VMware Tools 11.0.0

12.5.0 12.4.0 12.3.0 12.2.0 12.1.0 12.0.0 11.3.0 11.2.5 11.2.0 11.1.0 11.0.0
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VMware Tools Installer Logging to the Host

When GSS support team collects the
vm-support
 bundle from the customers, the installer log files are also included in it. The installer logs reside in the virtual machine as well as the host. The installer log files are critical for diagnosis and triaging of installation related issues.
Install the VMware Tools version 11.0.0 and vSphere 7.0 (and later).
The Windows installer log files are all guest only and go to the %Temp% folder of the user account which launches the bootstrapper setup application.
The log files generated are:
Install log (
vminst.log
): Contains VMware controlled components log output.
MSI log (
vmmsi.log
): Contains Microsoft MSI controlled log output. To enable or disable MSI logging output, see the Microsoft knowledge base article KB 22330.
  1. For new installation or uninstallation or upgrade,
    vmx.log.guest.level
     option is used to enable or disable the installer logging to the host.
    The allowed values to be set for this option are listed below:
    Value
    Description
    vmx.log.guest.level = "off"
    Logging to host is disabled.
    This is the default value.
    vmx.log.guest.level = "error"
    The installer logs
    vminst.log
     and
    vmmsi.log
     are not sent to the host. Both the installer logs remain in the virtual machine.
    vmx.log.guest.level = "warning"
    The installer logs
    vminst.log
     and
    vmmsi.log
     are not sent to the host. Both the installer logs remain in the virtual machine.
    vmx.log.guest.level = "notice"
    The installer logs
    vminst.log
     and
    vmmsi.log
     are not sent to the host. Both the installer logs remain in the virtual machine.
    vmx.log.guest.level = "info"
    The installer log
    vminst.log
     is sent to the host but
    vmmsi.log
     remains in the virtual machine.
    vmx.log.guest.level = "verbose"
    Both the installer logs
    vminst.log
     and
    vmmsi.log
     are sent to the host.
    vmx.log.guest.level = "trivia"
    Both the installer logs
    vminst.log
     and
    vmmsi.log
     are sent to the host.
    Guest admin can use
    "/mg"
     or
    "LOGMODE=G"
     command line options to control and suppress logging to the host.
    For example:
    setup.exe /mg
    setup.exe /v "LOGMODE=G"
    setup.exe /S /v "/qn LOGMODE=G"
    setup.exe /S /mg /v "/qn LOGMODE=G"
  2. For auto upgrade,
    install-vmxGuestLogDisabled
     is read and parsed instead of
    vmxGuestLogDisabled
     in
    tools.conf
     file.
    The allowed values to be set for this setting are listed as below:
    Value
    Description
    install-vmxGuestLogDisabled = true
    The installer logs are not sent to the host during auto upgrade.
    This is the default value.
    install-vmxGuestLogDisabled = false
    The installer logs are sent to the host during auto upgrade.
    These settings go into the logging section. For example:
    Under the [logging] group,
    [logging]
    install-vmxGuestLogDisabled = false
  3. vMotion Impact:
    1. New Host to Old Host:
      For VMware Tools 11.0.0 and later versions, before vMotion, logs went to host guest log. After vMotion, logs stopped going to the host.
      For versions earlier to VMware Tools 11.0.0, before vMotion, logs went to guest %TEMP% folder only. After vMotion, logs go to guest %TEMP% folder only.
    2. Old Host to New Host:
      For VMware Tools 11.0.0 and later versions, before vMotion, logs went to guest %TEMP% folder only. After vMotion, logs go to guest %TEMP% folder only.
      For versions earlier to VMware Tools 11.0.0, before vMotion, logs went to guest %TEMP% folder only. After vMotion, logs go to guest %TEMP% folder only.
      vSphere administrator can set the VM option to redirect to host guest log after vMotion.

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