Guide to Installing VMware Workstation Pro on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS

The installation of VMware Workstation Pro on Ubuntu 22.04 LTS has become somewhat complex lately due to the absence of certain necessary packages and modules in the operating system, there might be some other issues related to it as well.

In this guide, I will demonstrate how to install VMware Workstation Pro on Ubuntu without encountering issues. Additionally, I will provide solutions for any errors you may encounter during the installation process. This step-by-step tutorial aims to ensure a smooth and trouble-free installation of VMware Workstation Pro on your Ubuntu system.

Lets get started..

1. To install VMware on Ubuntu, start by downloading the VMware bundle file for Ubuntu from the official website. Alternatively, you can use the provided link: VMware Workstation for Linux.

2. After downloading the file, open a new terminal and execute the given command to install the essential packages.

sudo apt install build-essential dkms

3.After executing the above command, go to the directory where you downloaded the VMware bundle files, and grant execute permissions to the file with the following command.

sudo chmod +x VMware-Workstation-Full-17.5.0-22583795.x86_64.bundle

4. Next, install the Workstation by executing the VMware bundle file using the following command.

sudo ./VMware-Workstation-Full-17.5.0-22583795.x86_64.bundle

5. Once the installation is finished, locate VMware Workstation in the applications menu. Open the application, choose the option “I accept the terms in the license agreement,” and click Next.

6. After clicking Next twice, now click on Finish to complete the process. Also enter the sudo password when you will be asked to enter after clicking Finish.

7. You will be able to see the welcome screen of Workstation Pro 17 now which would look similar to this image below.

8. Let’s proceed to activate the license by entering the key acquired through a legitimate purchase (or, let’s admit it, found on the internet 😜) — any valid and operational key will work.

Note: During the installation of the Workstation, you may come across a step where you have the option to input the license key. If you choose to provide the license key at this stage, you can subsequently bypass the following step.

9. To activate the license, simply click on “Help” in the top toolbar and choose “Enter Serial Number”.

10. Enter the serial number and click Ok.

11. And there you have it! A fully functional and licensed VMware Workstation Pro, ready for action.

But wait, the game is not over yet…

12. After the successful installation of Workstation, you may come across the following error message when attempting to create a new virtual machine.

The following error is caused because on a Linux host with secure mode enabled, it is not allowed to load any unsigned drivers. Due to this, VMware drivers, such as vmmon and vmnet, are not able to be loaded which prevents virtual machine to power on.

13. Let’s verify whether Secure Boot is indeed enabled on the system using the following command:

mokutil --sb-state

As indicated in the image, Secure Boot is currently enabled on our system, and we need to disable it to ensure proper functionality of the vmmon and vmnet drivers for VMware. Disabling Secure Boot is essential for seamless operation. Please follow the steps below:

1. Access UEFI/BIOS Settings: Restart the computer and enter the UEFI/BIOS settings. The key for access may vary (common keys include Esc, Del, F2, F10, or F12).
2. Locate Secure Boot Settings: Navigate to the section dedicated to Secure Boot in the UEFI/BIOS settings.
3. Disable Secure Boot: Change the Secure Boot status from ‘Enabled’ to ‘Disabled.’ Utilize arrow keys or equivalent navigation keys and confirm the selection if prompted.
4. Save and Exit: After disabling Secure Boot, locate the option to save changes and exit, typically found in the ‘Save & Exit’ or a similar menu. Confirm your choice to restart the system.

This action is necessary to resolve any compatibility issues with VMware drivers (vmmon and vmnet).

Lets try to create a virtual machine again without secure boot enabled and lets see.

Great news! The error is resolved, and you can now create a new virtual machine without any issues. If you have more questions or need further assistance, feel free to ask.

Happy virtual machine creation!

Thankyou:)