Cannot Install VMWare Workstation in Fedora 25

[itsolution]

I am not able to install VMWare Workstation 12.5.2 (or 12.5.1 or 12.1.2) on Fedora 25.  Here are the error messages.

[pound@sand tmp]$ sudo ./VMware-Workstation-Full-12.5.2-4638234.x86_64.bundle

Extracting VMware Installer...done.

No protocol specified

No protocol specified

User interface initialization failed.  Exiting.  Check the log for details.

The output of the logfile:

[root@sand tmp]# cat vmware-root/vmware-vmis-6028.log

2016-12-12T17:53:40.577-05:00| vthread-4| I125: Log for VMware Workstation pid=6028 version=12.5.0 build=build-4298805 option=Release

2016-12-12T17:53:40.577-05:00| vthread-4| I125: The process is 64-bit.

2016-12-12T17:53:40.577-05:00| vthread-4| I125: Host codepage=UTF-8 encoding=UTF-8

2016-12-12T17:53:40.577-05:00| vthread-4| I125: Host is Linux 4.8.12-300.fc25.x86_64 Fedora release 25 (Twenty Five)

2016-12-12T17:53:40.577-05:00| vthread-4| I125: DictionaryLoad: Cannot open file "/etc/vmware/config": No such file or directory.

2016-12-12T17:53:40.577-05:00| vthread-4| I125: PREF Optional preferences file not found at /etc/vmware/config. Using default values.

2016-12-12T17:53:40.577-05:00| vthread-4| I125: DictionaryLoad: Cannot open file "/usr/lib/vmware/settings": No such file or directory.

2016-12-12T17:53:40.577-05:00| vthread-4| I125: PREF Optional preferences file not found at /usr/lib/vmware/settings. Using default values.

2016-12-12T17:53:40.577-05:00| vthread-4| I125: DictionaryLoad: Cannot open file "/usr/lib/vmware/config": No such file or directory.

2016-12-12T17:53:40.577-05:00| vthread-4| I125: PREF Optional preferences file not found at /usr/lib/vmware/config. Using default values.

2016-12-12T17:53:40.577-05:00| vthread-4| I125: DictionaryLoad: Cannot open file "/root/.vmware/config": No such file or directory.

2016-12-12T17:53:40.577-05:00| vthread-4| I125: PREF Optional preferences file not found at /root/.vmware/config. Using default values.

Kernel:

[root@sand tmp]# uname -a

Linux sand 4.8.12-300.fc25.x86_64 #1 SMP Fri Dec 2 17:52:11 UTC 2016 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux

Any ideas?

[itsolution · Accepted solution]

I was able to install 12.0.1 but it would not open.  After installing 12.0.1 I upgrade to 12.5.1 and everything is currently working.

[henkus123]

‌do you have a short howto? Where can I download the older version and how did you upgrade when it did not started? I'm having the same issue

[Wallentini]

Thank you for your post itsolution, it got me started.

Here follows the steps needed in order to getting to a functional installation of VMware Workstation 12.5.2 on Fedora 25.

Step three below was introduced as of January 16, 2017, following a kernel update (source) and will hopefully not be required in the near future.

1. Install  dependencies:

sudo dnf install kernel-devel kernel-headers
sudo dnf group install "Development Tools"
sudo dnf install ncurses-compat-libs # Makes installation of 12.5.2 possible without first installing 12.0.1.

Note: The article (source below) recommends restarting your machine after installation of ncurses-compat-libs.
Source: Unable to install Workstation on Fedora 24 host using the Console option (2146755) | VMware KB

2. Install VMware Workstation:

chmod a+x ./VMware-Workstation-Full-12.5.2-4638234.x86_64.bundle
sudo ./VMware-Workstation-Full-12.5.2-4638234.x86_64.bundle

Download: www.vmware.com/go/tryworkstation-linux-64
Note: The link will get the latest version of VMware Workstation, the file name will there by change over time.

3. Post installation kernel patch:
After installation I was prompted by the VMware Kernel Module Updater which I never got to work. However, the error messages thrown led me to another guide written on the subject, installation of VMware Workstation on Fedora 25 (see source below).

su -
# cd /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source/
# cp -npv vmmon.tar{,-ORG}
# tar xvf vmmon.tar
# wget https://communities.vmware.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/2644848-168136/ws-12.5.2-linux-4.9-vmmon...
# unzip ws-12.5.2-linux-4.9-vmmon-only.patch.zip
# patch -p0 < ws-12.5.2-linux-4.9-vmmon-only.patch
# tar cvf /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source/vmmon.tar vmmon-only
# rm -fr vmmon-only
# cd /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source/
# cp -npv vmnet.tar{,-ORG}
# tar xvf vmnet.tar
# wget https://communities.vmware.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/2644848-168137/ws-12.5.2-linux-4.9-vmnet...
# unzip ws-12.5.2-linux-4.9-vmnet-only.patch.zip
# patch -p0 < ws-12.5.2-linux-4.9-vmnet-only.patch
# tar cvf /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source/vmnet.tar vmnet-only
# rm -fr vmnet-only
# vmware-modconfig --console --install-all

Note: If following the original article (source below), do note a possible typo on the second to last line stating "rm -rf vmmon-only" and not "rm -rf vmnet-only".

Source: VMware Workstation 12 Pro Linux 版のインストール | uvirt.com​ - Very comprehensive article covering all of the steps needed.

Remaining issues:

1. Unable to open the "Virtual Network Editor" while logged in with Wayland.
Workaround: Log in to Fedora with GNOME Xorg while working with the Virtual Network Editor.