I've just installed Debian Version: 2.6.13+0rc3-2.1 and have the kernel headers, now I'm trying to install vmware server.

It's asked me for the directory of the C compiler headers and offers the suggestion of /usr/src/linux/include, however no headers exist there. I searched for the header files and found them to be in /usr/include/linux. Although it returned the message that these headers are used for C libraries and not the running kernel.

It then suggests that I do not have the kernel source installed, which is true, but can't find the source files for the testing version I have.

Is there a way round this, and can someone explain what the kernel headers and kernel source are used for and the differences.

Thanks in advance.

scotty b

Thats a weird version, my suggestion would be upgrade to the 2.6.15 currently shipped with testing, and installing the headers with them.

apt-get install linux-2.6.( Whatever suits your machine best )
apt-get install linux-headers-2.6.( to match above )

The headers will end up in /usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.( again as above )

The difference between headers and source, is that source is complete and you can recompile the kernel from them configuring it specifically the way you want. The headers are litterally just the headers for the kernel, which are sometime required like in your situation. After all if your not going to re-build you own custom kernel why download the whole thing?

Cheers for clarifying for me, I'll do that.