diff --git a/builder/vmware/common/step_prepare_tools.go b/builder/vmware/common/step_prepare_tools.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..070220a5c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/builder/vmware/common/step_prepare_tools.go
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+package common
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"github.com/mitchellh/multistep"
+	"os"
+)
+
+type StepPrepareTools struct {
+	RemoteType        string `mapstructure:"remote_type"`
+	ToolsUploadFlavor string `mapstructure:"tools_upload_flavor"`
+	ToolsUploadPath   string `mapstructure:"tools_upload_path"`
+}
+
+func (c *StepPrepareTools) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
+	driver := state.Get("driver").(Driver)
+
+	if c.RemoteType == "esx5" {
+		return multistep.ActionContinue
+	}
+
+	if c.ToolsUploadFlavor == "" {
+		return multistep.ActionContinue
+	}
+
+	path := driver.ToolsIsoPath(c.ToolsUploadFlavor)
+	if _, err := os.Stat(path); err != nil {
+		state.Put("error", fmt.Errorf(
+			"Couldn't find VMware tools for '%s'! VMware often downloads these\n"+
+				"tools on-demand. However, to do this, you need to create a fake VM\n"+
+				"of the proper type then click the 'install tools' option in the\n"+
+				"VMware GUI.", c.ToolsUploadFlavor))
+		return multistep.ActionHalt
+	}
+
+	state.Put("tools_upload_source", path)
+	return multistep.ActionContinue
+}
+
+func (c *StepPrepareTools) Cleanup(multistep.StateBag) {}
diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/step_upload_tools.go b/builder/vmware/common/step_upload_tools.go
similarity index 56%
rename from builder/vmware/iso/step_upload_tools.go
rename to builder/vmware/common/step_upload_tools.go
index 3fdf5db4d..6225ecf2b 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/step_upload_tools.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/common/step_upload_tools.go
@@ -1,9 +1,8 @@
-package iso
+package common
 
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"github.com/mitchellh/multistep"
-	vmwcommon "github.com/mitchellh/packer/builder/vmware/common"
 	"github.com/mitchellh/packer/packer"
 	"os"
 )
@@ -12,20 +11,24 @@ type toolsUploadPathTemplate struct {
 	Flavor string
 }
 
-type stepUploadTools struct{}
+type StepUploadTools struct {
+	RemoteType        string `mapstructure:"remote_type"`
+	ToolsUploadFlavor string `mapstructure:"tools_upload_flavor"`
+	ToolsUploadPath   string `mapstructure:"tools_upload_path"`
+	Tpl               *packer.ConfigTemplate
+}
 
-func (*stepUploadTools) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
-	config := state.Get("config").(*config)
-	driver := state.Get("driver").(vmwcommon.Driver)
+func (c *StepUploadTools) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
+	driver := state.Get("driver").(Driver)
 
-	if config.RemoteType == "esx5" {
+	if c.RemoteType == "esx5" {
 		if err := driver.ToolsInstall(); err != nil {
 			state.Put("error", fmt.Errorf("Couldn't mount VMware tools ISO."))
 		}
 		return multistep.ActionContinue
 	}
 
-	if config.ToolsUploadFlavor == "" {
+	if c.ToolsUploadFlavor == "" {
 		return multistep.ActionContinue
 	}
 
@@ -33,7 +36,7 @@ func (*stepUploadTools) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
 	tools_source := state.Get("tools_upload_source").(string)
 	ui := state.Get("ui").(packer.Ui)
 
-	ui.Say(fmt.Sprintf("Uploading the '%s' VMware Tools", config.ToolsUploadFlavor))
+	ui.Say(fmt.Sprintf("Uploading the '%s' VMware Tools", c.ToolsUploadFlavor))
 	f, err := os.Open(tools_source)
 	if err != nil {
 		state.Put("error", fmt.Errorf("Error opening VMware Tools ISO: %s", err))
@@ -41,8 +44,10 @@ func (*stepUploadTools) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
 	}
 	defer f.Close()
 
-	tplData := &toolsUploadPathTemplate{Flavor: config.ToolsUploadFlavor}
-	config.ToolsUploadPath, err = config.tpl.Process(config.ToolsUploadPath, tplData)
+	tplData := &toolsUploadPathTemplate{
+		Flavor: c.ToolsUploadFlavor,
+	}
+	c.ToolsUploadPath, err = c.Tpl.Process(c.ToolsUploadPath, tplData)
 	if err != nil {
 		err := fmt.Errorf("Error preparing upload path: %s", err)
 		state.Put("error", err)
@@ -50,7 +55,7 @@ func (*stepUploadTools) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
 		return multistep.ActionHalt
 	}
 
-	if err := comm.Upload(config.ToolsUploadPath, f); err != nil {
+	if err := comm.Upload(c.ToolsUploadPath, f); err != nil {
 		err := fmt.Errorf("Error uploading VMware Tools: %s", err)
 		state.Put("error", err)
 		ui.Error(err.Error())
@@ -60,4 +65,4 @@ func (*stepUploadTools) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
 	return multistep.ActionContinue
 }
 
-func (*stepUploadTools) Cleanup(multistep.StateBag) {}
+func (c *StepUploadTools) Cleanup(multistep.StateBag) {}
diff --git a/builder/vmware/common/tools_config.go b/builder/vmware/common/tools_config.go
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..c50c22e6b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/builder/vmware/common/tools_config.go
@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+package common
+
+import (
+	"fmt"
+	"text/template"
+
+	"github.com/mitchellh/packer/packer"
+)
+
+type ToolsConfig struct {
+	ToolsUploadFlavor string `mapstructure:"tools_upload_flavor"`
+	ToolsUploadPath   string `mapstructure:"tools_upload_path"`
+}
+
+func (c *ToolsConfig) Prepare(t *packer.ConfigTemplate) []error {
+	if c.ToolsUploadPath == "" {
+		c.ToolsUploadPath = "{{ .Flavor }}.iso"
+	}
+
+	templates := map[string]*string{
+		"tools_upload_flavor": &c.ToolsUploadFlavor,
+	}
+
+	var err error
+	errs := make([]error, 0)
+	for n, ptr := range templates {
+		*ptr, err = t.Process(*ptr, nil)
+		if err != nil {
+			errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("Error processing %s: %s", n, err))
+		}
+	}
+
+	if _, err := template.New("path").Parse(c.ToolsUploadPath); err != nil {
+		errs = append(errs, fmt.Errorf("tools_upload_path invalid: %s", err))
+	}
+
+	return errs
+}
diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go b/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go
index c46a4a1b2..ae8a7dba3 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/iso/builder.go
@@ -12,7 +12,6 @@ import (
 	"math/rand"
 	"os"
 	"strings"
-	"text/template"
 	"time"
 )
 
@@ -30,27 +29,26 @@ type config struct {
 	vmwcommon.RunConfig      `mapstructure:",squash"`
 	vmwcommon.ShutdownConfig `mapstructure:",squash"`
 	vmwcommon.SSHConfig      `mapstructure:",squash"`
+	vmwcommon.ToolsConfig    `mapstructure:",squash"`
 	vmwcommon.VMXConfig      `mapstructure:",squash"`
 
-	DiskName          string   `mapstructure:"vmdk_name"`
-	DiskSize          uint     `mapstructure:"disk_size"`
-	DiskTypeId        string   `mapstructure:"disk_type_id"`
-	FloppyFiles       []string `mapstructure:"floppy_files"`
-	GuestOSType       string   `mapstructure:"guest_os_type"`
-	ISOChecksum       string   `mapstructure:"iso_checksum"`
-	ISOChecksumType   string   `mapstructure:"iso_checksum_type"`
-	ISOUrls           []string `mapstructure:"iso_urls"`
-	VMName            string   `mapstructure:"vm_name"`
-	HTTPDir           string   `mapstructure:"http_directory"`
-	HTTPPortMin       uint     `mapstructure:"http_port_min"`
-	HTTPPortMax       uint     `mapstructure:"http_port_max"`
-	BootCommand       []string `mapstructure:"boot_command"`
-	SkipCompaction    bool     `mapstructure:"skip_compaction"`
-	ToolsUploadFlavor string   `mapstructure:"tools_upload_flavor"`
-	ToolsUploadPath   string   `mapstructure:"tools_upload_path"`
-	VMXTemplatePath   string   `mapstructure:"vmx_template_path"`
-	VNCPortMin        uint     `mapstructure:"vnc_port_min"`
-	VNCPortMax        uint     `mapstructure:"vnc_port_max"`
+	DiskName        string   `mapstructure:"vmdk_name"`
+	DiskSize        uint     `mapstructure:"disk_size"`
+	DiskTypeId      string   `mapstructure:"disk_type_id"`
+	FloppyFiles     []string `mapstructure:"floppy_files"`
+	GuestOSType     string   `mapstructure:"guest_os_type"`
+	ISOChecksum     string   `mapstructure:"iso_checksum"`
+	ISOChecksumType string   `mapstructure:"iso_checksum_type"`
+	ISOUrls         []string `mapstructure:"iso_urls"`
+	VMName          string   `mapstructure:"vm_name"`
+	HTTPDir         string   `mapstructure:"http_directory"`
+	HTTPPortMin     uint     `mapstructure:"http_port_min"`
+	HTTPPortMax     uint     `mapstructure:"http_port_max"`
+	BootCommand     []string `mapstructure:"boot_command"`
+	SkipCompaction  bool     `mapstructure:"skip_compaction"`
+	VMXTemplatePath string   `mapstructure:"vmx_template_path"`
+	VNCPortMin      uint     `mapstructure:"vnc_port_min"`
+	VNCPortMax      uint     `mapstructure:"vnc_port_max"`
 
 	RemoteType      string `mapstructure:"remote_type"`
 	RemoteDatastore string `mapstructure:"remote_datastore"`
@@ -84,6 +82,7 @@ func (b *Builder) Prepare(raws ...interface{}) ([]string, error) {
 	errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(errs, b.config.RunConfig.Prepare(b.config.tpl)...)
 	errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(errs, b.config.ShutdownConfig.Prepare(b.config.tpl)...)
 	errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(errs, b.config.SSHConfig.Prepare(b.config.tpl)...)
+	errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(errs, b.config.ToolsConfig.Prepare(b.config.tpl)...)
 	errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(errs, b.config.VMXConfig.Prepare(b.config.tpl)...)
 	warnings := make([]string, 0)
 
@@ -144,26 +143,21 @@ func (b *Builder) Prepare(raws ...interface{}) ([]string, error) {
 		b.config.RemotePort = 22
 	}
 
-	if b.config.ToolsUploadPath == "" {
-		b.config.ToolsUploadPath = "{{ .Flavor }}.iso"
-	}
-
 	// Errors
 	templates := map[string]*string{
-		"disk_name":           &b.config.DiskName,
-		"guest_os_type":       &b.config.GuestOSType,
-		"http_directory":      &b.config.HTTPDir,
-		"iso_checksum":        &b.config.ISOChecksum,
-		"iso_checksum_type":   &b.config.ISOChecksumType,
-		"iso_url":             &b.config.RawSingleISOUrl,
-		"tools_upload_flavor": &b.config.ToolsUploadFlavor,
-		"vm_name":             &b.config.VMName,
-		"vmx_template_path":   &b.config.VMXTemplatePath,
-		"remote_type":         &b.config.RemoteType,
-		"remote_host":         &b.config.RemoteHost,
-		"remote_datastore":    &b.config.RemoteDatastore,
-		"remote_user":         &b.config.RemoteUser,
-		"remote_password":     &b.config.RemotePassword,
+		"disk_name":         &b.config.DiskName,
+		"guest_os_type":     &b.config.GuestOSType,
+		"http_directory":    &b.config.HTTPDir,
+		"iso_checksum":      &b.config.ISOChecksum,
+		"iso_checksum_type": &b.config.ISOChecksumType,
+		"iso_url":           &b.config.RawSingleISOUrl,
+		"vm_name":           &b.config.VMName,
+		"vmx_template_path": &b.config.VMXTemplatePath,
+		"remote_type":       &b.config.RemoteType,
+		"remote_host":       &b.config.RemoteHost,
+		"remote_datastore":  &b.config.RemoteDatastore,
+		"remote_user":       &b.config.RemoteUser,
+		"remote_password":   &b.config.RemotePassword,
 	}
 
 	for n, ptr := range templates {
@@ -245,11 +239,6 @@ func (b *Builder) Prepare(raws ...interface{}) ([]string, error) {
 		}
 	}
 
-	if _, err := template.New("path").Parse(b.config.ToolsUploadPath); err != nil {
-		errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(
-			errs, fmt.Errorf("tools_upload_path invalid: %s", err))
-	}
-
 	if b.config.VMXTemplatePath != "" {
 		if err := b.validateVMXTemplatePath(); err != nil {
 			errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(
@@ -320,7 +309,11 @@ func (b *Builder) Run(ui packer.Ui, hook packer.Hook, cache packer.Cache) (packe
 	rand.Seed(time.Now().UTC().UnixNano())
 
 	steps := []multistep.Step{
-		&stepPrepareTools{},
+		&vmwcommon.StepPrepareTools{
+			RemoteType:        b.config.RemoteType,
+			ToolsUploadFlavor: b.config.ToolsUploadFlavor,
+			ToolsUploadPath:   b.config.ToolsUploadPath,
+		},
 		&common.StepDownload{
 			Checksum:     b.config.ISOChecksum,
 			ChecksumType: b.config.ISOChecksumType,
@@ -363,7 +356,12 @@ func (b *Builder) Run(ui packer.Ui, hook packer.Hook, cache packer.Cache) (packe
 			SSHWaitTimeout: b.config.SSHWaitTimeout,
 			NoPty:          b.config.SSHSkipRequestPty,
 		},
-		&stepUploadTools{},
+		&vmwcommon.StepUploadTools{
+			RemoteType:        b.config.RemoteType,
+			ToolsUploadFlavor: b.config.ToolsUploadFlavor,
+			ToolsUploadPath:   b.config.ToolsUploadPath,
+			Tpl:               b.config.tpl,
+		},
 		&common.StepProvision{},
 		&vmwcommon.StepShutdown{
 			Command: b.config.ShutdownCommand,
diff --git a/builder/vmware/iso/step_prepare_tools.go b/builder/vmware/iso/step_prepare_tools.go
deleted file mode 100644
index d9ad4acce..000000000
--- a/builder/vmware/iso/step_prepare_tools.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,38 +0,0 @@
-package iso
-
-import (
-	"fmt"
-	"github.com/mitchellh/multistep"
-	vmwcommon "github.com/mitchellh/packer/builder/vmware/common"
-	"os"
-)
-
-type stepPrepareTools struct{}
-
-func (*stepPrepareTools) Run(state multistep.StateBag) multistep.StepAction {
-	config := state.Get("config").(*config)
-	driver := state.Get("driver").(vmwcommon.Driver)
-
-	if config.RemoteType == "esx5" {
-		return multistep.ActionContinue
-	}
-
-	if config.ToolsUploadFlavor == "" {
-		return multistep.ActionContinue
-	}
-
-	path := driver.ToolsIsoPath(config.ToolsUploadFlavor)
-	if _, err := os.Stat(path); err != nil {
-		state.Put("error", fmt.Errorf(
-			"Couldn't find VMware tools for '%s'! VMware often downloads these\n"+
-				"tools on-demand. However, to do this, you need to create a fake VM\n"+
-				"of the proper type then click the 'install tools' option in the\n"+
-				"VMware GUI.", config.ToolsUploadFlavor))
-		return multistep.ActionHalt
-	}
-
-	state.Put("tools_upload_source", path)
-	return multistep.ActionContinue
-}
-
-func (*stepPrepareTools) Cleanup(multistep.StateBag) {}
diff --git a/builder/vmware/vmx/builder.go b/builder/vmware/vmx/builder.go
index 3c02b19cd..0497c215f 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/vmx/builder.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/vmx/builder.go
@@ -52,6 +52,11 @@ func (b *Builder) Run(ui packer.Ui, hook packer.Hook, cache packer.Cache) (packe
 
 	// Build the steps.
 	steps := []multistep.Step{
+		&vmwcommon.StepPrepareTools{
+			RemoteType:        b.config.RemoteType,
+			ToolsUploadFlavor: b.config.ToolsUploadFlavor,
+			ToolsUploadPath:   b.config.ToolsUploadPath,
+		},
 		&vmwcommon.StepOutputDir{
 			Force: b.config.PackerForce,
 		},
@@ -78,6 +83,12 @@ func (b *Builder) Run(ui packer.Ui, hook packer.Hook, cache packer.Cache) (packe
 			SSHWaitTimeout: b.config.SSHWaitTimeout,
 			NoPty:          b.config.SSHSkipRequestPty,
 		},
+		&vmwcommon.StepUploadTools{
+			RemoteType:        b.config.RemoteType,
+			ToolsUploadFlavor: b.config.ToolsUploadFlavor,
+			ToolsUploadPath:   b.config.ToolsUploadPath,
+			Tpl:               b.config.tpl,
+		},
 		&common.StepProvision{},
 		&vmwcommon.StepShutdown{
 			Command: b.config.ShutdownCommand,
diff --git a/builder/vmware/vmx/config.go b/builder/vmware/vmx/config.go
index 4756d6488..4aac4d970 100644
--- a/builder/vmware/vmx/config.go
+++ b/builder/vmware/vmx/config.go
@@ -17,9 +17,11 @@ type Config struct {
 	vmwcommon.RunConfig      `mapstructure:",squash"`
 	vmwcommon.ShutdownConfig `mapstructure:",squash"`
 	vmwcommon.SSHConfig      `mapstructure:",squash"`
+	vmwcommon.ToolsConfig    `mapstructure:",squash"`
 	vmwcommon.VMXConfig      `mapstructure:",squash"`
 
 	FloppyFiles    []string `mapstructure:"floppy_files"`
+	RemoteType     string   `mapstructure:"remote_type"`
 	SkipCompaction bool     `mapstructure:"skip_compaction"`
 	SourcePath     string   `mapstructure:"source_path"`
 	VMName         string   `mapstructure:"vm_name"`
@@ -52,9 +54,11 @@ func NewConfig(raws ...interface{}) (*Config, []string, error) {
 	errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(errs, c.RunConfig.Prepare(c.tpl)...)
 	errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(errs, c.ShutdownConfig.Prepare(c.tpl)...)
 	errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(errs, c.SSHConfig.Prepare(c.tpl)...)
+	errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(errs, c.ToolsConfig.Prepare(c.tpl)...)
 	errs = packer.MultiErrorAppend(errs, c.VMXConfig.Prepare(c.tpl)...)
 
 	templates := map[string]*string{
+		"remote_type": &c.RemoteType,
 		"source_path": &c.SourcePath,
 		"vm_name":     &c.VMName,
 	}