Thursday, February 25, 2010

Fixing VMware Workstation 6.5.3 and Linux kernel 2.6.32 Issues

I updated my kernel to 2.6.32 tonight. The VMware Workstation 6.5.3 module configuration build failed horribly. I am using Sidux, a bleeding edge Debian sid distribution. This Arch Linux link solved the problem. These instructions should help users of Debian and Debian based distributions, such as Ubuntu, get VMware Workstation working. The directions assume that you are the root user. If you are an Ubuntu user, try sudo su to get a root prompt.

The first step is to perform the following commands:

# cd /tmp
# tar xf /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source/vmnet.tar
# vi vmnet-only/vnetUserListener.c (near line 37 add #include "compat_sched.h")
# tar cf /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source/vmnet.tar vmnet-only
# tar xf /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source/vmci.tar
# vi vmci-only/linux/vmciKernelIf.c vmci-only/include/pgtbl.h (add #include "compat_sched.h" around line 30)
# tar cf /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source/vmci.tar vmci-only
# vmware-modconfig --console --install-all

The last command will fail, so you probably don't even want to try it. Then go to this section of the Arch Linux wiki page.

Download the vmware-build-modules shell script.

Now check your version of gcc. If it is gcc-4.3, install the latest version and change the symbolic link.

# cd /usr/bin
# ls -al gcc
# apt-get install gcc-4.4
# rm gcc
# ln -s gcc-4.4 gcc
# ls -al gcc

Now cd to the directory you downloaded vmware-build-modules and fix the permissions and execute the shell script.

# cd Desktop
# chmod 755 ./vmware-build-modules
# ./vmware-build-modules

VMware Workstation 6.5.3 should now work properly under Linux kernel 2.6.32.

Labels:


Comments:
I had to patch vsock-only/linux/af_vsock.c too. Add the same after all the compat includes.

tar cf /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source/vsock.tar vsock-only
 
You saved my life, I've been searching for weeks to get my work VMs working. Finally you helped me fix VMware with F13.
 
You are the absolute best. Finally an true expert. Everyone out there knows how to install VMW wkstn in Fedora 5,6 ,7 8.. But I am overjoyed to find one who know how it can be installed in F13. THANK YOU! THANK YOU!
 
Post a Comment



<< Home

This page is powered by Blogger. Isn't yours?