gns3-server: can't add VMWare Templates

[MrSom3body]

Describe the bug

Adding an VMWare Template to GNS3 is not possible due to VMWare Workstation not being found in the Path.

Steps To Reproduce

Steps to reproduce the behavior:

1. Open Preferences
2. Go to VMWare VMs
3. Click on New
4. Get error

Expected behavior

It should be able to find my VMWare VMs and select them.

Screenshots

Additional context

None

Notify maintainers

@anthonyroussel

Metadata

[user@system:~]$ nix-shell -p nix-info --run "nix-info -m"
 - system: `"x86_64-linux"`
 - host os: `Linux 6.11.0, NixOS, 24.11 (Vicuna), 24.11.20240916.99dc878`
 - multi-user?: `yes`
 - sandbox: `yes`
 - version: `nix-env (Nix) 2.18.5`
 - channels(root): `"home-manager, nixos-24.05"`
 - nixpkgs: `/nix/store/cjz8w4dgc3rd2n3dqv5c208vygndjyba-source`

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[anthonyroussel]

Hello, You're correct, the GNS3 NixOS module currently does not support integration with VMware Workstation at the moment. I’d be happy to help you further, but unfortunately, I don't have a VMware Workstation license.

[MrSom3body]

Hey, Actually you don't need a license anymore for personal use. I think this change came a few months ago but I don't remember anymore

[MrSom3body]

Hey, is there any possibility to add the path for VMWare with a workaround until this issue gets resolved?

[anthonyroussel]

Hey, is there any possibility to add the path for VMWare with a workaround until this issue gets resolved?

@MrSom3body Sure, looks like it is possible.

You can try the following GNS3 Server configuration:

services.gns3-server.settings."VMware" = {
  host_type = "ws";
  vmnet_start_range = 2;
  vmnet_end_range = 50;
  vmrun_path = "${pkgs.vmware-workstation}/bin/vmrun";
};

It should configure GNS3 to find the path to the vmrun executable.

You might also need to add the gns3 system user into some kind of vmware group.

• https://docs.gns3.com/docs/using-gns3/administration/gns3-server-configuration-file/
• https://search.nixos.org/options?channel=unstable&show=services.gns3-server.settings