Alexander Gromnitsky's Blog

VMware Workstation 12.1.0 NAT crash

Latest update: 2016-03-24 12:12:00

I've noticed that vmnat service in Windows is crashing whenever I try to ssh into a vm from another machine. People suggest to downgrade to 12.0.1 or replace vmnat.exe w/ a version from 12.0.1.

Here is a recepe for a replacing op:

1. Download https://download3.vmware.com/software/wkst/file/VMware-workstation-full-12.0.1-3160714.exe.

2. Open .exe w/ 7zip. Extract Core.cab/_vmnat.exe file. Rename it to vmnat-12.0.1.exe & copy to C:\ProgramData\VMware.

3. Open cmd as admin.

4. Stop VMware nat service:

    >sc stop "VMware NAT Service"
   

5. Change its "path to executable" parameter:

    >sc config "VMware NAT Service" binPath="C:\ProgramData\VMware\vmnat-12.0.0.exe"
   

6. Check the updated settings:

    >sc qc "VMware NAT Service"
    [SC] QueryServiceConfig SUCCESS
   
    SERVICE_NAME: VMware NAT Service
            TYPE               : 10  WIN32_OWN_PROCESS
            START_TYPE         : 2   AUTO_START
            ERROR_CONTROL      : 1   NORMAL
            BINARY_PATH_NAME   : C:\ProgramData\VMware\vmnat-12.0.1.exe
            LOAD_ORDER_GROUP   :
            TAG                : 0
            DISPLAY_NAME       : VMware NAT Service
            DEPENDENCIES       : VMnetuserif
            SERVICE_START_NAME : LocalSystem
   

7. Start VMware nat service:

    >sc start "VMware NAT Service"