Ao se deparar com o seguinte erro:

$ vmware

Cannot get temporary directory for log file

VMware Workstation Error:
VMware Workstation unrecoverable error: (vmui)
Cannot get temporary directory for log file.
Please request support.
To collect files to submit to VMware support, run vm-support.
We will respond on the basis of your support entitlement.

Press "Enter" to continue...
Cannot get temporary directory for log file.

VMware Workstation Error:
VMware Workstation unrecoverable error: (vmui)
Cannot get temporary directory for log file.
Please request support.
To collect files to submit to VMware support, run vm-support.
We will respond on the basis of your support entitlement.

Press "Enter" to continue...

Este erro ocorre por que o usuário não possui permissoes de leitura para o arquivo /etc/password, para resolver basta digitar:

# chmod 644 /etc/password