Solved: VMWare Kernel module updater fails

drude · ‎10-27-2018

Hi,

after changes in my ubuntu 14.04 computer (mainly related to the gcc compiler - if I understand it correctly), starting VMWare fails.

In the first step after starting, I am asked to perform a Kernel Module Update:

Before you can runVMware, several modules must be compiled and loaded into the running kernel.

I click on "install", are asked for my (sudo) password and get afterwards

Unable to start services.
See log file /tmp/vmware-root/vmware-12819.log for details.

This file contains the following information.

How can I resolve this issue?

Thanks in advance!

2018-10-27T14:43:13.412+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Log for VMware Workstation pid=12819 version=12.5.7 build=build-5813279 option=Release
2018-10-27T14:43:13.412+02:00| vthread-4| I125: The process is 64-bit.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.412+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Host codepage=UTF-8 encoding=UTF-8
2018-10-27T14:43:13.412+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Host is Linux 4.4.0-138-generic Ubuntu 14.04.5 LTS
2018-10-27T14:43:13.412+02:00| vthread-4| I125: DictionaryLoad: Cannot open file "/usr/lib/vmware/settings": No such file or directory.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.412+02:00| vthread-4| I125: PREF Optional preferences file not found at /usr/lib/vmware/settings. Using default values.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.412+02:00| vthread-4| I125: DictionaryLoad: Cannot open file "/root/.vmware/config": No such file or directory.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.412+02:00| vthread-4| I125: PREF Optional preferences file not found at /root/.vmware/config. Using default values.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.412+02:00| vthread-4| I125: PREF Unable to check permissions for preferences file.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.412+02:00| vthread-4| I125: DictionaryLoad: Cannot open file "/root/.vmware/preferences": No such file or directory.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.412+02:00| vthread-4| I125: PREF Failed to load user preferences.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.446+02:00| vthread-4| W115: Logging to /tmp/vmware-root/vmware-12819.log
2018-10-27T14:43:13.451+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Obtaining info using the running kernel.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.451+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Created new pathsHash.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.451+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Setting header path for 4.4.0-138-generic to "/lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.451+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Validating path "/lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include" for kernel release "4.4.0-138-generic".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.451+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Failed to find /lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include/linux/version.h
2018-10-27T14:43:13.451+02:00| vthread-4| I125: /lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include/linux/version.h not found, looking for generated/uapi/linux/version.h instead.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.451+02:00| vthread-4| I125: using /usr/bin/gcc-4.8 for preprocess check
2018-10-27T14:43:13.455+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Preprocessed UTS_RELEASE, got value "4.4.0-138-generic".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.456+02:00| vthread-4| I125: The header path "/lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include" for the kernel "4.4.0-138-generic" is valid. Whoohoo!
2018-10-27T14:43:13.595+02:00| vthread-4| I125: found symbol version file /lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/Module.symvers
2018-10-27T14:43:13.595+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Reading symbol versions from /lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/Module.symvers.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.611+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Read 18956 symbol versions
2018-10-27T14:43:13.611+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Reading in info for the vmmon module.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.611+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Reading in info for the vmnet module.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.611+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Reading in info for the vmblock module.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.611+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Reading in info for the vmci module.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.611+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Reading in info for the vsock module.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.611+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Setting vsock to depend on vmci.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.611+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Invoking modinfo on "vmmon".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.613+02:00| vthread-4| I125: "/sbin/modinfo" exited with status 256.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.613+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Invoking modinfo on "vmnet".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.614+02:00| vthread-4| I125: "/sbin/modinfo" exited with status 256.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.614+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Invoking modinfo on "vmblock".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.615+02:00| vthread-4| I125: "/sbin/modinfo" exited with status 256.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.615+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Invoking modinfo on "vmci".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.616+02:00| vthread-4| I125: "/sbin/modinfo" exited with status 256.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.616+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Invoking modinfo on "vsock".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.617+02:00| vthread-4| I125: "/sbin/modinfo" exited with status 0.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.627+02:00| vthread-4| I125: to be installed: vmmon status: 0
2018-10-27T14:43:13.627+02:00| vthread-4| I125: to be installed: vmnet status: 0
2018-10-27T14:43:13.637+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Obtaining info using the running kernel.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.637+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Setting header path for 4.4.0-138-generic to "/lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.637+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Validating path "/lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include" for kernel release "4.4.0-138-generic".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.637+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Failed to find /lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include/linux/version.h
2018-10-27T14:43:13.637+02:00| vthread-4| I125: /lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include/linux/version.h not found, looking for generated/uapi/linux/version.h instead.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.637+02:00| vthread-4| I125: using /usr/bin/gcc-4.8 for preprocess check
2018-10-27T14:43:13.641+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Preprocessed UTS_RELEASE, got value "4.4.0-138-generic".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.641+02:00| vthread-4| I125: The header path "/lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include" for the kernel "4.4.0-138-generic" is valid. Whoohoo!
2018-10-27T14:43:13.782+02:00| vthread-4| I125: found symbol version file /lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/Module.symvers
2018-10-27T14:43:13.782+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Reading symbol versions from /lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/Module.symvers.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.798+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Read 18956 symbol versions
2018-10-27T14:43:13.798+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Kernel header path retrieved from FileEntry: /lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include
2018-10-27T14:43:13.798+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Update kernel header path to /lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include
2018-10-27T14:43:13.798+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Validating path "/lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include" for kernel release "4.4.0-138-generic".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.798+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Failed to find /lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include/linux/version.h
2018-10-27T14:43:13.798+02:00| vthread-4| I125: /lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include/linux/version.h not found, looking for generated/uapi/linux/version.h instead.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.798+02:00| vthread-4| I125: using /usr/bin/gcc-4.8 for preprocess check
2018-10-27T14:43:13.803+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Preprocessed UTS_RELEASE, got value "4.4.0-138-generic".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.803+02:00| vthread-4| I125: The header path "/lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include" for the kernel "4.4.0-138-generic" is valid. Whoohoo!
2018-10-27T14:43:13.804+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Unable to find a GCC compiler in the system path. Attempting to use a compiler at location "/usr/bin/gcc-4.8".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.806+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Got gcc version "4.8".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.806+02:00| vthread-4| I125: The GCC version matches the kernel GCC minor version like a glove.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.806+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Using user supplied compiler "/usr/bin/gcc-4.8".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.808+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Got gcc version "4.8".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.808+02:00| vthread-4| I125: The GCC version matches the kernel GCC minor version like a glove.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.809+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Trying to find a suitable PBM set for kernel "4.4.0-138-generic".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.809+02:00| vthread-4| I125: No matching PBM set was found for kernel "4.4.0-138-generic".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.809+02:00| vthread-4| I125: The GCC version matches the kernel GCC minor version like a glove.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.809+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Validating path "/lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include" for kernel release "4.4.0-138-generic".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.809+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Failed to find /lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include/linux/version.h
2018-10-27T14:43:13.809+02:00| vthread-4| I125: /lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include/linux/version.h not found, looking for generated/uapi/linux/version.h instead.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.809+02:00| vthread-4| I125: using /usr/bin/gcc-4.8 for preprocess check
2018-10-27T14:43:13.814+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Preprocessed UTS_RELEASE, got value "4.4.0-138-generic".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.814+02:00| vthread-4| I125: The header path "/lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include" for the kernel "4.4.0-138-generic" is valid. Whoohoo!
2018-10-27T14:43:13.880+02:00| vthread-4| I125: The GCC version matches the kernel GCC minor version like a glove.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.880+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Validating path "/lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include" for kernel release "4.4.0-138-generic".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.880+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Failed to find /lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include/linux/version.h
2018-10-27T14:43:13.880+02:00| vthread-4| I125: /lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include/linux/version.h not found, looking for generated/uapi/linux/version.h instead.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.880+02:00| vthread-4| I125: using /usr/bin/gcc-4.8 for preprocess check
2018-10-27T14:43:13.885+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Preprocessed UTS_RELEASE, got value "4.4.0-138-generic".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.885+02:00| vthread-4| I125: The header path "/lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include" for the kernel "4.4.0-138-generic" is valid. Whoohoo!
2018-10-27T14:43:13.885+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Using temp dir "/tmp".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.886+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Obtaining info using the running kernel.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.886+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Setting header path for 4.4.0-138-generic to "/lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.886+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Validating path "/lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include" for kernel release "4.4.0-138-generic".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.886+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Failed to find /lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include/linux/version.h
2018-10-27T14:43:13.886+02:00| vthread-4| I125: /lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include/linux/version.h not found, looking for generated/uapi/linux/version.h instead.
2018-10-27T14:43:13.886+02:00| vthread-4| I125: using /usr/bin/gcc-4.8 for preprocess check
2018-10-27T14:43:13.890+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Preprocessed UTS_RELEASE, got value "4.4.0-138-generic".
2018-10-27T14:43:13.890+02:00| vthread-4| I125: The header path "/lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include" for the kernel "4.4.0-138-generic" is valid. Whoohoo!
2018-10-27T14:43:14.029+02:00| vthread-4| I125: found symbol version file /lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/Module.symvers
2018-10-27T14:43:14.029+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Reading symbol versions from /lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/Module.symvers.
2018-10-27T14:43:14.046+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Read 18956 symbol versions
2018-10-27T14:43:14.046+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Invoking modinfo on "vmmon".
2018-10-27T14:43:14.048+02:00| vthread-4| I125: "/sbin/modinfo" exited with status 256.
2018-10-27T14:43:14.048+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Invoking modinfo on "vmnet".
2018-10-27T14:43:14.050+02:00| vthread-4| I125: "/sbin/modinfo" exited with status 256.
2018-10-27T14:43:14.463+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Setting destination path for vmmon to "/lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/misc/vmmon.ko".
2018-10-27T14:43:14.463+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Extracting the vmmon source from "/usr/lib/vmware/modules/source/vmmon.tar".
2018-10-27T14:43:14.472+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Successfully extracted the vmmon source.
2018-10-27T14:43:14.472+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Building module with command "/usr/bin/make -j4 -C /tmp/modconfig-kjIYtt/vmmon-only auto-build HEADER_DIR=/lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include CC=/usr/bin/gcc-4.8 IS_GCC_3=no"
2018-10-27T14:43:14.714+02:00| vthread-4| W115: Failed to build vmmon. Failed to execute the build command.
2018-10-27T14:43:14.716+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Setting destination path for vmnet to "/lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/misc/vmnet.ko".
2018-10-27T14:43:14.716+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Extracting the vmnet source from "/usr/lib/vmware/modules/source/vmnet.tar".
2018-10-27T14:43:14.724+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Successfully extracted the vmnet source.
2018-10-27T14:43:14.724+02:00| vthread-4| I125: Building module with command "/usr/bin/make -j4 -C /tmp/modconfig-kjIYtt/vmnet-only auto-build HEADER_DIR=/lib/modules/4.4.0-138-generic/build/include CC=/usr/bin/gcc-4.8 IS_GCC_3=no"
2018-10-27T14:43:14.924+02:00| vthread-4| W115: Failed to build vmnet. Failed to execute the build command.

drude · ‎10-29-2018

Hi,

thanks for your message.

I upgraded to 12.5.9 and the same error occurs.

Upgrading to version 15 helped.

Thanks for your hint!

This solved an issue I had for almost one month!!!

View solution in original post

wila · ‎10-29-2018

Hi,

If there's a reason to stay with Workstation version 12.5.x, for example if you have a slightly older processor, then at least get the latest one from the 12.5 branch.

Download Workstation for Linux 12.5.9

edit: Oh posted at the Player forum, here's a link for downloading latest 12.5 VMware Player:

Download VMware Player

--

Wil

| Author of Vimalin. The virtual machine Backup app for VMware Fusion, VMware Workstation and Player |
| More info at vimalin.com | Twitter @wilva

drude · ‎10-29-2018

Hi,

thanks for your message.

I upgraded to 12.5.9 and the same error occurs.

Upgrading to version 15 helped.

Thanks for your hint!

This solved an issue I had for almost one month!!!

All

VMWare Kernel module updater fails