Member Avatar for mank

I can run Fedora on vmware, but I cant do "install vmware tools'
So I tried to run /usr/bin/ and this is what I got.
please help

None of the pre-built vmmon modules for VMware Server is suitable for your
running kernel. Do you want this program to try to build the vmmon module for
your system (you need to have a C compiler installed on your system)? [yes]

Using compiler "/usr/bin/gcc". Use environment variable CC to override.

Your kernel was built with "gcc" version "4.1.1", while you are trying to use
"/usr/bin/gcc" version "4.1.2". This configuration is not recommended and
VMware Server may crash if you'll continue. Please try to use exactly same
compiler as one used for building your kernel. Do you want to go with compiler
"/usr/bin/gcc" version "4.1.2" anyway? [no]

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Dani AI

Generated

This thread shows the classic cause: VMware needs to compile kernel modules inside the guest, and the build is failing (or being declined) because the guest lacks matching kernel headers/headers-built and there’s a compiler-version warning. ’s symptoms (vmware-config.pl asking to build vmmon, then the GUI “Install VMware Tools” doing nothing and the guest stuck at 800x600) are exactly what you get when the Tools ISO is mounted but the module build cannot run. The short, reliable plan is: install the build prerequisites that match your running kernel, mount the VMware Tools ISO in the guest, run the installer manually, then reboot.

Checklist and common fixes

  • Install development packages: a C compiler, make, perl and the kernel development files that exactly match uname -r. On CentOS/Fedora use your package manager to get gcc make perl kernel-headers kernel-devel (or the distro-equivalent).
  • Verify uname -r and make sure the kernel-devel package version matches that string; if not, install the correct kernel-devel or reboot into a kernel that does match.
  • If vmware-config.pl warns about a gcc micro-version mismatch (4.1.1 vs 4.1.2), small micro-version differences are often harmless; you can try building once. If you need strict match, install the compiler version used to build the kernel or point CC at the appropriate binary.

Quick manual install (run inside the guest)

sudo mount /dev/cdrom /mnt
cp /mnt/VMwareTools-*.tar.gz /tmp
sudo umount /mnt
cd /tmp
tar -zxvf VMwareTools-*.tar.gz
cd vmware-tools-distrib
sudo ./vmware-install.pl

Troubleshooting notes

  • If the RPM on the ISO is preferable, install it with rpm -Uvh /path/to/*.rpm. ’s RPM suggestion is valid when an RPM is present.
  • If the build fails, inspect the installer logs (look for vmware installer logs in /var/log or /tmp), fix missing headers or symbol errors, then retry.
  • After a successful install restart X or reboot the guest; the VMware tools daemon/service must be running for autosizing and resolution changes to work. For long-term ease, consider using your distro’s packaged open-vm-tools when available.

Recommended Answers

All 9 Replies

Member Avatar for John A

My recommendation would be to try building under gcc 4.1.2 anyway. To my knowledge, gcc 4.1.1 and gcc 4.1.2 aren't dramatically different, so it's quite likely the build will succeed anyway. If it doesn't, you'll probably end up having to recompile your kernel.

Member Avatar for DimaYasny

just try to compile it, nothing to lose really

Member Avatar for mank

The problem right now is that although Fedora Core works inside vmware
I cannot increase the screen resolution since I cannot install the vmware tools

when I press "install vmware tools then the initial window comes where I press Install
and after that nothing happens.

my current resolution is set to 800x600 and the window is so small that I cant work on it.

Please help, how can install the vmware tools currectly and enjoy Fedora.

Member Avatar for DimaYasny

download vmtools from vmware site, and rpm -ivh it

Member Avatar for mank

hi, when i goto vmware server this is what I get, by I dont know what to download from here
http://www.vmware.com/download/server/drivers_tools.html

btw I run XP in the vmware too, and I can install the vmware tools inside there
but I cant do it for Fedora

Member Avatar for linux

hi, when i goto vmware server this is what I get, by I dont know what to download from here
http://www.vmware.com/download/server/drivers_tools.html

btw I run XP in the vmware too, and I can install the vmware tools inside there
but I cant do it for Fedora

It might be the image you're using.

Member Avatar for John A

As far as I know, there isn't a way to directly download the vmware-tools package. From VMware Server, when you choose "install VMware tools", it should automatically mount the vmware-tools CD image under your regular CD device (and in many distros, this means the VMware tools CD will appear on the desktop, I don't know if this holds true in CentOS). From there, using the command line, you should be able to use your RPM tools to install it.

Member Avatar for DimaYasny

it should appear in centos. anyhow, the iso file should be somewhere in the vmware directory, and it is quite simple to mount it manually and use the RPM files on it

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