Install VMware Workstation on RHEL 9

[marbaa]

Hi there,

does anybody was able to install Workstation 16/17 correctly on RHEL 9/Almalinux 9? It installs, but it doesn't compile kernel modules, therefore it won't start. Tried both distros 9.0 and 9.1

edit:

output from error log:

...

2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 make: Entering directory '/tmp/modconfig-MFq4wX/vmnet-only'
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 /usr/bin/make -C /lib/modules/5.14.0-162.6.1.el9_1.x86_64/build/include/.. M=$PWD SRCROOT=$PWD/. \
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 MODULEBUILDDIR= modules
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 make[1]: Entering directory '/usr/src/kernels/5.14.0-162.6.1.el9_1.x86_64'
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 CC [M] /tmp/modconfig-MFq4wX/vmnet-only/driver.o
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 CC [M] /tmp/modconfig-MFq4wX/vmnet-only/hub.o
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 CC [M] /tmp/modconfig-MFq4wX/vmnet-only/userif.o
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 CC [M] /tmp/modconfig-MFq4wX/vmnet-only/netif.o
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 make[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/kernels/5.14.0-162.6.1.el9_1.x86_64'
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 make: Leaving directory '/tmp/modconfig-MFq4wX/vmnet-only'
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 [AppLoader] Use shipped PC/SC Lite smart card framework.
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 An up-to-date "pcsc-lite-libs" or "libpcsclite1" package from your system is preferred.
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 [AppLoader] GLib does not have GSettings support.
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 Using kernel build system.
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 /tmp/modconfig-MFq4wX/vmmon-only/common/crosspage.o: warning: objtool: CrossPage_CodePage()+0x207: 'naked' return found in RETHUNK build
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 /tmp/modconfig-MFq4wX/vmmon-only/common/phystrack.o: warning: objtool: PhysTrack_Free() falls through to next function PhysTrack_Add()
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 /tmp/modconfig-MFq4wX/vmmon-only/common/phystrack.o: warning: objtool: PhysTrack_Add() falls through to next function PhysTrack_Remove()
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 /tmp/modconfig-MFq4wX/vmmon-only/common/phystrack.o: warning: objtool: PhysTrack_Remove() falls through to next function PhysTrack_Test()
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 /tmp/modconfig-MFq4wX/vmmon-only/common/task.o: warning: objtool: .text: unexpected end of section
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 Skipping BTF generation for /tmp/modconfig-MFq4wX/vmmon-only/vmmon.ko due to unavailability of vmlinux
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 Using kernel build system.
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 /tmp/modconfig-MFq4wX/vmnet-only/netif.c: In function ‘VNetNetIfReceive’:
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 /tmp/modconfig-MFq4wX/vmnet-only/netif.c:353:4: error: implicit declaration of function ‘netif_rx_ni’; did you mean ‘netif_rx’? [-Werror=implicit-function-declaration]
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 353 | netif_rx_ni(skb);
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 | ^~~~~~~~~~~
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 | netif_rx
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 cc1: some warnings being treated as errors
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 make[2]: *** [scripts/Makefile.build:295: /tmp/modconfig-MFq4wX/vmnet-only/netif.o] Error 1
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 make[2]: *** Waiting for unfinished jobs....
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 make[1]: *** [Makefile:1915: /tmp/modconfig-MFq4wX/vmnet-only] Error 2
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 make: *** [Makefile:117: vmnet.ko] Error 2
2022-11-28T19:38:02.722Z In(05) host-3156 Unable to install all modules. See log for details.

[Mikaelk]

Hi,

I managed to install on Fedora 37 using this Guide:

https://www.itzgeek.com/how-tos/linux/fedora-how-tos/how-to-install-vmware-workstation-pro-on-fedora...

Just having to change: VMWARE-VERSION=workstation-17.0.0

As it works for Fedora 37 it should also work for RHEL 9

Regards

Mikael

[saladin007]

Fails to compile on Rocky Linux 9.1 too

[rsapeni]

The link you provided doesn't say anything about VMware.

[rsapeni]

I get the same problem as you when i try to install VMware-Player-Full-17.0.0-20800274.x86_64.bundle on RHEL 9.1

[marbaa]

You have some mixed links. It is pointing to "10 things to do on Fedora 37..."

However I've searched the mentioned article and using vmware-modules from github fixed the issue and I was able to successfully compile modules and run VMware.

[marbaa]

You have some mixed links. It is pointing to "10 things to do on Fedora 37..."

However I've searched the mentioned article and using vmware-modules from github fixed the issue and I was able to successfully compile modules and run VMware.

[Mikaelk]

My bad,

The correct link: https://www.itzgeek.com/how-tos/linux/fedora-how-tos/how-to-install-vmware-workstation-pro-on-fedora...

[egurski]

I am using Rocky Linux 9.1 and VMware-Player-Full-16.2.5-20904516.x86_64 also fails compiling the kernel. The solutions I see are all for Workstation. Would the same patchs/fixes apply for VMWare_Player?

[RDPetruska]

Yes, Pro and Player use the same code base.

[egurski]

Thanksfor the advice. However, following the link for the mods still produces an error.

[Mietzekatze]

I get the same problem as you when i try to install VMware-Player-Full-17.0.0-20800274.x86_64.bundle on AlmaLinux 9.1

[Mikaelk]

Hi,

An alternative solution would be to disable secure boot.

[Mietzekatze]

Hi,

I do not use Secure Boot, the function is disabled in the bios. Under Debian 11 there are no problems on the same hardware. 

$ /usr/bin/mokutil --sb-state 

SecureBoot disabled

[mapgeek]

I have the same issue on rhel 9.1

I put a ticket in will let you know what they say.

[Mietzekatze]

Thank you very much.

[mapgeek]

Ok the ticket got me a series of links and this one got me up and running on rhel 9.1.

https://www.itzgeek.com/how-tos/linux/fedora-how-tos/how-to-install-vmware-workstation-pro-on-fedora...

[mapgeek]

so it worked for two days basically, today it said hey there's an update and I allowed it to update and at the end of the update it tried to compile those two and of course it failed...

i don't like the thought that I will have to wait for that guy to compile new libraries for us to pull each time an update comes out...

i still have my ticket open as I really need this to work for doing real work and not break on updates...

[mapgeek]

so i just did the steps to checkout and compile and install those libs from the 17.0.0  version even thought it just updated me to 17.0.1 and it's up and running again, but this isn't long term sustainable so i'll keep you posted as the ticket progresses

[mkubecek]

Branch workstation-17.0.1 has been created and pushed now. But using workstation-17.0.0 with 17.0.1 would work just as well, there are only two differences between 17.0.0 and 17.0.1 from VMware. One affects a windows only code path, the other is a workaround for the "spanning write" issue; it's different from mine but either is OK.