Packer vmware-iso build ubuntu server 18.04.3 + vmware workstation pro 15

[Marco Mojica]

Hi All,

I am super lost on what my problem is and I have few hints that might give you an idea where I stand right now.

I have successfully build a packer vmware-iso on Ubuntu 18.04.3 Desktop version, the trick was open the VMWare Workstation gui after the installation was completed.

In the other hand in Ubuntu Server I believe I am having problems with the installation of VMWare Workstation since I am getting issues with the libraries and such, I have try many of the link I have found online and nothing seems to fix it

here is the PACKER_LOG=1 output

==> vmware-iso: Starting HTTP server on port 8870
2020/01/17 01:06:04 packer-builder-vmware-iso plugin: Looking for available port between 5900 and 6000
2020/01/17 01:06:04 packer-builder-vmware-iso plugin: Found available port: 5944 on IP: 127.0.0.1
2020/01/17 01:06:04 packer-builder-vmware-iso plugin: Found available VNC port: 127.0.0.1:5944
2020/01/17 01:06:04 packer-builder-vmware-iso plugin: Writing VMX to: output-vmware-iso/ubuntu-18.04.vmx
==> vmware-iso: Starting virtual machine...
    vmware-iso: view the screen of the VM, connect via VNC with the password "c9UBiBZ0" to
    vmware-iso: vnc://127.0.0.1:5944
    vmware-iso: The VM will be run headless, without a GUI. If you want to
2020/01/17 01:06:04 packer-builder-vmware-iso plugin: Executing: /usr/bin/vmrun -T player start output-vmware-iso/ubuntu-18.04.vmx nogui
    vmware-iso: view the screen of the VM, connect via VNC with the password "c9UBiBZ0" to
    vmware-iso: vnc://127.0.0.1:5944
2020/01/17 01:06:05 packer-builder-vmware-iso plugin: stdout: Error: The operation was canceled
2020/01/17 01:06:05 packer-builder-vmware-iso plugin: stderr:
==> vmware-iso: Error starting VM: VMware error: Error: The operation was canceled
==> vmware-iso: Waiting 4.395785156s to give VMware time to clean up...
2020/01/17 01:06:09 packer-builder-vmware-iso plugin: Executing: /usr/bin/vmrun -T player list
2020/01/17 01:06:09 packer-builder-vmware-iso plugin: stdout: Total running VMs: 0
2020/01/17 01:06:09 packer-builder-vmware-iso plugin: stderr:
2020/01/17 01:06:09 packer-builder-vmware-iso plugin: failed to unlock port lockfile: close tcp 127.0.0.1:5944: use of closed network connection
==> vmware-iso: Deleting output directory...
2020/01/17 01:06:09 [INFO] (telemetry) ending vmware-iso
2020/01/17 01:06:09 machine readable: error-count []string{"1"}
==> Some builds didn't complete successfully and had errors:
2020/01/17 01:06:09 machine readable: vmware-iso,error []string{"Error starting VM: VMware error: Error: The operation was canceled"}
==> Builds finished but no artifacts were created.
2020/01/17 01:06:09 Cancelling builder after context cancellation context canceled
Build 'vmware-iso' errored: Error starting VM: VMware error: Error: The operation was canceled

2020/01/17 01:06:09 [INFO] (telemetry) Finalizing.
==> Some builds didn't complete successfully and had errors:
--> vmware-iso: Error starting VM: VMware error: Error: The operation was canceled

==> Builds finished but no artifacts were created.
2020/01/17 01:06:10 waiting for all plugin processes to complete...
2020/01/17 01:06:10 /usr/bin/packer: plugin process exited

Also, here are some of the links and steps I have done to try debug the issue.

https://communities.vmware.com/thread/611127

https://communities.vmware.com/thread/303517

Also I have manually download the library VMware-vix-disklib-6.7.0-8173251.x86_64.tar.gz and register it in ldconfig using the following steps

I extracted and appended the folder to an existing config /etc/ld.so.conf.d/x86_64-linux-gnu.conf  and run ldconfig && updatedb && restart the system

Please help, I am desperate and I don't know what else to do.

I appreciate any help in advance.

Thanks

[Alvaro Miranda Aguilera]

Hello

Can you explain a bit more please.

- What is your host os?

- Do you have VMWare Workstation Installed?

- Can you create VM manually ? they boot ok ?

now to packer

- what packer version?

- do you have a template that works?

I am not sure if I understand what is failing or where.

Are you just trying to create a VM?

if VMware is healthy then try this templase as base

https://github.com/Galser/packer-ubuntu

thanks

alvaro

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Alvaro

[Marco Mojica]

Hi Alvaro, 

Thank you very much for your help, here are the details you requested.

- What is your host os?

My Host OS is ubuntu server 18.04.3

- Do you have VMWare Workstation Installed?

I have VMWare Workstation Pro installed

- Can you create VM manually ? they boot ok ?

I can't create machines using the output from packer

/usr/bin/vmrun -T player start output-vmware-iso/ubuntu-18.04.vmx nogui

I also tried 

/usr/bin/vmrun -T ws start output-vmware-iso/ubuntu-18.04.vmx nogui

I think that mainly my problem is the vmware workstation installation process, I can't find and non-gui guide to installed so I have done what I think is correct

for example
sudo ./VMWare-workstation-15-pro.bundle --console --eulas-agreed

now to packer

- what packer version?

1.5.1

- do you have a template that works?

I do, it works on Mac with VMWare Fusion

Seems like the link is causing issues, where I can share my config with you? I am using bitbucket

I am not sure if I understand what is failing or where.

Seems like the portion of the packer build process that is failing is the part that starts the vm with the following command
I took it from packer debug log
/usr/bin/vmrun -T ws start output-vmware-iso/ubuntu-18.04.vmx nogui

Are you just trying to create a VM?

I am trying to create a vmware-iso as my final product, using packer vmware-iso builder
https://www.packer.io/docs/builders/vmware-iso.html

Thanks again for your support, I really appreciate it

Have a great weekend

[Marco Mojica]

Hi, For however is having the same problem,

I fix it by following the these steps.

1. install ./VMware-Workstation-Full-15.5.1-15018445.x86_64.bundle --console --eulas-agreed --custom
2. register the libraries using ldconfig VMware-vix-disklib-6.7.0-8173251.x86_64.tar.gz
3. after installation is complete reboot the server
4. after boot ssh to the server with ssh -XC user...@10.0.0.2
5. sudo /usr/bin/vmware & and click trial which is my case and complete any pending steps (Very important step)
6. execute packer
   

On Thursday, January 16, 2020 at 8:14:58 PM UTC-5, Marco Mojica wrote: