Running the vmware-config-tools.pl script on a Linux host fails due to kernel version mismatch
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Running the vmware-config-tools.pl script on a Linux host fails due to kernel version mismatch

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Article ID: 311346

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Updated On: 11-04-2024

Products

VMware Desktop Hypervisor

Issue/Introduction

  • When trying to run the vmware-config-tools.pl script, you are prompted that no pre-built modules exist for the running kernel.
  • When you choose to compile, one or more modules fail to compile with an error message similar to:

    Unable to make a vmnet module that can be loaded in the running kernel:
    insmod: error inserting '/tmp/vmware-config4/vmnet.o': -1 File exists
    There is probably a slight difference in the kernel configuration between the set of C header files you specified and your running kernel. You may want to rebuild a kernel based on that directory, or specify another directory.

Environment

  • VMware Workstation 11.x (for Linux)
  • VMware Workstation 6.x (Linux)
  • VMware Workstation 10.x (Linux)
  • VMware Workstation 7.x (Linux)
  • VMware Workstation 9.x (Linux)
  • VMware Workstation 8.x (Linux)

Cause

This issue is due to a kernel mismatch. It is not caused by VMware Workstation or VMware Tools. The error indicates that you have a newer kernel installed than the kernel you are currently running.

Resolution

To ensure that you are running the latest kernel you have installed:
  1. Confirm your current kernel version with the command:

    uname -a
     
  2. Check the current kernel version against the default value for your kernel headers shown by the vmware-config-tools.pl script.

    For example:
    • uname -a shows kernel version 2.6.9-5.EL-i686smp
    • The script suggests this default location lib/modules/2.6.9-78.0.17.ELsmp/build/include
    • You are running kernel version 2.6.9-5, rather than kernel version 2.6.9-78
       
  3. Reboot the Linux machine. At the boot loader screen, choose to load the latest kernel.
  4. Rerun the vmware-config-tools.pl script. Now that you are running the latest installed kernel, the compile completes successfully.