Under Linux systems, configure VMware tools by issuing the command: vmware-config-tools.pl. Note that when you select VM -> Install VMware Tools, the VMware tools RPM and .tar.gz files will be mounted on your CD-ROM drive. Note you might need to unmount your current CD, which means either a real CD or ISO image you have mounted. One of the easiet ways to do this is to simply disconnect your CD drive in VMware for the duration of the install.

If you are using CentOS or RedHat, install using the RPM. If you are on Ubuntu or Debian, extract the .tar.gz file to your home directory, and run vmware-install.pl.

Once installed, go to the shell and type: vmware-config-tools.pl and answer the questions in the script. Note that you will have to run this as root or user with sufficient priviledges (vmware-config-tools.pl is typically located under /usr/bin/). This will ensure VMware tools are correctly configured. Make sure you choose the right screen solution and restart X when done. I have noticed that VMware tools only seems to work when Gnome is fully loaded in CentOS. For example the transparent mouse cursor (where the cursor just works between guest and host) doesn’t work during boot up.

You can access shared folders on VMware workstation through your linux client by browsing to /mnt/hgfs/