Can't find gcc version to compile linux kernel modules

[TheNino]

I'm running VMWare on a Debian testing machine. After kernel and VMWare update (kernel 5.8.0-2 and vmware-player-16.0.0) I receive an error that it can't find the gcc to compile the modules. With respect to similar issues found online, it does not even ask the gcc version, (null) is displayed instead.

The full message is "GCC C Compiler (gcc) version (null) was not found. ..." I've tried to use the different gcc versions paths, to change the default version with update-alternatives, but without results.

[RobMuller]

does the system react to gcc -v from a command line. just to verify gcc is working.

if not, try re-installing the gcc compiler.

sudo apt-get reinstall gcc

[TheUKResearcher]

I had the same issue not so long ago, so, after checking online I understood I needed to compile some libraries, so, I used a repo from github for that purpose:

git clone https://github.com/mkubecek/vmware-host-modules.git
cd vmware-host-modules
git checkout player-16.0.0

After this you have to compile it, install it and either restart or start vmware:

make
sudo make install
sudo /etc/init.d/vmware start

If it is the first time, you should see:

[maximeformat]

The trick works for me on Debian Testing (Linux deb 5.8.0-3-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 5.8.14-1 (2020-10-10)) for VMware Workstation 16

[RIC21000]

Hello, when I tape make, I take this error:

make -C vmmon-only
make[1]: Entering directory '/home/ric21000/vmware-host-modules/vmmon-only'
Using standalone build system.
In file included from ./autoconf/geninclude.c:20:
./include/compat_autoconf.h:38:13: fatal error: generated/autoconf.h: No such file or directory
# include <generated/autoconf.h>
^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
compilation terminated.
make[2]: Entering directory '/home/ric21000/vmware-host-modules/vmmon-only/driver-5.4.151-16908-gff376e5d5ee1'
In file included from .././autoconf/geninclude.c:20:
.././include/compat_autoconf.h:38:13: fatal error: generated/autoconf.h: No such file or directory
# include <generated/autoconf.h>
^~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
compilation terminated.
Dependencies for driver.c
cc1: error: code model kernel does not support PIC mode
make[2]: *** [.././Makefile.normal:132: driver.d] Error 1
make[2]: Leaving directory '/home/ric21000/vmware-host-modules/vmmon-only/driver-5.4.151-16908-gff376e5d5ee1'
make[1]: *** [Makefile.normal:143: deps] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory '/home/ric21000/vmware-host-modules/vmmon-only'
make: *** [Makefile:21: vmmon-only] Error 2

[GraisonVogsOnVm]

Hi, this is what i get @TheUKResearcher.  Starting VMware services:
Virtual machine monitor failed
Virtual machine communication interface failed
VM communication interface socket family failed
Virtual ethernet failed
VMware Authentication Daemon done