Fixing Failed to Build vmmon Error When Installing VMware on Ubuntu 18.04

VMware is a widely used virtualization solution that allows users to run multiple operating systems on a single machine. However, when installing VMware on Ubuntu 18.04, you may encounter the “Failed to build vmmon” error. This error typically occurs due to incompatibility issues between VMware and the kernel version of Ubuntu. In this guide, we will provide detailed solutions to fix this error.

Solution 1: Patching the vmmon Module

The first solution involves patching the vmmon module. This process updates the module to be compatible with your current kernel version.

1. Download the patch script: Open a terminal and run the following command to download the patch script:

wget https://raw.githubusercontent.com/mkubecek/vmware-host-modules/fadedd9c8a4dd23f74da2b448572df95666dfe12/vmmon-only/linux/hostif.c.patch

The wget command is used to download files from the web. The URL following the wget command is the location of the patch script.

2. Navigate to the downloaded patch script: Use the cd command to navigate to the directory where the patch script is downloaded.
3. Apply the patch: Run the following command to apply the patch:

sudo patch -p0 -i hostif.c.patch

The patch command applies the patch to the vmmon module. The -p0 option tells the patch command to not strip any leading directories from the file names, and the -i option specifies the patch file.

4. Retry the VMware installation: After applying the patch, retry the VMware installation. If the error persists, proceed to the next solution.

Solution 2: Using a Script to Build and Install vmware-host-modules

This solution involves using a script to build and install the vmware-host-modules. This can help to resolve any issues with the vmmon module.

1. Create a new script file: Open a text editor and create a new file.
2. Copy and paste the script into the file: Copy and paste the following script into the file:

#!/bin/bash
VMWARE_VERSION=workstation-12.5.9
TMP_FOLDER=/tmp/patch-vmware
rm -fdr $TMP_FOLDER
mkdir -p $TMP_FOLDER
cd $TMP_FOLDER
git clone https://github.com/mkubecek/vmware-host-modules.git
cd $TMP_FOLDER/vmware-host-modules
git checkout $VMWARE_VERSION
git fetch
make
sudo make install
sudo rm /usr/lib/vmware/lib/libz.so.1/libz.so.1
sudo ln -s /lib/x86_64-linux-gnu/libz.so.1 /usr/lib/vmware/lib/libz.so.1/libz.so.1
sudo /etc/init.d/vmware restart

This script first sets the VMware version and temporary folder. It then removes any existing temporary folder and creates a new one. After that, it clones the vmware-host-modules from GitHub, checks out to the specified VMware version, and builds and installs the modules. Finally, it replaces the libz.so.1 library in the VMware directory with a symbolic link to the system’s libz.so.1 library, and restarts VMware.

3. Save the file with a .sh extension: For example, you can name it vmware-install.sh.
4. Make the script executable: Open a terminal and navigate to the directory where the script is saved. Run the following command to make the script executable:

chmod +x vmware-install.sh

The chmod command changes the permissions of the file. The +x option makes the file executable.

5. Execute the script: Run the following command to execute the script:

./vmware-install.sh

This command runs the script, which should fix the “Failed to build vmmon” error.

Solution 3: Downgrading the Kernel

If the above solutions do not work, you can consider downgrading the kernel to a version that is compatible with VMware. However, this solution is not recommended as it may cause compatibility issues with other software and system components.

Please note that these solutions are provided as suggestions and may not work in all cases. It is always recommended to refer to official documentation or seek assistance from the VMware or Ubuntu community for specific issues.

In conclusion, the “Failed to build vmmon” error when installing VMware on Ubuntu 18.04 can be resolved by patching the vmmon module, using a script to build and install vmware-host-modules, or downgrading the kernel. However, it is always best to keep your system and software up to date to avoid such errors.