First, there are some compilation problems with the latest linux kernel and Tools 9.9.2's source of vmhgfs: vmhgfs module not compilable for VMware Tools 9.9.0 (Fusion7.1) after Ubuntu Linux kernel update to 3.13.0-46-generic (Febr. 2015) (Shared Folder Feature not working in Ubuntu 14.04 LTS (Guest) on MacOSX Yosemite (Host))?
In short, you have to patch the source to get it to compile: rasa/vmware-tools-patches · GitHub
Arch linux is a "rolling" distro, meaning we always have latest - and are usually the first to find problems before it trickles down to Ubuntu, Mint, Debian and other Linux distros. Well, now there is a serious problem that is unresolvable.
The vmhgfs source is not compatible with linux kernels built with gcc 5.1.0. It hard locks the VM, requiring a hard reset when the kernel module loads. It also hard locks during vmware-tools-install.pl torwards the very end when it says, "Guest filesystem driver" enabling. And on boot, it is vmhgfs that is being loaded when the VM hard locks.
I was able to get around this earlier when gcc 4.9.2 was in core - i just rebuilt the kernel under 4.9.2: https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=196915
Obviously that isn't a long-term solution. But now that gcc 5.1.0 has been pushed out to core, that means recompiling the kernel under 4.9.2 is no easy feat since dependencies now depend on gcc 5.1.0.
@Developers: We have a big problem with VMware Tools vmhgfs and kernels compiled under gcc 5.1.0. Given it make take years before the Debian distros get the latest and greatest, it's coming.
Because of this, and the wasted time in me having to support this mess, I may recommend to my company we no longer continue with our Enterprise account of 100 licenses of Workstation and Fusion. It is obvious in the previous thread vmhgfs module not compilable for VMware Tools 9.9.0 (Fusion7.1) after Ubuntu Linux kernel update to 3.13.0-46-generic (Febr. 2015) (Shared Folder Feature not working in Ubuntu 14.04 LTS (Guest) on MacOSX Yosemite (Host))? that VMware is no hurry to resolve even the simple build errors that the community has resolved last year with patches. Good thing too, renewal comes up in two months.
I shiver to think how long it will take VMware to release a fix for gcc 5.1.0.
