VMWare tools or path incorrect: breaks future functions which are relying on tools to be present

* Operating System Version: ESXi 6.7.0 Update 3, utilizing Ubuntu 21.04 as terraform/ansible host
* Deploying via (VirtualBox/VMWare/AWS/Azure/ESXi): ESXi
* Vagrant Version (if applicable): N/A as far as I can tell

==> vmware-iso: Retrieving ISO
==> vmware-iso: Trying https://software-download.microsoft.com/download/pr/18362.30.190401-1528.19h1_release_svc_refresh_CLIENTENTERPRISEEVAL_OEMRET_x64FRE_en-us.iso
==> vmware-iso: Trying https://software-download.microsoft.com/download/pr/18362.30.190401-1528.19h1_release_svc_refresh_CLIENTENTERPRISEEVAL_OEMRET_x64FRE_en-us.iso?checksum=sha256%3Aab4862ba7d1644c27f27516d24cb21e6b39234eb3301e5f1fb365a78b22f79b3
==> vmware-iso: https://software-download.microsoft.com/download/pr/18362.30.190401-1528.19h1_release_svc_refresh_CLIENTENTERPRISEEVAL_OEMRET_x64FRE_en-us.iso?checksum=sha256%3Aab4862ba7d1644c27f27516d24cb21e6b39234eb3301e5f1fb365a78b22f79b3 => /home/corelight/detectionlab/DetectionLab/Packer/packer_cache/d48c36ef1e2c29895cbf01e82d405f0d93f875a4.iso
==> vmware-iso: Configuring output and export directories...
==> vmware-iso: Creating floppy disk...
vmware-iso: Copying files flatly from floppy_files
vmware-iso: Copying file: ../../Packer/answer_files/10/Autounattend.xml
vmware-iso: Copying file: ../../Packer/floppy/WindowsPowershell.lnk
vmware-iso: Copying file: ../../Packer/floppy/PinTo10.exe
vmware-iso: Copying file: ../../Packer/scripts/fixnetwork.ps1
vmware-iso: Copying file: ../../Packer/scripts/rearm-windows.ps1
vmware-iso: Copying file: ../../Packer/scripts/disable-screensaver.ps1
vmware-iso: Copying file: ../../Packer/scripts/disable-winrm.ps1
vmware-iso: Copying file: ../../Packer/scripts/enable-winrm.ps1
vmware-iso: Copying file: ../../Packer/scripts/microsoft-updates.bat
vmware-iso: Copying file: ../../Packer/scripts/win-updates.ps1
vmware-iso: Copying file: ../../Packer/scripts/unattend.xml
vmware-iso: Copying file: ../../Packer/scripts/sysprep.bat
vmware-iso: Done copying files from floppy_files
vmware-iso: Collecting paths from floppy_dirs
vmware-iso: Resulting paths from floppy_dirs : []
vmware-iso: Done copying paths from floppy_dirs
vmware-iso: Copying files from floppy_content
vmware-iso: Done copying files from floppy_content
==> vmware-iso: Uploading Floppy to remote machine...
vmware-iso: packer4144920236 1.41 MiB / 1.41 MiB [===================================================================================================================] 100.00% 0s
==> vmware-iso: Remote cache was verified skipping remote upload...
==> vmware-iso: Creating required virtual machine disks
==> vmware-iso: Building and writing VMX file
==> vmware-iso: Registering remote VM...
==> vmware-iso: Starting virtual machine...
==> vmware-iso: Connecting to VNC...
==> vmware-iso: Waiting 6m0s for boot...
==> vmware-iso: Typing the boot command over VNC...
==> vmware-iso: Waiting for WinRM to become available...
vmware-iso: WinRM connected.
==> vmware-iso: Connected to WinRM!
==> vmware-iso: Provisioning with windows-shell...
==> vmware-iso: Provisioning with shell script: ../../Packer/scripts/vm-guest-tools.bat
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>if not exist "C:\Windows\Temp\7z2102-x64.msi" (powershell -Command "[Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12; (New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('https://www.7-zip.org/a/7z2102-x64.msi', 'C:\Windows\Temp\7z2102-x64.msi')" 0if not exist "C:\Windows\Temp\7z2102-x64.msi" (powershell -Command "Start-Sleep 5; [Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12; (New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('https://www.7-zip.org/a/7z2102-x64.msi', 'C:\Windows\Temp\7z2102-x64.msi')" 0msiexec /qb /i C:\Windows\Temp\7z2102-x64.msi
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>if "vmware-iso" EQU "vmware-iso" goto :vmware
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>if exist "C:\Users\vagrant\windows.iso" (move /Y C:\Users\vagrant\windows.iso C:\Windows\Temp )
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>if not exist "C:\Windows\Temp\windows.iso" (
vmware-iso: powershell -Command "[Net.ServicePointManager]::SecurityProtocol = [Net.SecurityProtocolType]::Tls12; (New-Object System.Net.WebClient).DownloadFile('https://softwareupdate.vmware.com/cds/vmw-desktop/ws/15.5.5/16285975/windows/packages/tools-windows.tar', 'C:\Windows\Temp\vmware-tools.tar')" 0 vmware-iso: The system cannot find the file specified.
vmware-iso: --
vmware-iso: Path = C:\Windows\Temp\vmware-tools.tar
vmware-iso: Type = tar
vmware-iso: Physical Size = 143431680
vmware-iso: Headers Size = 8704
vmware-iso: Code Page = UTF-8
vmware-iso: Characteristics = ASCII
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: Everything is Ok
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: Files: 2
vmware-iso: Size: 143422729
vmware-iso: Compressed: 143431680
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>REN "C:\Windows\Temp\VMware-tools-windows-11.0.6-15940789.iso" "windows.iso"
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>cmd /c ""C:\Program Files\7-Zip\7z.exe" x "C:\Windows\Temp\windows.iso" -oC:\Windows\Temp\VMWare"
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: 7-Zip 21.02 alpha (x64) : Copyright (c) 1999-2021 Igor Pavlov : 2021-05-06
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: Scanning the drive for archives:
vmware-iso: 1 file, 143421440 bytes (137 MiB)
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: Extracting archive: C:\Windows\Temp\windows.iso
vmware-iso: --
vmware-iso: Path = C:\Windows\Temp\windows.iso
vmware-iso: Type = Iso
vmware-iso: Physical Size = 143421440
vmware-iso: Created = 2020-03-30 14:59:23
vmware-iso: Modified = 2020-03-30 14:59:23
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: Everything is Ok
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: Folders: 12
vmware-iso: Files: 24
vmware-iso: Size: 142967402
vmware-iso: Compressed: 143421440
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>cmd /c C:\Windows\Temp\VMWare\setup.exe /S /v"/qn REBOOT=R\"
==> vmware-iso: Provisioning with shell script: ../../Packer/scripts/enable-rdp.bat
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>netsh advfirewall firewall add rule name="Open Port 3389" dir=in action=allow protocol=TCP localport=3389
vmware-iso: Ok.
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Terminal Server" /v fDenyTSConnections /t REG_DWORD /d 0 /f
vmware-iso: The operation completed successfully.
==> vmware-iso: Provisioning with Powershell...
==> vmware-iso: Provisioning with powershell script: ../../Packer/scripts/debloat-windows.ps1
vmware-iso: Downloading debloat zip
vmware-iso: Disable Windows Defender
vmware-iso: Optimize Windows Update
vmware-iso: Disable automatic download and installation of Windows updates
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: Name Property
vmware-iso: ---- --------
vmware-iso: AU
vmware-iso: Disable seeding of updates to other computers via Group Policies
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: Name Property
vmware-iso: ---- --------
vmware-iso: DeliveryOptimization
vmware-iso: Disable 'Updates are available' message
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows\System32\MusNotification.exe" now owned by user "VAGRANT-10\vagrant".
vmware-iso: processed file: C:\Windows\System32\MusNotification.exe
vmware-iso: Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: SUCCESS: The file (or folder): "C:\Windows\System32\MusNotificationUx.exe" now owned by user "VAGRANT-10\vagrant".
vmware-iso: processed file: C:\Windows\System32\MusNotificationUx.exe
vmware-iso: Successfully processed 1 files; Failed processing 0 files
vmware-iso: Disable Windows Update
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: Hive: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows NT
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: Name Property
vmware-iso: ---- --------
vmware-iso: Reliability
==> vmware-iso: Restarting Machine
==> vmware-iso: Waiting for machine to restart...
==> vmware-iso: A system shutdown is in progress.(1115)
vmware-iso: vagrant-10 restarted.
==> vmware-iso: Machine successfully restarted, moving on
==> vmware-iso: Provisioning with Powershell...
==> vmware-iso: Provisioning with powershell script: ../../Packer/scripts/set-powerplan.ps1
vmware-iso: Set power plan to high performance
==> vmware-iso: Provisioning with powershell script: ../../Packer/scripts/docker/disable-windows-defender.ps1
==> vmware-iso: Provisioning with windows-shell...
==> vmware-iso: Provisioning with shell script: ../../Packer/scripts/pin-powershell.bat
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>rem https://connect.microsoft.com/PowerShell/feedback/details/1609288/pin-to-taskbar-no-longer-working-in-windows-10
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>copy "A:\WindowsPowerShell.lnk" "C:\Users\vagrant\AppData\Local\Temp\Windows PowerShell.lnk"
vmware-iso: 1 file(s) copied.
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>A:\PinTo10.exe /PTFOL01:'C:\Users\vagrant\AppData\Local\Temp' /PTFILE01:'Windows PowerShell.lnk'
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>exit /b 0
==> vmware-iso: Provisioning with shell script: ../../Packer/scripts/compile-dotnet-assemblies.bat
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>if "AMD64" == "AMD64" goto 64BIT
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>C:\Windows\microsoft.net\framework\v4.0.30319\ngen.exe update /force /queue 1>NUL
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>C:\Windows\microsoft.net\framework64\v4.0.30319\ngen.exe update /force /queue 1>NUL
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>C:\Windows\microsoft.net\framework\v4.0.30319\ngen.exe executequeueditems 1>NUL
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>C:\Windows\microsoft.net\framework64\v4.0.30319\ngen.exe executequeueditems 1>NUL
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>exit 0
==> vmware-iso: Provisioning with shell script: ../../Packer/scripts/set-winrm-automatic.bat
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>echo Set WinRM start type to auto
vmware-iso: Set WinRM start type to auto
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>sc config winrm start= auto
vmware-iso: [SC] ChangeServiceConfig SUCCESS
==> vmware-iso: Provisioning with shell script: ../../Packer/scripts/dis-updates.bat
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>rem http://www.windows-commandline.com/disable-automatic-updates-command-line/
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>reg add "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\WindowsUpdate\Auto Update" /v AUOptions /t REG_DWORD /d 1 /f
vmware-iso: The operation completed successfully.
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>rem remove optional WSUS server settings
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>reg delete "HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows\WindowsUpdate" /f
vmware-iso: The operation completed successfully.
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>rem even harder, disable windows update service
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>rem sc config wuauserv start= disabled
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>rem net stop wuauserv
vmware-iso:
vmware-iso: C:\Users\vagrant>if exist C:\Windows\Temp\win-updates.log (
vmware-iso: echo Show Windows Updates log file C:\Windows\Temp\win-updates.log
vmware-iso: dir C:\Windows\Temp\win-updates.log
vmware-iso: type C:\Windows\Temp\win-updates.log
vmware-iso: rem output of type command is not fully shown in packer/ssh session, so try PowerShell
vmware-iso: rem but it will hang if log file is about 22 KByte
vmware-iso: rem powershell -command "Get-Content C:\Windows\Temp\win-updates.log"
vmware-iso: echo End of Windows Updates log file C:\Windows\Temp\win-updates.log
vmware-iso: )
==> vmware-iso: Gracefully halting virtual machine...
vmware-iso: Waiting for VMware to clean up after itself...
==> vmware-iso: Deleting unnecessary VMware files...
vmware-iso: Deleting: /vmfs/volumes/datastore0_ESXi-1_RAID/Windows10/vmware.log
==> vmware-iso: Cleaning VMX prior to finishing up...
vmware-iso: Unmounting floppy0 from VMX...
vmware-iso: Disabling VNC server...
==> vmware-iso: Skipping export of virtual machine...
==> vmware-iso: Keeping virtual machine registered with ESX host (keep_registered = true)
Build 'vmware-iso' finished after 28 minutes 138 milliseconds.

==> Wait completed after 28 minutes 138 milliseconds

==> Builds finished. The artifacts of successful builds are:
--> vmware-iso: VM files in directory: /vmfs/volumes/datastore0_ESXi-1_RAID/Windows10

=========
After it fails on the Tools install, it has no sanity built in that would avoid future vmware tools calls/functions, and all subsequent reboots and whatnot are failing. If I manually babysit the console, and reboot when it fails a vmware tools reboot, the script does continue just fine. Host is configured just fine. Reboots/shutdowns however, if left until their timer expires, will cause the script to fail.