yum install gcc

# Install kernel header files
yum install kernel-devel

# Check it matches the running kernel
uname -r             # running kernel
rpm -q kernel-devel  # installed kernel headers
# It the two versions do not match, run
yum -y upgrade kernel kernel-devel
# then reboot (but only if they did not match).

# Find out where the kernel headers are
echo /usr/src/kernels/$(uname -r)-$(uname -p)/include
# You need this later.

# If you already have VMwareTools-5.5.1-19175.tar.gz on disk, SKIP THIS STEP!
# Download VMware-workstation-5.5.1-19175.tar.gz from vmware.com
# Extract the VMware Tools iso from it
tar --strip-components=3 -zxvf VMware-workstation-5.5.1-19175.tar.gz
vmware-distrib/lib/isoimages/linux.iso
# Create a temporary mount point
mkdir /mnt/vmtools-temp
# Mount the image
mount -o loop linux.iso /mnt/vmtools-temp
# Copy VMware Tools from the mount
cp /mnt/vmtools-temp/VMwareTools-5.5.1-19175.tar.gz /tmp/
# Unmount the image and tidy up
umount /mnt/vmtools-temp
rmdir /mnt/vmtools-temp
rm linux.iso

# Unpack VMware Tools to a temporary directory
cd /tmp/
tar zxvf VMwareTools-5.5.1-19175.tar.gz
cd /tmp/vmware-tools-distrib/
./vmware-install.pl
# Do you want to run vmware-config-tools.pl? no

# Backup vmware-config-tools.pl
cp /usr/bin/vmware-config-tools.pl /usr/bin/vmware-config-tools.pl.orig

# Patch VMware Tools
cd /tmp/
wget http://platan.vc.cvut.cz/ftp/pub/vmware/vmware-tools-any-update2.tar.gz
tar zxvf vmware-tools-any-update2.tar.gz
cd vmware-tools-any-update2/
./runme.pl
# Do you want to run vmware-config-tools.pl? no

### NOTE: if you have a recent kernel, you must skip this patch
### This commented out step will be removed shortly.
## Backup vmware-config-tools.pl
#cp /usr/bin/vmware-config-tools.pl /usr/bin/vmware-config-tools.pl.prepatch
## Apply patch to vmware-config-tools.pl
#cd /tmp/vmware-tools-distrib/bin
#wget http://www.thoughtpolice.co.uk/vmware/howto/vmware-config-tools.pl.patch
#patch /usr/bin/vmware-config-tools.pl /tmp/vmware-config-tools.pl.patch
###

# Run the config script
/usr/bin/vmware-config-tools.pl

# Link to the VMware mouse driver
ln -s /usr/lib/vmware-tools/configurator/XOrg/6.8.x/vmmouse_drv.o /usr/lib/xorg/
modules/input/

# Change xorg mouse
vi /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Change "mouse" to "vmmouse" in Section "InputDevice"

# Restart X
# (press ctrl+alt+backspace)