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[SOLVED] vmware-modules fails for kernel > 6.8.9
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cfgauss
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 11, 2024 5:43 pm    Post subject: [SOLVED] vmware-modules fails for kernel > 6.8.9 Reply with quote

I have successfully emerged vmware-modules using the stefantalpalaru overlay for kernel 6.8.9 but this fails for kernels 6.9.0, 6.9.1, and 6.9.3. E.g. for kernel 6.9.3 emerge -1 vmware-modules produces these errors. Installing vmware-modules manually produces compilation errors for kernels 6.9.0, 6.9.1, and 6.9.3

Any hints on how to install vmware-modules for Gentoo kernels > 6.8.9 will be gratefully received.

[SOLVED] I followed this comment on an issue at the Github repo for vmware-host-modules and it worked for Gentoo kernels 6.9.1, 6.9.3, 6.9.4, and 6.9.5. I assume it will work for other 6.9.* kernels.The Makefile's MODINFO and DEPMOD need to have their paths modified. Many thanks to rab0171610 for helpful hints and to stefantalpalaru for maintaining the vmware-modules overlay and pointing me to the correct sources for help. [/SOLVED]


Last edited by cfgauss on Mon Jun 17, 2024 11:33 pm; edited 3 times in total
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rab0171610
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 11, 2024 5:56 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's expected. Stick to older more stable kernels (longterm) if you want to use VMware. I don't remember how I overcame this problem.
But if I remember correctly, refer to this:
https://github.com/mkubecek/vmware-host-modules
The modules are a tar archive found on your system as:
Code:
/usr/lib/vmware/modules/source/vmmon.tar
/usr/lib/vmware/modules/source/vmnet.tar

Those can be patched or replaced with patched module archives. I would recommend backing them up first.
See the INSTALL file from the GITHUB archive for directions.
When you are asked to rebuild the kernel modules when opening VMware, it will used the new patched files (vmmon.tar and vmnet.tar) to build the kernel modules. You can also rebuild them as needed with (with root permissions):
Code:
vmware-modconfig --console --install-all
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cfgauss
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 12, 2024 12:23 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here is more info on my vmware-modules problem under kernel 6.9.3.
Code:
$ qlist -Iv vmware-workstation
app-emulation/vmware-workstation-17.5.2.23775571

This is provided by the stefantalpalaru overlay.

But emerge -1 vmware-mdules fails.
Here is emerge --info =app-emulation/vmware-modules-17.5.2::stefantalpalaru.
Here is the complete build log.
Code:
$ emerge -pqv '=app-emulation/vmware-modules-17.5.2::stefantalpalaru'
[ebuild   R   ] app-emulation/vmware-modules-17.5.2  USE="strip -dist-kernel -modules-compress -modules-sign"

When I follow the compilation instructions section 1a, git checkout workstation-17.5.2 fails as there is no such branch. When I instead git checkout workstation-17.5.1 the compilation fails with error messages.
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rab0171610
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 12, 2024 3:41 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am not going to address that overlay or failing ebuilds.
To anyone needing vmware modules that will work for newer kernels,
all you need to do is download the 17.5.1 modules from https://github.com/mkubecek/vmware-host-modules/releases/tag/w17.5.1. You can choose zip or tar.gz. After downloading and extracting, there will be 2 directories in the vmware-host-modules-w17.5.1 folder : vmmon-only and vmnet-only. You can simply create a .tar file from each of those two directories. Name each file after the directory it contains, so vmmon.tar and vmnet.tar. Copy those 2 files to /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source/ (backup any existing module archives first).
Code:
$ ls /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source/
vmmon.tar  vmnet.tar


You can build or rebuild the modules you just copied there to the kernel source with:
Code:
vmware-modconfig --console --install-all


VMware does not update their modules very often. They almost always fail to build with new kernels unless they are patched.
I know these build and work for 6.9.0, 6.9.1, and 6.9.2.
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stefantalpalaru
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 12, 2024 10:02 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

I'm waiting for this issue to be fixed: https://github.com/mkubecek/vmware-host-modules/issues/239

There is a patch available, but the non-VMware maintainer does not seem happy about it: https://github.com/mkubecek/vmware-host-modules/pull/252

For future support requests, please use my overlay's issue tracker, instead of these forums: https://github.com/stefantalpalaru/gentoo-overlay
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cfgauss
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PostPosted: Wed Jun 12, 2024 1:45 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

rab0171610 wrote:

You can build or rebuild the modules you just copied there to the kernel source with:
Code:
vmware-modconfig --console --install-all

Code:
# locate vmmon.tar
/opt/vmware/lib/vmware/modules/source/vmmon.tar
# locate vmware-modconfig
/opt/vmware/lib/vmware/bin/vmware-modconfig
...
# equery b /opt/vmware
 * Searching for /opt/vmware ...
app-emulation/vmware-workstation-17.5.2.23775571 (/opt/vmware)

After backing up the old tar files and creating two new ones:
Code:
/opt/vmware/lib/vmware/modules/source# ls *tar
vmblock.tar  vmmon.orig.tar  vmmon.tar  vmnet.orig.tar  vmnet.tar
# /opt/vmware/lib/vmware/bin/vmware-modconfig --console --install-all
Home directory not accessible: Permission denied
Home directory not accessible: Permission denied
# /etc/init.d/vmware restart
 * Starting VMware USB Arbitrator ...                                     [ !! ]
 * Starting VMware services ...
modprobe: WARNING: Module vmmon not found in directory /lib/modules/6.9.3-gentoo
modprobe: WARNING: Module vmnet not found in directory /lib/modules/6.9.3 [ !! ]
Started Bridge networking on vmnet0
Failed to enable hostonly virtual adapter on vmnet1
Failed to start DHCP service on vmnet1
Failed to start NAT service on vmnet8
Failed to enable hostonly virtual adapter on vmnet8
Failed to start DHCP service on vmnet8
Failed to start some/all services                                         [ !! ]
 * ERROR: vmware failed to start

There is a GUI message from vmware as well concerning the two missing modules. I'll try this method on kernel 6.9.1 as well. (I don't have 6.9.2).
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