Vmware

See also: VirtualBox — Vmware — Kvm — Qemu

Install

Linux guests

After install, you must install:

• Either VMWare tools, which comes as an ISO file downloaded on request by VMWare.
• Or, which is recommended, install open-source package open-vm-tools (and package open-vm-tools-desktop for GUI environment):

sudo apt install open-vm-tools
sudo apt install open-vm-tools-desktop   # If using Xfce, Gnome...

Tips

Enable copy-paste in Linux GUI guests

Install package open-vm-tools-desktop to enable copy-paste in Xfce / Gnome:

sudo apt install open-vm-tools-desktop   # If using Xfce, Gnome...

Mount shared folders

• First, install VM tools, or on Linux guest, install package open-vm-tools.

sudo apt install open-vm-tools

• Then create a shared folder in the VM settings.

To mount the shared folders in the guest [1]:

sudo vmhgfs-fuse .host:/ /mnt/hgfs -o allow_other -o uid=0

For mount this at started, add to /etc/fstab:

# Use shared folders between VMWare guest and host
.host:/    /mnt/hgfs/    fuse.vmhgfs-fuse    defaults,allow_other,uid=0     0    0

Some say the share has an impact on the VM performance. In that case, use option noauto:

# Use shared folders between VMWare guest and host
.host:/    /mnt/hgfs/    fuse.vmhgfs-fuse    defaults,allow_other,uid=0,noauto     0    0

Then mount the share manually with sudo mount /mnt/hgfs.

Notes

• VMWare mounts the share automatically when it is created and the VM is running. If the VM was off, first power on the VM, then disable and enable back the shared folders. However this has to be done everytime the VM is rebooted.
• Don't forget to exclude shared folders from locate / mlocate scan.

Compile modules vmmon / vmnet on recent kernels

See https://github.com/mkubecek/vmware-host-modules.git.

Enable 3D acceleration (No 3D support is available from the host / Hardware graphics acceleration is not available)

Add to ~/.vmware/preferences [2]:

mks.gl.allowBlacklistedDrivers = "TRUE"

Hide Menu Bar in Guest

Edit .vmware/preferences [3]:

pref.vmplayer.fullscreen.nobar = "TRUE"

Exclude shared folders from mlocate scan

Assuming the shared folders are mounted on /mnt/hgfs, edit /etc/updatedb.conf and add /mnt/hgfs to pruned dir list:

-PRUNEPATHS="/tmp /var/spool /media /var/lib/os-prober /var/lib/ceph"
+PRUNEPATHS="/tmp /var/spool /media /var/lib/os-prober /var/lib/ceph /mnt/hgfs"

Enable network promiscuous mode on Debian

Create file /etc/systemd/system/vmware-promiscuous.service:

[Unit]
Description=Enable vmware promiscuous mode
After=vmware.service

[Service]
Type=oneshot
ExecStart=/bin/bash -c "chgrp vmnet /dev/vmnet0; chmod g+rw /dev/vmnet0"
ExecStop=/bin/bash -c "chgrp root /dev/vmnet0; chmod g-rw /dev/vmnet0"
RemainAfterExit=yes

[Install]
WantedBy=multi-user.target

Then enable and start it:

sudo systemctl enable vmware-promiscuous.service
sudo systemctl start vmware-promiscuous.service

Note:

• vmware.service is a generated service, generated by systemd-sysv-generator from /etc/init.d/vmware. Unit file is found in /run/systemd/generator.late/vmware.service.

Enable symbolic links in Shared Folders on Windows Guest

Solution from VMWare KB.

Assume the following entries in the VMX file:

sharedFolder0.hostPath = "/users/test"
sharedFolder0.guestName = "share"
sharedFolder0.expiration = "never"

To enable symlinks, add:

sharedFolder0.followSymlinks = "TRUE"

Fix operation not permitted when loading kernel modules

sudo modprobe vmnet
# ... : operation not permitted

The simplest fix is to disable secure boot in the bios. Alternatively, the new modules must be signed locally.

Disable clipboard integration in VMWare Player

Add to .vmx file (VM powered off):

isolation.tools.copy.disable = "true"
isolation.tools.paste.disable = "true"

Flickering / stuttering mouse in remote desktop connection (RDP)

• Symptom: When using a Windows RDP, the mouse pointer in a virtual machine flickers / stutters / moves back and forth on screen.
• See https://communities.vmware.com/t5/VMware-Workstation-Pro/VMware-Workstation-15-1-mouse-issue-with-RDP-and-Windows-10-1903/td-p/2227175/page/2
• This seems related to Win 10, 1903 or 1909 update, and using WDDM instead of XDDM.
• Fix: In remote host system (the controlled system), change the policy of the host:

GPEDIT.msc
Local Computer Policy
Computer Configuration
  Administrative Templates
   Windows Components
    Remote Desktop Service
     Remote Desktop Session Host
       Remote Session Environment
        Use WDDM graphics display driver for Remote Desktop Connections  to DISABLED