#VMware Fusion : Fix Ubuntu Linux “Host SMBus controller not enabled!” [UPDATED]
Ubuntu guest instances in VMware sometimes come up with the boot error message:
piix4_smbus 0000:00:007.3: Host SMBus controller not enabled!This error is being caused because VMware doesn’t actually provide that level interface for CPU access, but Ubuntu try to load the kernel module anyway.
How to fix it:
-
sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf - add the line:
blacklist i2c-piix4 - reboot
NOTE: for older versions use blacklist i2c_piix4 instead.
NOTE: it works both in VMWare Fusion 5 and 6, and Ubuntu LTS 12.04 and 14.04
Posted on September 30, 2012, in Linux, Mac OS X Tips & Tricks, Tips & Tricks and tagged boot error, kernel module, linux, Mac OS X, software, Ubuntu Linux, VMware, VMware Fusion. Bookmark the permalink. 20 Comments.
whitehatty 
You actually make it appear so easy with your presentation however I find this matter to be actually something which I believe I’d never understand. It seems too complicated and very huge for me. I’m looking ahead in your next put up, I’ll attempt to get the hang of it!
@Coding – you need to hold “Shift” while restarting, then at the menu select “Ubuntu with Advanced Features,” then “Ubuntu … Linux … (recovery mode)”, then “root.” Now you can do the command:
sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
And add that line to your file.
well, I didn’t have had to do it, but if someone have problems can try it, thx 😉
need help, i cant seem to enable it
This file is read only. It is not allowed to edit the file
At the root session, execute command mount -o rw,remount / to remount the filesystem as read-write
But I have no luck fixing the problem 😦 Boot still freeze but the “error message is gone”.
very thank to @whitehatty, very usefull, my ubuntu now boot up normally
You’re Welcome 🙂
i’m new on ubuntu can you explain how to that :
where to write that and where to add the line please i need help
thanks
YASSINE MOULAY
Ok, there is a file in your system.
That file is
blacklist.confand it is located in/etc/modprobe.d/directory.You simply add the line at the end of that file.
I try to write out this file by adding this line but It is the read-only file system, I cannot modify. I use VMware 6.0.5 build-2443746. Could you help me ?
See Olga’s comment
1. Open a terminal and instead of using “sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf” which is listed above.
2. Paste ———> sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf blacklist i2c-piix4 sudo reboot <—— or you can do it the normal way
#nano can be difficult to use especially if your an Ubuntu noob, hope this way helps.
To allowed to edit the file.
1- Shutdown the computer
2.- Boot into Recovery Mode –After BIOS load, hold down Shift key to access the grub menu –Once in grub menu, select the entry ending in “(recovery mode)”
3.-From the next menu selected option to enter Root Session
4.-At the root session, execute command mount -o rw,remount / to remount the filesystem as read-write
Via: http://askubuntu.com/questions/117950/how-do-i-change-file-system-in-recovery-mode-to-read-write-mode
It works for me.
It works with VMWare Fusion 10.0.1 and Ubuntu 17.10 too 🙂 thanks.
Just upgraded Ubuntu on WMWare vSphere Client 5.5 to version 18.04 (from 16.04) and this error started showing up after that. Tried to blaclist i2c_piix4 and i2c-piix4. Still this error is showing up.
Hi Alex, check out the comments, it might be your changes did not persist on disk on newer Ubuntus
Still works!
I received that message running the Metasploitable3-ub1404 VM on ESXi-7.0U1c.
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