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Asked: 2024-09-26T19:26:58+05:30 In:

I am encountering issues with starting services like vmmon and vmnet after installing Ubuntu 16 or 18.04. What steps can I take to resolve this problem?

I’ve been having a pretty frustrating time trying to get my virtual machine services to kick off after I installed Ubuntu 16.04 (or maybe it was 18.04? Honestly, it feels like a blur at this point). So, I fired up VMware, all excited to get my projects rolling, only to find that both vmmon and vmnet are just not starting up. It’s like they’ve decided to go on strike or something!

I did some searching online, and it seems like I’m not the only one running into this issue. Lots of folks have mentioned having similar hiccups when trying to get these services running on Ubuntu. Some even suggested that it could be kernel module-related, which honestly sounds pretty technical and complicated. Who knew that a few versions of Ubuntu could be so picky about virtual machine services?

Before dropping a ton of time googling random fixes, I thought I’d ask if anyone here has dealt with this before. I’ve tried rebooting a couple of times (classic IT move, right?), and I also checked to see if my user has the right permissions, because, you know, Ubuntu can be pretty finicky about that. But still, no luck.

I also read something about needing to install additional packages or perhaps having to run specific commands in the terminal to load these modules. If anyone has a step-by-step guide that doesn’t make my head spin, I’m all ears.

Plus, I’m a bit anxious about potentially breaking something while trying to fix this. Last time I got into tweaking kernel modules, I ended up having to reinstall the OS altogether, and I definitely do not want a repeat of that nightmare!

So if you’ve navigated this maze before and can offer any advice or a straightforward checklist of things to try, I would really appreciate it! I’m all about getting back to work with my virtual machines, so help me out! What steps should I prioritize to get vmmon and vmnet up and running?

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    2 Answers

    1. Dealing with virtual machine service issues on Ubuntu can indeed be quite frustrating, especially when kernel modules like vmmon and vmnet refuse to start. First, ensure that you have installed the VMware Workstation or VMware Player that is compatible with your current version of Ubuntu. Sometimes after an OS upgrade, these services won’t start due to kernel incompatibilities. To resolve this, you can manually compile the VMware kernel modules by running the command:
      sudo vmware-modconfig --console --install-all. This command should help in rebuilding any necessary modules, so they align with the current running kernel. If you still encounter issues, verify that the required development packages for building kernel modules are installed by running:
      sudo apt install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r).

      In addition, check your user’s permissions to ensure they are added to the necessary groups that allow VMware services to run. You can do this by executing:
      sudo usermod -aG vmware $(whoami), followed by logging out and logging back in again. If problems persist, a helpful approach is to check the logs for any specific error messages that can be found in /var/log/vmware-vmsvc.log. Reviewing these logs can provide better insights into what is going wrong. As always, ensure you’re taking necessary backups before making significant changes to your system, to avoid scenarios like having to reinstall your OS. When you’re ready to get your virtualization environment back up, these checks and adjustments should hopefully get vmmon and vmnet running smoothly.

    2. Getting vmmon and vmnet Services Running on Ubuntu

      First off, it’s totally understandable to feel frustrated—VMware can be a bit of a headache sometimes, especially on Ubuntu.

      Here’s a simple checklist to get you started:

      1. Install Required Packages:

        Make sure you have the necessary build tools. Open your terminal and run:

        sudo apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r)

      2. Reconfigure VMware:

        After installing the above packages, try reconfiguring VMware with:

        sudo vmware-modconfig --console --install-all

      3. Check for Updates:

        Sometimes VMware might not play nice with your current kernel. Ensure you have the latest version of VMware that supports your Ubuntu version. Check their website for any updates!

      4. Load the Modules Manually:

        If the above steps don’t work, try manually loading the modules. Run:

        sudo modprobe vmmon
        sudo modprobe vmnet

      5. Permissions Check:

        Double-check that your user is added to the vmware group:

        sudo usermod -aG vmware $(whoami)

        Log out and back in after this change.

      6. Reboot:

        Give your machine a good reboot after making these changes. Sometimes a fresh start is all it takes!

      Important Note:

      Backup your important data regularly in case anything goes sideways while you’re working on this. Better safe than sorry, right?

      If All Else Fails:

      If nothing seems to work, consider checking the VMware community forums or even reaching out to their support. They can be quite helpful!

      Good luck! You’ve got this!

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