You are unable to license VMware Workstation for Linux

Products

• VMware Desktop Hypervisor

Issue/Introduction

Symptoms:

• The Enter License Key button does not display in the license key entry field when you select Help> Enter License > Step 2: Enter license key.
• After installing a trial version of VMware Workstation for Linux, you are unable to enter a license key.

 

Environment

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

Cause

In some instances, installing from the command line using sudo does not elevate the installation to the correct permissions. As a result, the license key entry field is not presented.

Resolution

To resolve the issue, you must manually invoke the serial number entry.

To manually invoke the serial number entry:

1. Open a terminal window. For more information, see Opening a command or shell prompt (1003892).
2. Run this command to open the Enter License Key dialog:
   
   sudo /usr/lib/vmware/bin/vmware-enter-serial

 

To ensure this issue does not occur on a new installation, use these best practices:

• When installing Workstation for Linux, log in as root (and not just using sudo privileges).
• For Ubuntu, from a console, type:
  
  sudo su
   
• Enter your password when prompted, then proceed with the installation of VMware Workstation:
• For other Linux distros, from a console, type:
  
  su
  
  Note: Installing from a root console rather than from a console with sudo privileges ensures that the license entry box is presented correctly.

Additional Information

Opening a command or shell prompt