What is Nutanix Guest Tools?

As a recap, let’s revisit what is included in the Nutanix Guest Tools (NGT) Bundle:

• Nutanix Guest Agent (NGA) Service: This provides CVM-to-VM communication.
• File Level Restore (FLR) CLI: Exactly what it sounds like. This allows users to recover files without the need of an administrator.
• Nutanix VM Mobility Drivers: Migration drivers, in-place conversion drivers, and cross-hypervisor drivers (for DR).
• VSS Requestor and Hardware Provider for Windows VM’s: Enables application-consistent snapshots for Windows VMs (AHV or ESXi).
• Application-Consistent Snapshot for Linux VM’s: Provides the ability to run specific quiesce scripts on Linux-based VMs before snapshot is taken.

Getting Started with NGT

Before you can configure NGT, it needs to be attached to a VM, and then installed on that VM. The first step, attaching NGT, is done in Prism. 

Unattended Windows Installation

After mounting NGT, copy the files/folders from the mounted CD-ROM drive. Then execute the following command to have a quiet/unattended installation of the NGT:

Setup.exe /quiet ACCEPTEULA=yes

Optionally, you can install NGT with a silent installer and a log parameter:

Setup.exe /quiet ACCEPTEULA=yes log log_path

Linux Installation

Unlike Windows installations, on Linux VMs, NGT needs to be installed via the CLI. The Linux GUI can be used to mount NGT, but not to perform the actual installation.

Verify that Python 2.6 or 2.7 along with python-setuptools package is installed properly on your Linux machines.

1. Mount the installer:

sudo mount /dev/sr0 /mnt

2. Run the installation script:

sudo /mnt/installer/linux/install_ngt.py

3. Verify Nutanix Guest Agent status:

/etc/init.d/ngt_guest_agent status

After the installation finishes, Nutanix guest agents are installed on the VM and you can use NGT features (cross-hypervisor disaster recovery, application-consistent snapshots with VSS on AHV, or in-place hypervisor conversion from ESXi to AHV).

NOTE: Mounting NGT on any VM, including Linux, through Prism or CLI requires an empty CD-ROM. CD-ROMs cannot be added while a VM is powered on. However, when attaching NGT, the VM can be powered on.