I installed VMware server into Debian Etch using a 486 kernel. Everything is working fine.

I upgraded to a 686 kernel and VMware server does not work with it. If I reboot into the 468 kernel the server is still working.

Is there a way to fix VMware server so that it works with the 686 kernel or do I need to delete and reload the VMware server?
thx, don

The VMserver is tailored to a specific kernel. Though I have never used the server, I use workstation all the time. It must be reconfigured each time you changes the kernel. make sure you have the appropriate kernel source or headers installed for the kernel you wish to use, and a c compiler. Workstation gets installed from a directory called vmware-distrib. It is configured (or installed) by issuing the command vmware-install.pl. This will have to be done every time you change the kernel. I imagine the server will have something similar.

Good luck

Thx. I think then that the best thing for me to do is to remove VMware (since I don't use the 486 kernel anymore) and reinstall.

You really don't have to remove it- just run the vmware-install.pl file again, it will pick up all of the previous settings and build a module for the running kernel.

Actually, run vmware-config.pl when the kernel changes.

Hi Guys Newbie.. sort of..

I'm not sure if I'm on the right posting page here.. but anyway..

I have used vmserver and workstation a few times.. and I was currently running vmserver 1.0.7 and doing fine ..
I am running FC9x with 2.6.26.3-29.fc9.i686 #1 SMP and XP Spk2
as a vm client.

My problem is that I inadvertantly did an upgrade on some items using the package icon.. weeded out what i needed and let it go..
I got a new kernel.. I missed that.. I really didn't want one beacause I knew it would break my present setup in xorg with the compiled nvidia
driver for the current kernel and I didn't want to go thru that again just yet. So long story short the new kernel breaks vmware.. as it does
and googling i found some answers on how to fix it.
There were a few.. but last resort was the anywhere anywhere file..
which did the same thing, vmware-config.pl script.

But now I'm stuck.. and it bombs I will paste the result.
Has anybody been in this situation before I would appreciate any kind of help or a pointer in the right direction btw love it very challenging.

[root@xxxx bin]# vmware-config.pl
Making sure services for VMware Server are stopped.

Stopping VMware services:
Virtual machine monitor [ OK ]
Bridged networking on /dev/vmnet0 [ OK ]
DHCP server on /dev/vmnet1 [ OK ]
Host-only networking on /dev/vmnet1 [ OK ]
DHCP server on /dev/vmnet8 [ OK ]
NAT service on /dev/vmnet8 [ OK ]
Host-only networking on /dev/vmnet8 [ OK ]
Virtual ethernet [ OK ]

Configuring fallback GTK+ 2.4 libraries.

In which directory do you want to install the mime type icons?
[/usr/share/icons]

What directory contains your desktop menu entry files? These files have a
.desktop file extension. [/usr/share/applications]

In which directory do you want to install the application's icon?
[/usr/share/pixmaps]

/usr/share/applications/vmware-server.desktop: warning: value "vmware-server.png" for key "Icon" in group "Desktop Entry" is an icon name with an extension, but there should be no extension as described in the Icon Theme Specification if the value is not an absolute path
/usr/share/applications/vmware-console-uri-handler.desktop: warning: value "vmware-server.png" for key "Icon" in group "Desktop Entry" is an icon name with an extension, but there should be no extension as described in the Icon Theme Specification if the value is not an absolute path
Trying to find a suitable vmmon module for your running kernel.

None of the pre-built vmmon modules for VMware Server is suitable for your
running kernel. Do you want this program to try to build the vmmon module for
your system (you need to have a C compiler installed on your system)? [yes]

Using compiler "/usr/bin/gcc". Use environment variable CC to override.

What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running
kernel? [/usr/src/kernels/2.6.26.3-29.fc9.i686/include]

Extracting the sources of the vmmon module.

Building the vmmon module.

Building for VMware Server 1.0.0.
Using 2.6.x kernel build system.
make: Entering directory `/tmp/vmware-config6/vmmon-only'
make -C /usr/src/kernels/2.6.26.3-29.fc9.i686/include/.. SUBDIRS=$PWD SRCROOT=$PWD/. modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/kernels/2.6.26.3-29.fc9.i686'
CC [M] /tmp/vmware-config6/vmmon-only/linux/driver.o
/tmp/vmware-config6/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:171: error: unknown field ‘nopage’ specified in initializer
/tmp/vmware-config6/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:172: warning: initialization from incompatible pointer type
/tmp/vmware-config6/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:175: error: unknown field ‘nopage’ specified in initializer
/tmp/vmware-config6/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:176: warning: initialization from incompatible pointer type
make[2]: *** [/tmp/vmware-config6/vmmon-only/linux/driver.o] Error 1
make[1]: *** [_module_/tmp/vmware-config6/vmmon-only] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/kernels/2.6.26.3-29.fc9.i686'
make: *** [vmmon.ko] Error 2
make: Leaving directory `/tmp/vmware-config6/vmmon-only'
Unable to build the vmmon module.

For more information on how to troubleshoot module-related problems, please
visit our Web site at "http://www.vmware.com/download/modules/modules.html" and
"http://www.vmware.com/support/reference/linux/prebuilt_modules_linux.html".

Execution aborted.

I have found scripts and stuff for "driver.c" and rewrites
i don't understand the no page errors..
pls can you help .. thanks in advance
ALbert

Hi Posting own reply here..

IF anyone seemed to have the same trouble after Googling at length
I found out Vm 1.0.xx did not do well with Kernel 2.6.26 dues to deprecated symbols issue.
I have since given up and upgrading and doing a new install.

One should take heed and reed more before flying into the fat

Thanks to the help an postings

AlbertBeach