vSphere Client shows VMware Tools as Unsupported (2011350)

Symptoms

After upgrading vCenter Server 4.1 to 5.x with ESXi/ESX hosts still running on version 4.1, the status of VMware Tools for virtual machines is reported as Running (Unsupported). 

Cause

The VMware Tools status information comes from the vmx process (which is responsible for running the virtual machine) and can change only if the ESXi/ESX host is upgraded with a newer VMware Tools distribution.

Note: There has been a change in the VMware Tools status with vSphere 5.x.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, use the UI hint information for the various VMware Tools status messages.

To view the UI hint information:

1. Click the virtual machine.
2. Click on the Summary tab.
3. Hover the mouse over the VMware Tools current value in the General box. You see a text box that shows the current UI hint information.

This table lists the various VMware Tools status message and the corresponding UI hint:

Status	Internal values (VMODL)	UI values	UI hint
Green	guestToolsCurrent	Current	VMware Tools is installed and the version is current.
	guestToolsSupportedNew	Current	VMware Tools is installed and the version is current.
Yellow	guestToolsSupportedOld	Out-of-date	OK. This version is supported on the existing host, but upgrade if new functionality does not work.
Red	guestToolsNotInstalled	Not Installed	Install VMware Tools. See the vSphere Client Help.
	guestToolsTooOld	Unsupported	Upgrade or reinstall VMware Tools. This version is not supported on the existing host. See the vSphere Client Help.
	guestToolsNeedUpgrade	Unsupported	Upgrade or reinstall VMware Tools. This version is not supported on the existing host. See the vSphere Client Help.
	guestToolsBlacklisted	Error	Upgrade immediately to avoid possible corrupt code. See the vSphere Client Help.
	guestToolsTooNew	Unsupported new version	Uninstall and reinstall this version of VMware Tools. This version is known to be too new to work correctly with this virtual machine. See the vSphere Client Help.
Gray	guestToolsUnmanaged	3rd-party/Independent	The status is unknown. Tools are installed, but are not managed by VMware.
	guestToolsNotRunning	3rd-party/Independent	Tools are installed but vmtoolsd was stopped using theinit.d script.

Source:-

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2011350