Install ESX tools without GUI in Ubuntu

From MyWiki

Instructions based in Installing VMware Tools in an Ubuntu virtual machine (1022525)

The below worked for me in Ubuntu 12.04 LTS and 14.04 LTS

Ubuntu Server with only a command line interface

In vCenter go to Guest > Install/Upgrade VMware Tools

In the Ubuntu guest, run these commands:

Create a directory to mount the CD-ROM by running the command:

guestvm$ sudo mkdir /mnt/cdrom

When prompted for a password, enter your Ubuntu admin user password.

Note: For security reasons, the typed password is not displayed. You do not need to enter your password again for the next five minutes.

Mount the CD-ROM by running the command:

guestvm$ sudo mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/cdrom or sudo mount /dev/sr0 /mnt/cdrom

The file name of the VMware Tools bundle varies depending on your version of the VMware product. Run this command to find the exact name:

guestvm$ ls /mnt/cdrom

Extract the contents of the VMware Tools bundle by running the command:

guestvm$ sudo tar xzvf /mnt/cdrom/VMwareTools-x.x.x-xxxx.tar.gz -C /tmp/

Note: x.x.x-xxxx is the version discovered in the previous step.

Change directories into the VMware Tools distribution by running the command:

guestvm$ sudo cd /tmp/vmware-tools-distrib/

Install VMware Tools by running the command:

guestvm$ sudo ./vmware-install.pl -d

Note: The -d switch assumes that you want to accept the defaults. If you do not use -d, press Return to accept each default or supply your own answers.

Run this command to reboot the virtual machine after the installation completes:

guestvm$ sudo reboot