Copy/Paste, Fusion Accessibility setting and Mouse Clicks not working

[gregory333]

Just wondering if anyone else is seeing this problem.

Platform:

2015 Intel iMac 32GB running Monterey 12.7.1 (yes, time for an upgrade)

VMWare Fusion 12.2.5

Guest OS - Ubuntu (19 and 22)

Problem:

Copy and paste does not work between Guest to Host operating systems.  Yes, I have uninstalled and reinstalled the open-vm-tools and open-vm-tools-desktop packages several times.  I have also unchecked and rechecked the isolation options several times.  When I set the privacy and security option on the  MacOS to grant the VM permission to control the host OS the mouse clicks stop working in the guest operating system.  I have removed and added Fusion into the list several times. Options to fix that problems like adding:

mouse.vsub.startConnected = "FALSE"

to the .vmx file have not solved the problem.

Anyone else had this problem?  Were you able to solve it?

Thanks,

Greg G.

[Technogeezer]

Is the VM running X11(Xorg) or Wayland?

And by "copy/paste" does that mean copy and paste of text or drag/drop of files between the host and guest?

[gregory333]

Both Copy/Paste and drag/drop are not working.

Window manager is the default - Wayland.  Switching to X11 made no difference.

Greg

[Technogeezer]

Which "22" version? 22.04 LTS (Jammy Jellyfish) or 22.10 (Kinetic Kudu)?

What kernel version are you running?

[Technogeezer]

As a test, I've just installed Ubuntu Desktop 22.04.3 LTS on Fusion 13.5 / 2014 Mac mini / Monterey 12.7.1. I chose not to use Easy Install (I've found that to be wonky and not of much value).

I double checked Security & Privacy settings on my Mac. Under Accessibility, VMware Fusion.app is allowed to control my computer - that absolutely needs to be enabled for Fusion to work properly. That begs the question: why isn't the guest picking up the mouse?

Copy and paste of text works properly both ways (host -> guest and guest -> host). Drag and drop does not work with a Wayland session, but does with an Xorg (X11 session). 

You say that you've tried installing/reinstalling open-vm-tools and open-vm-tools desktop. Did you check to see if the old-style VMware Tools are installed (they shouldn't be)...

Also is 3D acceleration enabled? If so, is the shared graphics memory in the Display setting of the VM set to 8192 (the recommended value).

This is a strange one. Definitely need more info on the version of Ubuntu that you're running. Perhaps also a look at the vmware.log and mksSandbox.log files would yield some clues about what's going on. (zip them up and post them if you could).

[gregory333]

Ubuntu 19.10

$ uname -a
Linux ubuntu 5.15.0-88-generic #98-Ubuntu SMP Mon Oct 2 15:18:56 UTC 2023 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

and

Ubuntu 22.04.3

$uname -a

Linux play-stuff 6.2.0-36-generic #37~22.04.1-Ubuntu SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Mon Oct 9 15:34:04 UTC 2 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

[gregory333]

So I did have the old-style VMWare tools installed on the 19.10 version - this is the one that required running a Perl script.  I'm pretty sure I removed that before I installed the packages.  I did not install it on the 22.04.3 version.

Attached are the log files from both. 

Thanks for your help.

[gregory333]

Also, 3D acceleration is enable and memory is set to 8192.

[Technogeezer]

Thanks and I'll take a look at the logs and see if I can find anything.

Was this a first-time installation of Fusion on this Mac, or has it been through iterations of both macOS and Fusion upgrades?

[gregory333]

Both Fusion and the Mac have been through multiple revisions. 

thanks!

[Technogeezer]

I'm seeing a lot of cruft in two configuration files that I don't see in a freshly installed configuration.

In particular in file /Users/gregory333/Library/Preferences/VMware Fusion/preferences

2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT --- USER PREFERENCES /Users/gregory333/Library/Preferences/VMware Fusion/preferences
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.grabOnKeyPress = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest0.present = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest0.destString = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest0.user = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest1.present = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest1.destString = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest1.user = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest2.present = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest2.destString = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest2.user = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest3.present = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest3.destString = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest3.user = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest4.present = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest4.destString = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest4.user = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest5.present = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest5.destString = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest5.user = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest6.present = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest6.destString = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest6.user = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest7.present = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest7.destString = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruDest7.user = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS0.present = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS0.atsString = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS0.domain = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS0.user = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS0.secure = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS0.port = "0"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS1.present = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.491Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS1.atsString = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS1.domain = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS1.user = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS1.secure = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS1.port = "0"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS2.present = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS2.atsString = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS2.domain = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS2.user = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS2.secure = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS2.port = "0"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS3.present = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS3.atsString = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS3.domain = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS3.user = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS3.secure = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS3.port = "0"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS4.present = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS4.atsString = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS4.domain = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS4.user = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS4.secure = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS4.port = "0"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS5.present = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS5.atsString = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS5.domain = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS5.user = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS5.secure = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS5.port = "0"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS6.present = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS6.atsString = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS6.domain = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS6.user = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS6.secure = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS6.port = "0"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS7.present = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS7.atsString = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS7.domain = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS7.user = ""
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS7.secure = "FALSE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mruATS7.port = "0"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.partialGrabEnabled = "TRUE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mapMacShortcutKeys = "TRUE"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.492Z In(05) vmx DICT pref.mapControlAndGUIClickEnabled = "TRUE"

These do not exist in a working configuration.

Also I question these in file /Library/Preferences/VMware Fusion/config:

2023-11-10T18:34:07.494Z In(05) vmx DICT --- HOST DEFAULTS /Library/Preferences/VMware Fusion/config
2023-11-10T18:34:07.494Z In(05) vmx DICT vmnet1.hostonlyaddress = "192.168.17.1"
2023-11-10T18:34:07.494Z In(05) vmx DICT vmnet1.hostonlynetmask = "255.255.255.0"

Those should be redundant if the vmnet1 (hostonly) network is configured with the 192.168.17.0/24 network. I'd get rid of it as it's unnecessary.

My idea at this point is to perform a manual uninstall of Fusion per KB article  https://kb.vmware.com/s/article/1017838 and verify what you've done with the script available at https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-Fusion-Documents/Script-to-check-if-all-remnants-of-VMware-...

Then reinstall Fusion and see if things work with the out-of-the-box settings.

[gregory333]

Unfortunately the complete uninstall and reinstall has not fixed the problems.  Still can't cut/paste and drag/drop and turning on accessibility causes the mouse clicks to not register.

Thanks for the suggestions.

G. 

[Technogeezer]

Did you ever say what specific versions of Ubuntu you're using? Or what "flavor"? I've been working with Ubuntu Desktop (the "usual" version with Ubuntu's GNOME-based desktop).

Also, did you perform a manual install or use "easy install"?

[dminter]

Cut and paste not working.  Apple iMac Intel, Sonoma 14.1.1, Fusion 13.5.0.  I checked and my Mac settings and the Accessability setting is set to allow VMWare to control the computer.  I've never had cut and paste work with any version of Fusion going back years.  Any easy fix to try?  This post has discussion beyond my understanding  

[ColoradoMarmot]

And you've installed both open-vm-tools and open-vm-tools-desktop in the guest, and it's a current guest OS?

[dminter]

I only installed whatever VMware tools install in the normal 13.5 install.  Actually now that I look it is not clear whether the 13.5 install installed the tools. Sounds like I need to find and install the two tools you mention on the Windows/guest side?

[Technogeezer]

For any recent Linux distribution, open-vm-tools and open-vm-tools desktop packages are the VMware-recommended in-guest tools. If the older tools packages are installed, they should be removed as they are only maintained for older Linux distributions that don't have the open-vm-tools packages. In fact, for newer Linux distributions, Fusion will gray-out the option Virtual Machine > Install VMware Tools. 

The open-vm-tools and open-vm-tools-desktop packages should be available in the Linux distro's repositories - the distro maintainer is responsible for distributing them, VMware just provides the open-source code. Some times the distros will install open-vm-tools and open-vm-tools-desktop for you. Other times they will not. Use your distro's package manager (apt, dnf, or zypper) to determine if the packages are already installed, and if not use the package manager to install them.

Installing Fusion does not guarantee that the tools are installed in guests. On Windows unless you chose Easy Install when you created the VM, the tools may not be automatically installed (which means no copy/paste/drag/drop). . Doesn't hurt to try to install or upgrade Tools on Windows using the Fusion menus.