VMware 11.5 on MacOS Catalina

[Caomhin]

Just upgraded to MacOS Catalina 10.15.1 and installed the latest version of VMWare Fusion 11.5.0 on my Mac and then installed a Windows 10 Home 64 bit ISO (without activation code) and get this error:

Could not open /dev/vmmon: broken pipe

Please make sure the kernel module 'vmmon' is loaded

I click ok then get this

Transport (VMDB) error -14: Pipe connection has been broken

Any ideas why this is happening?

Thanks

Kevin

[wila · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Did you get the question to allow VMware drivers in apple menu -> System Preferences -> Security & Privacy on the General tab?

It should have been there just under the "Allow apps downloaded from" section.

If you did allow the VMware drivers there already then the next thing to try is to reboot your host.

If it still doesn't work then drag VMware Fusion from the Applications folder to the bin (trash), reboot host, then install VMware Fusion again.

--

Wil

[Caomhin]

You where right Wila, it was a permissions issue!

So when I clicked on the System Preferences -> Security & Privacy on the General tab and then unlocked the padlock, suddenly a new message appeared at the bootm of the screen with a button called ALLOW, when I clicked on that then there was an option to allow VMware access to my system. Once I clicked that and reinstalled VMWare, I could then install Windows 10.

Thanks Wila 🙂

[richardwar]

I tried the listed suggestions, but wouldn't see the VMWare Fusion entry on Security & Privacy.  At the same time, I found another product (AirTame) that I don't often use was throwing a new error on startup (couldn't write to /tmp/foo##############.log - a log file)    As a result of that, I changed my permissions on /tmp (which is pointed to by /private/tmp, I think) and now all of my VMs are once again happy and starting.

chmod 777 /tmp (or whatever permission level you're comfortable with).  If you want a better, more secure fix, check out: https://superuser.com/questions/1133065/unable-to-write-to-tmp-directory-in-macos-unable-to-correct...  #19 as I think it's the supported mechanism.

Richard

[wila]

Hi,

There was a problem with apple and VMware around the introduction of Catalina and VMware made an emergency patch for VMware Fusion 11.1.1 that worked around some issues and involved writing to /tmp.

More details here

This should not be needed anymore with the latest version (11.5.2) where that patch was removed again, so I recommend making sure to be on the latest version.

--

Wil

[smeja]

Hi

I'm experienceing the same problem as mentioned above and already allowed Apps download from apple store and verified developers but still get the same error message. What do you mean by rebooting my host? I'm new to this, so unfamiliar with these terms.

Cheers, smeja

[wila]

Hi,

Welcome.

The host is your macbook (or MacPro or ... ) eg. the machine itself.

--

Wil

[stuartro]

I’m having the same issue.

Tried rebooting, doing the Security & Privacy thing (but nothing shows up in the General tab, as I previously—a year or so ago—granted access to VMware). I have uninstalled and reinstalled.

Problem first showed up with VMware Fusion 11.5.5. I've downgraded (complete uninstall deleting all preferences and settings (following the instructions at VMware Knowledge Base​), rebooted, and then reinstalled. My VM then booted once. After shutting it down, now when I try to launch it I get the same error (Transport (VMDB) "error -14" "pipe connection has been broken").

I have tried the above with VMware Fusion 11.5.4, with the same results and error. As I write this I’m downloading VMware Fusion 11.5.2 and will try again.

Unhappy, to say the least. Not sure if it’s VMware or Apple's fault, but I have better things to do (and a deadline for Monday morning to meet).

Any advice / suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

[stuartro]

Just got VMware 11.5.2 installed and it works. Looks like the problem has been introduced subsequent to 11.5.2.