This is funny but true. System developer updated the system including libc and other critical files. After upgrading system, they just rebooted the system and everything worked fine except VMWARE networking. Since they skipped the Linux kernel upgrade, VMWARE workstation was coming up but vmnet1 was not starting for some weird reason.
First, I restarted vmware service: # /etc/init.d/vmware restart
Output:
Stopping VMware services: Virtual machine monitor done Bridged networking on /dev/vmnet0 done DHCP server on /dev/vmnet1 done Host-only networking on /dev/vmnet1 done Virtual ethernet done Starting VMware services: Virtual machine monitor done Virtual ethernet done Bridged networking on /dev/vmnet0 done Host-only networking on /dev/vmnet1 (background) done
I thought vmnet1 is up and running (at least above output indicates this) but when I run ifconfig command:
# /sbin/ifconfig -a
There was no vmnet1 interface at all. This is one of production system and now things are complicated. Oh, boy I hate stupid developer(s) they will do anything to setup and run their development environment.
Anyways one of our senior UNIX admin pointed out me to use vmnet-netifup command :D. It is use to configure a virtual networking i.e. VMWARE network interfaces. The syntax is easy:
# vmnet-netifup -d /var/run/vmnet1.pid /dev/vmnet1 vmnet1
Where,
- -d /var/run/vmnet1.pid : PID file for daemon mode
- /dev/vmnet1 : Device file
- vmnet1: Interface name (it can be eth1)
Assign an IP address:
# ifconfig vmnet xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx up
It worked like a charm. It saved me from restoring Debian updates as well as reinstalling VMWARE.
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{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
I use the command you give above to set up a v-net between 2 computers under linux, but when I use ping in one of them to another, it got something wrong. Why?
vmnet-netifup and ifconfig, there is no error.
This may not be your problem, but it’s worth noting that it is normal for the vmnet interfaces not to appear until 30 seconds or more after you start the vmware service. (That’s why it says “background” when initializing vmnet1 — the initialization is continuing in the background after the service starts.)
This was a huge help.
I am not sure if the following line should read:
# ifconfig vmnet1 xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx up
instead of:
# ifconfig vmnet xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx up
When I used it on my vmnet2 (with the number) it worked.
when the vmnetX interface does not came up it’s because that IP is already being used.
thanks… worked perfect for me!!!