After much testing, over several weeks, the ‘get_user_pages‘ solution for Kernels 6.5 and later is now in the default patchset, at: https://github.com/mkubecek/vmware-host-modules/tree/workstation-17.0.2 . For more details, see the comments at the start of the patch code for the vmmon changes.. vmmon: use get_user_pages to get page PFN Robert Gadsdon. September 30th 2023. … Continue reading →
As there is almost always a need to apply the most recent patchset to releases of VMware vmmon/vmnet to support the latest kernels, it might be useful to document a process for making this (relatively..) easy: VMMON and VMNET are picked up during the vmware-modconfig… command, from /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source, and this process expects to find vmmon.tar and vmnet.tar … Continue reading →
Kernel 6.5 is due to be released soon, but there has been an ongoing issue with vmmon, and there is now a workaround/fix included with the updated patchset, at https://github.com/mkubecek/vmware-host-modules/tree/tmp/workstation-17.0.2-k6.5 I have tested this with Kernel 6.5-rc7, and everything appears to work as it should.. There may be other changes in the future, as the solution is … Continue reading →
Thanks to Jeff Chua, there is a practical workaround for vmmon with Kernel 6.5, and this can be found at: https://github.com/jeffersonchua/linux-6.5.0/blob/main/patch-17.0.2-6.5.0 My apologies to Jeff, for the WordPress mangling of code in his previous comments on my earlier article… I have applied this patch, and VMware Workstation 17.0.2 now loads/runs OK with Kernel 6.5-rc5 on my test system.. … Continue reading →
Updated to Kernel 6.5-rc5, and – as expected – vmmon still fails to compile: CC [M] /tmp/modconfig-s9HCQR/vmmon-only/bootstrap/vmmblob.o LD [M] /tmp/modconfig-s9HCQR/vmmon-only/vmmon.o MODPOST /tmp/modconfig-s9HCQR/vmmon-only/Module.symvers ERROR: modpost: “__pte_offset_map” [/tmp/modconfig-s9HCQR/vmmon-only/vmmon.ko] undefined! make[3]: *** [scripts/Makefile.modpost:144: /tmp/modconfig-s9HCQR/vmmon-only/Module.symvers] Error 1 make[2]: *** [/usr/src/linux-6.5-rc5/Makefile:1984: modpost] Error 2 make[1]: *** [Makefile:234: __sub-make] Error 2 make[1]: Leaving directory ‘/usr/src/linux-6.5-rc5’ make: *** [Makefile:117: vmmon.ko] Error 2 I did … Continue reading →
I had been struggling for some considerable time with guest (Win10) performance issues with VMware – including application (Photoshop CS6) ‘freezing’ for a time, and overall very sluggish responses.. I had found several articles that suggested cause/effect/fix for this, but none really worked.. I made changes to control khugepaged: …………………….. [root@rglinux820 ~]$ echo never | tee /sys/kernel/mm/transparent_hugepage/defrag … Continue reading →
VMware have released Workstation Pro 16.2.0, and details are here: https://docs.vmware.com/en/VMware-Workstation-Pro/16.2.0/rn/VMware-Workstation-1620-Pro-Release-Notes.html Compiles – with multiple warnings – with Kernel 5.15-rc5: # vmware-modconfig –console –install-all [AppLoader] GLib does not have GSettings support. Stopping vmware (via systemctl): [ OK ] make: Entering directory ‘/tmp/modconfig-sAzCOh/vmmon-only’ Using kernel build system. /usr/bin/make -C /lib/modules/5.15.0-rc5/build/include/.. M=$PWD SRCROOT=$PWD/. \ MODULEBUILDDIR= modules make[1]: Entering directory … Continue reading →
I have been carrying out some preliminary tests to see how feasible it is to compile the Linux Kernel, and NVIDIA drivers, and VMware, using the ‘alternative’ to GCC – CLANG.. The kernel compile is relatively easy, and well documented: # make CC=clang HOSTCC=clang -j8 (for a 4-core system) The compile seems to be slower than GCC, … Continue reading →
With thanks to huyz for the notification – there is now a patch from baryonix available for VMware 15.5.6 and Kernel 5.8.. The patch is available here: https://github.com/baryonix/vmware-host-modules/tree/fixes-for-5.8 I have – briefly – tested this with Kernel 5.8.5, and it was successful.. As the usual # vmware and # vmware-modconfig still segfault, then vmmon/vmnet have to be … Continue reading →
Since the release of Kernel 5.8-rc1, any attempt I made to run a VMware client on that host system has failed catastrophically. ( see http://rglinuxtech.com/?p=2753 ) and the problem still persists, with 5.8-rc6. I had posted brief details of the issue on the VMware forum some weeks ago, but there has been no useful response. https://communities.vmware.com/thread/638457 I … Continue reading →