Ensure SSH / Port 22 is open and the Services are started as per previous post Enabling SSH

Download the relevant VIB File from the Flings Website here:

https://labs.vmware.com/flings/vmware-tools-for-nested-esxi

Open up your SFTP / FTP Application; In my lab I am using WinSCP

Copy the VIB to a Datastore on the ESXi Server

1

PuTTy onto the host and run:

esxcli software vib install -v /vmfs/volumes/[DATASTORE]/esx-tools-for-esxi-9.7.1-0.0.00000.i386.vib -f

2

After a short while you should receive the following Successful message:

3

Summary – From the Official FLINGs Website: https://labs.vmware.com/flings

Note:  See Instructions tab for downloads.

This VIB package provides a VMware Tools service (vmtoolsd) for running inside a nested ESXi virtual machine. The following capabilities are exposed through VMware Tools:

    • Provides guest OS information of the nested ESXi Hypervisor (eg. IP address, configured hostname, etc.).
    • Allows the nested ESXi VM to be cleanly shut down or restarted when performing power operations with the vSphere Web/C# Client or vSphere APIs.
    • Executes scripts that help automate ESXi guest OS operations when the guest’s power state changes.
    • Supports the Guest Operations API (formally known as the VIX API).