[Novalug] the 'file' command and VMware

[Jeff Stoner]

We just ran into this, learn from our pain.

We're running ESX 4.1.

We build RHEL6 and CentOS6 vm images using the 'minimal' install option, 
then add a few extra packages like ntp and httpd.

VMware Tools installs and runs just fine on the vms.

When you use the VMware Tool updater, the upgrader program will fail, 
becoming a zombie process and leaving the ISO mounted to your vm. 
Additional problems this causes:

- you cannot manage the vm in Virtual Center ("another task is already in 
progress")
- you cannot vmotion the vm to another ESX host
- since you can't vmotion, you can't put an ESX host into maintenance mode

The only way to get the vm unstuck is to point your vSphere Client to 
the actual ESX host running the vm and stopping the update process there.

The solution is to install the file and file-libs packages in the vm and 
the upgrader runs fine.



--Jeff

"You cannot unsay a cruel word." - Unknown