Applies to: Kali Linux 2.0 Sana, VMware Workstation 11/12
Legacy guide: This article preserves the original 2015 procedure for installing VMware Workstation 11/12 on Kali Linux 2.0 Sana. Current Kali releases and current VMware Workstation versions use a newer installation and kernel-module workflow.
For current Kali Linux, use the official Installing VMware on Kali (Host) guide. It covers current package requirements, kernel headers, VMware kernel modules and troubleshooting.
This step-by-step tutorial documents how VMware Workstation was installed on Kali Linux 2.0 Sana. The original issue behind the article was VMware Workstation 11 failing because the required Kali kernel headers were not available to build the VMware kernel modules. The screenshots and commands below are preserved for that historical environment.
VMware Workstation is a hosted desktop hypervisor for running virtual machines on Windows and Linux hosts. Current Workstation Pro releases are available free for commercial, educational and personal use. Downloads are provided through the Broadcom Support Portal. See Broadcom KB 368667 for current download and licensing information.
VMware Workstation Installation Steps on Kali Linux 2.0 Sana
Step 1: Update your Kali Linux and Install Required Packages for VMware Workstation
1. Login into your server as root or non-root user with sudo privileges and run the following commands to keep your system up-to-date.
apt-get update && apt-get upgrade -y
2. Run the commands below to install required packages for VMware Workstation to run properly.
apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r`
Step 2: Download VMware Workstation Binaries
1. This historical guide used the VMware Workstation 11 Linux bundle, such as VMware-Workstation-Full-11.0.0-2305329.x86_64.bundle. Current VMware Workstation downloads are distributed through the Broadcom Support Portal, so do not use the old VMware download location shown in 2015-era guides.
2. Go to the directory which contains the VMware Workstation binary file. File looks like “VMware-Workstation-Full-11.1.2-2780323.x86_64.bundle”.
3. Give execute permission for this installer file.
chmod +x VMware-Workstation-Full*.bundle
Step 3: Install VMWare Workstation on Kali Linux 2.0 Sana
1. Next, run the command below to begin the installation of VMware Workstation inside Kali Linux 2
./VMware-Workstation-Full-11*.bundle
2. Once the installer is running, you see the following window the screen.
Accept the license agreement to continue.
3. Accept the license agreement again to continue.
4. You can accept the default on this screen
5. Choose which admin user for Workstation Server. You can go with the default value.
6. Choose directory for shared virtual machines or accept the default value.
7. You can simply accept the default port 443 for Workstation Server.
8. In VMware Workstation 11, the installer asked for a license key or allowed the product to run in trial mode. This applies to the historical version shown in these screenshots. Current Workstation Pro releases no longer require a paid license for normal commercial, educational or personal use.
9. Click Install to start the VMware Workstation installation on Kali
10. Once you see “Installation was sucessfull” message, you can click Close button to exit the installer.
Step 4: Running VMWare Workstation on Kali Linux 2.0 Sana
After installing, go to Unity Dash and launch VMware workstation
Congratulations, you’ve just successfully installed VMware Workstation on Kali Linux 2.0 Sana. I hope this article is helpful for you. If you liked it or found useful, feel free to like or share it.
Cloud and infrastructure professional with nearly two decades of experience in enterprise IT environments, spanning public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid architectures.
thanks!
You’re welcome.
Muchas gracias… Thank you very much!!!
You’re welcome. It’s nice to see that you found this ” VMware Workstation Installation on Kali Linux” tutorial helpful.
Thank you so much for this. Been trying to find out how to do this for a while now
Thanks a lot!
It got installed successfully but doesn’t run . It says, “C header files matching your kernel were not found” and “Kernel headers for version 4.0.0-amd64 were not found”Please help! Running VMWare Workstation Pro 12.0 on Kali Linux 2 .
There is updated video instructions for Installing Kali Linux 2016 in VMware Workstation. You can check it out at this url https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-b2kP9Y654s
I asked about how to install VMWare in Kali and not vice versa
Try this “apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r) then install VMware Workstation. Hope it helps.
installed but not runnins on my kali
Update for Linux Kernel 4.4 and above
Error Message: Before you can run VMware, several modules must be compiled and loaded into the kernel
Solution or Workaround: Modify 2 files in /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source/vmmon.tar and /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source/vmnet.tar
Steps:
1- Extract /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source/vmmon.tar
2- Modify /vmmon-only/linux/hostif.c
3- Replace “get_user_pages” to “get_user_pages_remote”
4- tar and replace original
5- Extract /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source/vmnet.tar
6- Modify ./vmnet-only/userif.c
7- Replace “get_user_pages” to “get_user_pages_remote”
8- tar and replace original
Now you should be able to compile the modules successfully.
Tested on Kali Linux 2016 with kernel 4.6.
If you need, I can put these 2 modified files vmmon.tar and vmnet.tar here for download.
Thanks it’s work.
I thought I would never run vmware in kali linux.
I thought that VMWare is never executed 12 pro for Kali GNU / Linux 64-bit Rolling
Not Working
Still Showing same error
(this is the problem that is resisting me to run it after i get it installed., please any effective response for this problem will be highly appreciated)
Before you can VMware, several modules must be compiled and loaded into the running kernel.
GCC
GNU C Complier (gcc) version 5.4.0 was not found.if you installed it in a non-default path you can specify the path below. Otherwise refer to your distribution’s documentation for installation instructor and click Refresh to search again in default locations.