VMware Tools version 11.0.x is going end of life on September 19, 2024. Since this management agent is installed on most virtual guest machines in a VMware environment, ensuring that you’re using a supported version is important. Unsupported versions of VMware Tools will not receive any new hardware support, nor new security patches and bug fixes. Audit your environment for outdated installations now!
What is VMware Tools?
VMware Tools is a management agent for VMware’s virtual environments. The agent is installed on guest machines in order to provide management capabilities like sending messages between host and guest, customizing the OS, running scripts for automation, and syncing system time between host and guest.
Additionally, VMware Tools also provides functionality to improve the usability of the guest machines. Guest machines without VMware tools can suffer from one or more of the following issues:
- Low video resolution
- Inadequate color depth
- Incorrect display of network speed
- Restricted movement of the mouse
- Inability to copy and paste and drag-and-drop files
- Missing sound
- Provides the ability to take quiesced snapshots of the guest OS
- Synchronizes the time in the guest operating system with the time on the host
VMware Tools Lifecycle
VMware Tools follows the VMware Enterprise Infrastructure Policy (EIP) for its lifecycle. This policy dictates that a VMware Tools version has general support for 5 years followed by 2 years of Technical Guidance. During general support, VMware provides support for new hardware and server/client/guest OS updates, regular updates and upgrades, bug and security fixes, and technical assistance.
Once a product goes into the technical guidance phase, you will only receive support and workarounds for low-severity issues on supported configurations.
VMware Tools 11.0.x End of Life
VMware Tools version 11.0.x will go end of life on the 19th of September, 2024. From then on, this version will no longer receive any updates or bug and security fixes. Make sure to update to a newer version, 11.1.x or higher, if you wish to remain supported. Besides still being supported, VMware Tools 11.1.x also includes a range of new features including but not limited to:
- The ‘Service Discovery’ plugin
- A new tools.conf switch
- OSS updates
Find Outdated VMware Tools Installations in Your Network
To check which versions of VMware Tools you have in your IT environment, we’ve created a specialized report that indicates when VMware Tools installations in your network will be going end of life. Prevent any security issues by ensuring your VMware Tools installations are supported and get the latest security patches and updates. You can get the audit report via the link below.
VMware Tools 10.3.x End of Life
VMware Tools version 10.3.x went end of life on the 30th of June, 2024. This version will no longer receive updates or bug and security fixes. In order to remain supported, make sure to update to a newer version, 11.1.x or higher. Besides being supported, VMware Tools 11.1.x also includes a range of new features including but not limited to:
- The ‘Service Discovery’ plugin
- A new tools.conf switch
- OSS updates