VMware Workstation will not work on RHEL 7.4
 

Guys,
We are having some issues where VMWare Workstation will not start and get the "unable to start services" error.

The workaround for our RHEL 7.3 users is to boot to a previous kernel, and it will load VMWare. However, we are now instructed to use 7.4 (3.10.0-693.el7.x86_64) and when we build new 7.4 machines, we cannot get VMware to work.

We have tried several fixes with netif.c but nothing I'm googling is helping. We tried to open a case with VMWare but they said RHEL 7.4 isn't supported and we'd need to roll back to 7.1. Unacceptable.

I'm attaching a log file and a screenshot. If any of you have been able to get this to work, we'd be grateful.

(bold added for emphasis)

Sorry, but I'm not sure what you'd like us to tell you. If VMWare support is telling you that 7.4 isn't supported....then it's not. Have you contacted Red Hat support as well??? VMWare just may not support that version of RHEL yet...there is a person on the VMWare site that says they have a 'hack' that will make it work...but anything involving kludging things together on a supported platform (RHEL/VMWare) is certain to cause other issues.

I'm just curious as to if anyone out there has a patch thats working. Surely we're not the only ones having issues using RHEL 7.4 with VMWare Workstation 12.5.7. I have several VMWare patches I've gathered over the years, but none are them are working with this kernel.

It may be time for us to look at Virtualbox and even KVM, because we cannot run RHEL 7.1 any longer.
We have not contacted RHEL support yet, so thats a thought.

Out of curiosity, why can't you run RHEL 7.1? It's pretty new...but 7.4 is absolutely current, and the VMWare folks probably haven't finished QA on it for 7.4 yet. I'd say the goal should be to have stability on your servers long-term, and wouldn't bother with the most current stuff until it's been tested/verified, and you're in a supported environment.

Much better idea: VirtualBox!!

Most editions of VMWare are more or less a "hobbled horse." VirtualBox is not. All the features that you expect are there, and you don't have to pay extra ... you don't have to pay anything ... to get them.

It's time to switch to KVM.
I am very happy with it. It is much more than vmware.
Mine memo: KVM recepies to read.

I hear ya. I need to set it up and test since we have so many issues with VMware Workstation.

I did find a patch for VMware Workstation 12.5.7 to work on RHEL 7.4.
See the post by "dariusd". He attached the patch and it works great.
https://communities.vmware.com/thread/567498

For the record: VirtualBox is also free-of-charge and is available for a number of different host platforms. It is also backed by one of the largest (and wealthiest) software corporations in the world: Oracle. Unlike VMWare, it is not a "hobbled horse."

So, between it and KVM, you have excellent ways to tell VMWare to go packing. :)

Thanks guys. I am all for it. Its just I'd have to convince management and of course our users. We shall see.

Yes, that link explains it all. https://communities.vmware.com/thread/567498

VMware is a solid product usually. All distros seem to have problems using latest kernels and vm's (just my opinion).

Work around
 

I upgraded and ran into this problem I kept the upgrade but went back one kernel so 7.4 with the following kernel 3.10.0-514.26.2.el7.x86_64 also running the NVIDIA Driver 3.10.0-514.26.2.el7.x86_64 this version does not work with the new Kernel I had to upgrade to 3.10.0-514.26.2.el7.x86_64 for the new Kernel but then the VMWare issue ...GRR at least its working so try installing 7.3 then upgrade to 7.4 then down grade the Kernel to 3.10.0-514.26.2.el7.x86_64