/lib/vmware-tools/lib32/libXrender.so.1: cpio: rename failed - Is a directory
This problem occurs on a Workstation 5.x Linux virtual machine that is installed with Workstation 6.0 VMware Tools using RPM, and this virtual machine is imported into ESX Server 3.5.x.

Solution

To work around this issue:

1. Uninstall VMware Tools from the virtual machine:
   
   # rpm –qa | grep VMwareTools
   # rpm –e <old_tools_RPM_name>
   
   
2. Reinstall VMware Tools on the virtual machine:
   
   # rpm –ivh <new_tools_RPM_name>