Having read both the VMware Tools for Linux installation instructions from VMware and the Debian community, there are a few things scattered or missing. Below are accurate and tested instructions for installing the VMware Tools for Linux in Debian 6.0.6.
1) To install the VMware Tools you must first install a few Linux components that are not installed by default. Ensure your Debian install DVD/ISO is mounted, open a root terminal by going to Applications > Accessories > Root Terminal, run the command apt-get install build-essential. Next run the command apt-get install linux-headers-$(uname -r).
2) As you would with any VMware Tools installation right click the VM, go to Guest, and select Install/Upgrade VMware tools. Then gain console access to the VM console and go to Places > Computer > CD/DVD Drive: VMware Tools and open the disk. Right click the VMwareTools tar.gz and copy and paste it to the desktop. Now right click the tar.gz and select open with Archive Manager and extract it to the same directory.
3) Go back to the root terminal and change directory to the desktop, then the vmware-tools-distrib folder. If you have troubles use the ls command to list the contents of the folder. You may need to go up to go down depending on the Linux distro using the cd .. command. Once the the appropriate folder list the contents of the folder by using the ls command and you should see vmware-install.pl. Type the command ./vmware-install.pl and hit enter. The tools should now start installing via command prompt.
4) During the install hit enter and select the defaults for every question asked.
5) Reboot, and done!