Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-15

How to Fix: VWare Workstation 14 and new hostif.c on kernel 4.13 for fixing a memory error

VMware Workstation memory error fix for kernel 4.13

Quick Answer: Try compiling vmmon with the new hostif.c and look for alternative sources of vmmonInt.h.

A memory error in VMware Workstation 14 on Fedora 26 with kernel 4.13 is preventing you from starting your virtual machine. This issue affects users who have recently updated their kernel and are experiencing insufficient physical memory.

This problem can be frustrating, especially when you're unable to upgrade your system to resolve the issue. In this guide, we'll walk you through the steps to fix the memory error using a patched hostif.c file.

💡 Why You Are Getting This Error

  • The primary reason for this error is that the new kernel version (4.13) has introduced changes in the hostif.c file that are causing VMware Workstation to request more physical memory than it's available.
  • An alternative cause could be a mismatch between the kernel version and the VMware Workstation version, which may lead to compatibility issues.

🚀 How to Resolve This Issue

Compiling vmmon with the patched hostif.c

  1. Step 1: Extract the vmmon.tar archive and navigate to its directory.
  2. Step 2: Search for the new hostif.c file in the extracted archive and copy it to a temporary location on your system.
  3. Step 3: Create a new file called vmmonInt.h with the following contents: `#include `
  4. Step 4: Edit the vmmon.tar archive's Makefile to include the path to the new hostif.c file.
  5. Step 5: Run the command "make" in the vmmon directory to compile the updated vmmon.exe.
  6. Step 6: Copy the newly compiled vmmon.exe to the VMware Workstation installation directory.

Using a patch for hostif.c

  1. Step 1: Download the patched hostif.c file from the provided link in the original post.
  2. Step 2: Extract the downloaded archive and copy the new hostif.c file to your system's /usr/src/kernels/4.13.x-xx-xx/include/asm/
  3. Step 3: Edit the Makefile in the vmmon.tar archive to include the path to the new hostif.c file.
  4. Step 4: Run the command "make" in the vmmon directory to compile the updated vmmon.exe.
  5. Step 5: Copy the newly compiled vmmon.exe to the VMware Workstation installation directory.

🎯 Final Words

By following these steps, you should be able to fix the memory error and start your virtual machine. If you're unable to resolve the issue, consider seeking further assistance from VMware support or a qualified system administrator.

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