Cannot install VMware Tools in a OpenSUSE 12.3 virtual machine

Products

• VMware Desktop Hypervisor

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• You are unable to install VMware Tools in an OpenSUSE 12.3 virtual machine
• Installing VMware Tools in an OpenSUSE 12.3 virtual machine fails
• Shared folders, Copy/Paste, and Drag & Drop functions do not work in an OpenSUSE 12.3 virtual machine
• vmhgfs and vmci modules fails to install during the installation of VMware Tools in a OpenSUSE 12.3 virtual machine

Environment

VMware Fusion Pro 10.x
VMware Workstation Pro 14.x (for Linux)
VMware Fusion 5.x
VMware Fusion Pro 8.x
VMware Workstation 9.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation Pro 15.x (Windows)
VMware Fusion 10.x
VMware Fusion 8.x
VMware Fusion 7.x
VMware Workstation 11.x (for Linux)
VMware Fusion 6.x
VMware Workstation Pro 15.x (Linux)
VMware Workstation 10.x (Linux)

Cause

This issue occurs if Easy Install is used to install the OpenSUSE 12.3 virtual machine. Easy Install option fails to install the Linux Kernel headers that are required to compile the vmhgfs and vmci modules. The Shared folders, Copy/Paste, and Drag & Drop functions not work if the vmhgfs and vmci modules are not installed.

Resolution

To resolve this issue, install the kernel source from YaST and then reinstall VMware Tools. This ensures that the missing sources required to compile the vmhgfs and vmci modules are available.

 

To install the kernel source from YaST and to install VMware Tools:

1. Start YaST and navigate to Software > Software Management to open the software manager.
2. Click View > Package Groups > Multiversion Packages to list all packages capable of providing multiple versions.
3. Select the kernel-source package and click its Version tab located at the bottom left pane.
4. To install the package, select the option. A green check mark appears, indicating that the package is selected for installation.
5. Click Accept to start the installation.
6. After the installation completes, reinstall VMware Tools in the virtual machine. For more information, see Installing VMware Tools in a Linux virtual machine using a Compiler (1018414).
7. Restart the virtual machine.

Additional Information

Installing VMware Tools in a Linux virtual machine using a Compiler