Windows 10: Linux Hosts with 5.3 kernels and VMware 15.5 release

Hi folks

I know a few here use Linux Hosts with VMWare and run Windows VM's
Some distros have a problem with the latest VMware build - not compiling etc.

Arch Linux 5.3 kernel with the VMWare build works perfectly (as do Windows VM's running on it) -- I've several Windows insider builds working perfectly as VM's on this host.

For those who are possibly phased by the "Geekish" nature of Arch Linux there's a great graphical installer which will guide even the basic novice user on installation while still keeping the nature of "Arch" -- just select what you want without bloat etc. Choose a GUI as you need to have a GUI if you want to run VMWare (workstation or Player) the common ones are all there-- the whole process is really simple.

For those interested here's the link :

Zen Installer download | SourceForge.net

Insure also you install the kernel headers (pacman -S linux-headers) and then from the AUR simply type yay vmware-workstation (or player if you only use the free one). (yay is the AUR helper for Arch Linux)

It does all the compilation stuff, adds the relevant kernel modules and then you can simply without even a re-boot add your Windows VM and power it on.

I like the dark theme but choose any you like

Here's VMWare workstation 15.5 on the latest kernel 5.3 on "Arch". I'm using KDE-plasma with Breeze dark as the option on the GUI.





added : To Ms - if only your update and software installation was as simple !!!!!

Well "If Pigs had wings" -- I do though realize that the sheer variety of hardware etc that Windows is used on creates a whole different set of problems -- as a general Linux user I have nothing but admiration for Windows in that most of it works straight OOB. - Windows networking though IMO is still an abomination !!!!

With the sheer variety of hardware that is no mean feat even if my daily use of Windows tends to be somewhat limited --I am not a "Windows Hater" by any manner at all. !!

Cheers
jimbo

:)

 

VMWare on Linux Host with 5.x kernels

Hi folks
If you are using a Linux Host with 5,x kernels e.g Fedora 30 etc

You need to apply a patch to get VMWare to work properly

From your Linux Host run :

wget https://github.com/mkubecek/vmware-h...-15.1.0.tar.gz
tar -xzf workstation-15.1.0.tar.gz
cd vmware-host-modules-workstation-15.1.0
make
make install

Now re-boot not even needed --just start VMWARE again and it should all work fine (you of course need to have kernel headers with the ability to compile and make (standard dev tools).

Here's image with kernel 5.2.5-200





Cheers
jimbo

 

Linux Mint 19.X not installable on Winows Host with VMWare

Hi folks

seem to be having a bit of trouble with VMWare currently with these VM's

1) Skip ahead - latest Windows build won't run in Bridged Network Mode whether on Linux or Windows Host. Previous Windows builds --OK.

2) On Linux HOSTS Kernels 5.X need a patch and then VMWare tools doesn't install.

3) Linux Mint 19.X won't install on anything I've got (Real or VM-- won't even boot properly from install device).

4) Various VM's give "Display driver" errors when run on kernel 5.x with Linux HOST.

I'm sure I never had as much problems in the past when testing new releases etc -- I'm sure people are trying to "cut costs" and skip a decent testing phase before releasing stuff.

Cheers
jimbo

 

VMWare fix for most kernels on Linux HOSTS

Hi folks

This script (I got from the net somewhere - can't remember though) should fix the problem with VMware and updated kernels when using Linux Hosts

put this script in the vmmodules install file - usually this one : /etc/kernel/install.d/99-vmmodules.install


#!/usr/bin/bash

export LANG=C

COMMAND="$1"
KERNEL_VERSION="$2"
BOOT_DIR_ABS="$3"
KERNEL_IMAGE="$4"

ret=0

case "$COMMAND" in
add)
VMWARE_VERSION=$(cat /etc/vmware/config | grep player.product.version | sed '/.*"\(.*\)".*/ s//\1/g')

[ -z VMWARE_VERSION ] && exit 0

mkdir -p /tmp/git; cd /tmp/git
git clone -b workstation-${VMWARE_VERSION} " mkubecek/vmware-host-modules"
cd vmware-host-modules
make VM_UNAME=${KERNEL_VERSION}
make install VM_UNAME=${KERNEL_VERSION}

((ret+=$?))
;;
remove)
exit 0
;;
*)
usage
ret=1;;
esac

exit $ret

this should save a lot of aggro after kernel updates.

Remove the double quotes from the URL - I added those to stop the URL being translated in the post rendering the script unusable.

Cheers
jimbo