Vmware workstation 12 error message

[deepak1501]

Hello,

I am running 64 bit vmware workstation 12 on Mint 18 64 bit machine. After upgrading the server I am not able to start the vmware workstation. The error is before you can start the workstation several modules need to be compiled and loaded into running Kernel. The kernel was is use before the upgrade without any vmware problem. Kindly help.

[tom___]

I use Arch Linux and several times have had the same problem. Here's what was happening to me, and I assume you as well:

1. Your kernel version upgraded.
2. VMWare when launched noticed this and tried to recompile its kernel modules for your new version.
3. Some kernel function, struct element, variable name, etc has changed in the kernel source and the build fails.
4. VMWare cannot load the required module(s) because it couldn't be compiled.

The solution is to manually patch vmware's kernel module source code so that they all build, and repackage that code in the place that Workstation will look for it next time it runs.

Here's a brief summary of that process if you want to try it: https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/VMware#Kernel_modules_fail_to_build_after_Linux_4.7

[tom___]

also see this thread regarding the previous kernel upgrade:

Workstation 12.1 does not compile on kernel 4.6.0-1

[deepak1501]

Thank you. I just removed the 4.7 kernel and reinstalled supported kernel by Mint 18 . That solved the problem.

Thank you for the support