It happens on occasion that VMware Tools (or the open-vm-tools) have not quite caught up with the latest version of Xorg or the Linux kernel. In that case, specifying the screen resolution the old-fashioned way in xorg.conf comes in handy when the virtual VESA driver fails to find the correct resolution. Running a VM on my new 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display is an example.
So this is what you do to run that Debian or Ubuntu VM at full screen resolution of 2880x1800:
- Remember that we have virtual graphics, the actual refresh rate of the screen is that of the underlying OS X host.
- Generate a ModeLine with cvt for an arbitrarily low refresh rate that fits within the maximum pixel clock of 400 MHz, e.g. with a ridiculously low refresh rate of 1 Hz. Call it "2880x1800V" where that "V" reminds me that we are virtual.
ModeLine "2880x1800V" 4.50 2880 2960 3240 3600 1800 1803 1809 1812 -hsync +vsync
For a 27-inch iMac display you would likewise get something similar, and incorporate it in a minimal /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "27-inch iMac Display"
ModeLine "2560x1440V" 4.50 2560 2632 2880 3200 1440 1443 1448 1451 -hsync +vsync
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "27-inch iMac Display"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Modes "2560x1440V"
EndSubSection
EndSection
After restarting Xorg, Gnome restarts in that new fullscreen resolution.
Enjoy!