07, 08 Nov 2001

Installing VMware express 2.0.4 on SuSE Linux 7.3
=================================================

by Volker Kuhlmann


This text is based on an earlier version for SuSE Linux 7.2.


Applies to:
----------

SuSE Linux 7.3
Kernel 2.4.10-4GB
VMware 2.0.4 express     VMware-express-2.0.4-1133.i386.rpm
             (I can't see a reason why workstation should be different)

Symptom:
-------

During the configuration of vmware (by running vmware-config.pl as
root) and compilation of the vmware kernel modules, the compilation
fails with missing version.h and modversions.h, or says that they're not
suitable.

Additionally, the vmware modules fail to compile on kernel version 2.4.7 and
up.

Cause:
-----

SuSE does not install version.h in a place where it can be found, and does not
use kernel module versions in their kernels and thus has no modversions.h.

VMware has not updated their module code for newer kernels.

Solution:
--------

Create the missing header files before compiling the vmware kernel
modules.

1) Install package kernel-source-2.4.10.SuSE
   (I used kernel-source-2.4.10.SuSE-8.i386.rpm from CD 2.)
   
   Make sure the running kernel fits this source. Boot the correct kernel if
   not.

2) Create header files

	cd /usr/src/linux
	make mrproper
	make cloneconfig
	
	Turn on module versions. Make no other change to the kernel
	configuration, and leave the maximum suported memory at 4GB (vmware
	won't work with 64GB). There are several ways to do this:
	
	make xconfig
		Enter "Loadable module support" (2nd down on the left),
		and set "set version information on all module symbols" to yes.
		Save and exit.
	make menuconfig
		...
	make config
		...
	
	make dep

   This has created the missing header files.

   DO NOT COMPILE MODULES (waste of time) or INSTALL THE KERNEL OR MODULES
   (warranty/support void if done)!

3) Provide a missing symlink:

	ln -s ../../etc/init.d/vmware /usr/sbin/rcvmware

   This lets you start the vmware networking with rcvmware start/stop,
   like any other service.

   John McNulty <john@jmtl.com> remarks:
   
	A more complete solution there would be to copy /etc/init.d/skeleton
	to /etc/init.d/rcvmware and then edit the contents to call
	/usr/sbin/rcvmware. Once done, run

		( cd / ; insserv /etc/init.d/rcvmware )

	which will create start and stop link, slotted into the startup
	sequence according to the dependencies selected in the INIT comments
	(see insserv man page) at the start of the script.

   True, but it creates files which are then not part of any rpm. This might
   not be an issue to everyone. I find it works fine with just the symlink, and
   it's started at boot.

4) Patch the vmware module code

   Download the file:
   ftp://platan.vc.cvut.cz/pub/vmware/vmware-ws-1142-for-2.4.7a.tar.gz

	cd /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source
	tar -xpzf vmware-ws-1142-for-2.4.7a.tar.gz
	mv vmware-ws-1142-for-2.4.7a/* .

5) Configure vmware

	vmware-config.pl
   
   Pretty much all of the questions can be answered by pressing enter.

   This compiles the modules and overwrites the existing ones in
   /lib/modules/`uname -r`/misc/. The existing modules are
   SuSE-supplied (part of package k_deflt or similar) and may or may not work.

6) Run

	rcvmware start	# this happens with the next boot
	vmware		# this starts vmware and the configuration wizzard

Have fun,

Volker