Applications using VMware tools 12.5 is crashing

Products

• VMware vSphere ESXi 7.0
• VMware vSphere ESXi 8.0

Issue/Introduction

• Any OpenGL applications using VMware tools 12.5 version crashes.
• Faulting module is C:\Windows\System32\vm3dgl64.dll

Environment

VMware Tools 12.5

Cause

Llvmpipe which is used for OpenGL application is not unloading properly.

Resolution

This is a known issue and currently there is no resolution.

To workaround this issue set a system environment variable SVGA_ALLOW_LLVMPIPE=0

Below are the steps to set the variable.

1. Click Start or Windows button (or press Windows key in the keyboard).
2. In the Search box start typing System Environment Variable.
3. Click Edit the system environment variable from the search results.
4. In the System Properties window Advanced tab click 'Environment Variables...' button at bottom right.
5. In the System Variables section locate for the Path variable and click New... button to open the New System Variable window. 
6. Enter the above system environment variable Name and value in the 'Variable Name' and 'Variable value' box in the 'Edit System Variable' window and click OK to save the value.
7. Click OK to close the 'Environment Variables...' window.
8. Click OK or Cancel to close the 'System Properties' window.

The Path environment variable is now set.

Additional Information

- In few scenario, The application will crash even after adding the environment variable " SVGA_ALLOW_LLVMPIPE=0" on Windows VM. 

- For those situation, ,Make sure to update the device display adaptor version to 9.17.9.4. 

•  On Windows VM --------------- Go to Device Manager--------Display Adaptor -----------Right click on the adapter ------Properties ---------The driver Version should be 9.17.9.4.