Comment 178 for bug 195982

If the setxkbmap workaround works, you can use a script like the one below for convenience, run it
in the background while running vmware.

It works for me, and although the script resets the keymap even when the VM is active,
I have not noticed any side-effects in the virtual machines.

######################################################################
# Set environment
waitsecs=5

# Run the loop
while true; do

    # Check that the modifier keys exists
    xmodmap -pm | grep 'Alt_L' > /dev/null
    if [ $? -ne 0 ]; then

        # Fix X keyboard map if not found
        echo "`date +'%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S'` : X keyboard map fixed."
        setxkbmap
    fi

    # Wait before running again
    sleep $waitsecs

done
######################################################################

/Krister Lundmark