no, the VMware tools have a linux portion. To answer the OP's question, when you tell VMware to install what it does is mounts the VMware install files to the CDrom. so go there and read how to install (they assume autorun is enabled but if it isn't then nothing seems to happen)

I have not installed the tools in Knoppix or Debian. In Redhat I got them half-working. They worked for the ethernet BUt whenever I booted it warned me that the tools were not configured correctly and that the object file was "tainted"

good luck.