Finding the correct version of VMware Tools for a 32-bit operating system that reached its End of Life (EOL) in January 2020 can be a navigational challenge. Modern VMware documentation often redirects users to the latest versions, which may not be compatible with older kernels found in Server 2008.
If this is for an air-gapped/legacy lab environment, use only official VMware sources with proper security controls.
Ensure your Server 2008 instance is updated to at least Service Pack 2 to use VMware Tools 11.x.