Failed to start vmware.service - SYSV

[vrumjantsev]

My host is running Fedora 37 with kernel 6.2.12-200.fc37.x86_64 and VMware workstation 17.0.2, secure boot is enabled and host modules are signed and installed.

while running sudo vmware-modconfig --console --install-all i'm getting such output

[AppLoader] GLib does not have GSettings support.
Stopping vmware (via systemctl):                           [  OK  ]
make: Entering directory '/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only'
Using kernel build system.
/usr/bin/make -C /lib/modules/6.2.12-200.fc37.x86_64/build/include/.. M=$PWD SRCROOT=$PWD/. \
  MODULEBUILDDIR= modules
make[1]: Entering directory '/usr/src/kernels/6.2.12-200.fc37.x86_64'
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/linux/driver.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/linux/driverLog.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/linux/hostif.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/apic.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/comport.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/cpuid.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/crosspage.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/memtrack.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/moduleloop.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/phystrack.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/sharedAreaVmmon.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/statVarsVmmon.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/task.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/vmx86.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/bootstrap/bootstrap.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/bootstrap/monLoader.o
/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/crosspage.o: warning: objtool: CrossPage_CodePage+0x207: 'naked' return found in RETHUNK build
/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/crosspage.o: warning: objtool: CrossPage_CodePage+0x207: missing int3 after ret
/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/bootstrap/monLoader.c: In function ‘MonLoader_Process’:
/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/bootstrap/monLoader.c:794:24: warning: the comparison will always evaluate as ‘false’ for the address of ‘entries’ will never be NULL [-Waddress]
  794 |    if (header->entries == 0 || header->count == 0) {
      |                        ^~
In file included from /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/bootstrap/monLoader.c:57:
/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/./include/monLoader.h:239:19: note: ‘entries’ declared here
  239 |    MonLoaderEntry entries[];
      |                   ^~~~~~~
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/bootstrap/monLoaderVmmon.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/bootstrap/vmmblob.o
/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/phystrack.o: warning: objtool: PhysTrack_Free() falls through to next function PhysTrack_Add()
/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/phystrack.o: warning: objtool: PhysTrack_Add() falls through to next function PhysTrack_Remove()
/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/phystrack.o: warning: objtool: PhysTrack_Remove() falls through to next function PhysTrack_Test()
In file included from /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/./include/cpu_types.h:29,
                 from /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/./include/modulecall.h:33,
                 from /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/moduleloop.c:33:
/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/./include/vm_basic_defs.h:779: warning: "DO_ONCE" redefined
  779 | #define DO_ONCE(code)                                                   \
      | 
In file included from ./include/linux/prandom.h:12,
                 from ./include/linux/random.h:153,
                 from ./include/linux/nodemask.h:97,
                 from ./include/linux/sched.h:23,
                 from /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/moduleloop.c:31:
./include/linux/once.h:46: note: this is the location of the previous definition
   46 | #define DO_ONCE(func, ...)                                                   \
      | 
In file included from /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/./include/cpu_types.h:29,
                 from /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/./include/modulecall.h:33,
                 from /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/vmx86.h:33,
                 from /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/vmx86.c:38:
/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/./include/vm_basic_defs.h:779: warning: "DO_ONCE" redefined
  779 | #define DO_ONCE(code)                                                   \
      | 
In file included from ./include/linux/prandom.h:12,
                 from ./include/linux/random.h:153,
                 from ./include/linux/nodemask.h:97,
                 from ./include/linux/sched.h:23,
                 from /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/vmx86.c:31:
./include/linux/once.h:46: note: this is the location of the previous definition
   46 | #define DO_ONCE(func, ...)                                                   \
      | 
In file included from /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/./include/cpu_types.h:29,
                 from /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/./include/modulecall.h:33,
                 from /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/linux/hostif.c:58:
/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/./include/vm_basic_defs.h:779: warning: "DO_ONCE" redefined
  779 | #define DO_ONCE(code)                                                   \
      | 
In file included from ./include/linux/prandom.h:12,
                 from ./include/linux/random.h:153,
                 from ./include/linux/nodemask.h:97,
                 from ./include/linux/sched.h:23,
                 from ./include/linux/binfmts.h:5,
                 from /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/linux/hostif.c:31:
./include/linux/once.h:46: note: this is the location of the previous definition
   46 | #define DO_ONCE(func, ...)                                                   \
      | 
In file included from /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/./include/cpu_types.h:29,
                 from /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/./include/modulecall.h:33,
                 from /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/./common/vmx86.h:33,
                 from /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/linux/driver.h:32,
                 from /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:47:
/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/./include/vm_basic_defs.h:779: warning: "DO_ONCE" redefined
  779 | #define DO_ONCE(code)                                                   \
      | 
In file included from ./include/linux/prandom.h:12,
                 from ./include/linux/random.h:153,
                 from ./include/linux/nodemask.h:97,
                 from ./include/linux/list_lru.h:12,
                 from ./include/linux/fs.h:13,
                 from ./include/linux/highmem.h:5,
                 from /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:25:
./include/linux/once.h:46: note: this is the location of the previous definition
   46 | #define DO_ONCE(func, ...)                                                   \
      | 
/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/common/task.o: warning: objtool: .text: unexpected end of section
  LD [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/vmmon.o
  MODPOST /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/Module.symvers
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/vmmon.mod.o
  LD [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/vmmon.ko
  BTF [M] /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/vmmon.ko
Skipping BTF generation for /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only/vmmon.ko due to unavailability of vmlinux
make[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/kernels/6.2.12-200.fc37.x86_64'
/usr/bin/make -C $PWD SRCROOT=$PWD/. \
  MODULEBUILDDIR= postbuild
make[1]: Entering directory '/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only'
make[1]: 'postbuild' is up to date.
make[1]: Leaving directory '/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only'
cp -f vmmon.ko ./../vmmon.o
make: Leaving directory '/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmmon-only'
make: Entering directory '/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmnet-only'
Using kernel build system.
/usr/bin/make -C /lib/modules/6.2.12-200.fc37.x86_64/build/include/.. M=$PWD SRCROOT=$PWD/. \
  MODULEBUILDDIR= modules
make[1]: Entering directory '/usr/src/kernels/6.2.12-200.fc37.x86_64'
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmnet-only/driver.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmnet-only/hub.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmnet-only/userif.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmnet-only/netif.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmnet-only/bridge.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmnet-only/procfs.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmnet-only/smac_compat.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmnet-only/smac.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmnet-only/vnetEvent.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmnet-only/vnetUserListener.o
/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmnet-only/userif.o: warning: objtool: VNetCsumCopyDatagram+0x57: call to csum_partial_copy_nocheck() with UACCESS enabled
  LD [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmnet-only/vmnet.o
  MODPOST /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmnet-only/Module.symvers
  CC [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmnet-only/vmnet.mod.o
  LD [M]  /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmnet-only/vmnet.ko
  BTF [M] /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmnet-only/vmnet.ko
Skipping BTF generation for /tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmnet-only/vmnet.ko due to unavailability of vmlinux
make[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/kernels/6.2.12-200.fc37.x86_64'
/usr/bin/make -C $PWD SRCROOT=$PWD/. \
  MODULEBUILDDIR= postbuild
make[1]: Entering directory '/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmnet-only'
make[1]: 'postbuild' is up to date.
make[1]: Leaving directory '/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmnet-only'
cp -f vmnet.ko ./../vmnet.o
make: Leaving directory '/tmp/modconfig-zdRfV2/vmnet-only'
Starting vmware (via systemctl):  Job for vmware.service failed because the control process exited with error code.
See "systemctl status vmware.service" and "journalctl -xeu vmware.service" for details.
                                                           [FAILED]
Unable to start services

systemctl status vmware.service -l output

× vmware.service - SYSV: This service starts and stops VMware services
Loaded: loaded (/etc/rc.d/init.d/vmware; generated)
Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Fri 2023-04-28 21:14:46 EEST; 3min 11s ago
Docs: man:systemd-sysv-generator(8)
Process: 9284 ExecStart=/etc/rc.d/init.d/vmware start (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE)
Tasks: 1 (limit: 154246)
Memory: 7.5M
CPU: 110ms
CGroup: /system.slice/vmware.service
└─3073 /usr/sbin/vmware-authdlauncher

Apr 28 21:14:46 fedora vmware[9284]: VM communication interface socket family[ OK ]
Apr 28 21:14:46 fedora vmware[9284]: Virtual ethernet[FAILED]
Apr 28 21:14:46 fedora vmware[9284]: VMware Authentication Daemon[ OK ]
Apr 28 21:14:46 fedora systemd[1]: vmware.service: Control process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Apr 28 21:14:46 fedora systemd[1]: vmware.service: Failed with result 'exit-code'.
Apr 28 21:14:46 fedora systemd[1]: vmware.service: Unit process 3073 (vmware-authdlau) remains running after unit stopped.
Apr 28 21:14:46 fedora systemd[1]: vmware.service: Unit process 9321 (vmware-authdlau) remains running after unit stopped.
Apr 28 21:14:46 fedora systemd[1]: vmware.service: Unit process 9322 (logger) remains running after unit stopped.
Apr 28 21:14:46 fedora systemd[1]: vmware.service: Unit process 9325 (sh) remains running after unit stopped.
Apr 28 21:14:46 fedora systemd[1]: Failed to start vmware.service - SYSV: This service starts and stops VMware services.

I've tried to reinstall both vmware and host modules with signing them again, but still not succeed

[mkubecek]

Your report is rather inconsistent. First you say "host modules are signed and installed" and then you talk about build errors with vmware-modconfig. Please read the INSTALL file carefully: you either build and install the modules yourself or replace the tarballs in /usr/lib/vmware with patched source and run vmware-modconfig. This looks as if you first built and installed the patched modules but then ran vmware-modconfig (without replacing the tarballs) so that it built the original unpatched modules from VMware.

[vrumjantsev]

I've followed First method (build and install): from INSTALL but still getting such error while trying to start VM

Could not open /dev/vmmon: No such file or directory.
Please make sure that the kernel module `vmmon' is loaded.

after that i've tried to repair it through vmware-modconfig , but yes, i have missed the moving tarballs part

replaced them and it's solved now