Problem with VMware server on OpenSUSE 10.2: building vmmon
 

I am trying to install VMware server (VMware-server-1.0.0-28343) on OpenSUSE 10.2. I have GCC and kernel sources installed. I have a problem to build the vmmon module: the vmware-config.pl program complains about the running kernel not matching the header files:

-- start of copy from vmware-config.pl --
What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running
kernel? [/usr/src/linux/include] /usr/src/linux-2.6.18.2-34-obj/i386/default/include/

The directory of kernel headers (version @@VMWARE@@ UTS_RELEASE) does not match
your running kernel (version 2.6.18.2-34-default). Even if the module were to
compile successfully, it would not load into the running kernel.

What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running
kernel? [/usr/src/linux/include] /usr/src/linux-2.6.18.2-34/include/

The directory of kernel headers (version @@VMWARE@@ UTS_RELEASE) does not match
your running kernel (version 2.6.18.2-34-default). Even if the module were to
compile successfully, it would not load into the running kernel.

What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running
kernel? [/usr/src/linux/include] /usr/include/

The header files in /usr/include are generally for C libraries, not for the
running kernel. If you do not have kernel header files in your /usr/src
directory, you probably do not have the kernel-source package installed. Are
you sure that /usr/include contains the header files associated with your
running kernel? [no] yes

The directory of kernel headers (version 2.6.18) does not match your running
kernel (version 2.6.18.2-34-default). Even if the module were to compile
successfully, it would not load into the running kernel.
-- end of copy from vmware-config.pl --

Anybody has a clue of what I'm doing wrong? I did not have this problem with SUSE 10.0 or 10.1. Thanks.

As root, run rpm -qa | grep kernel to list the kernel rpms you have installed.

I get:
linux-kernel-headers-2.6.18.2-3
kernel-syms-2.6.18.2-34
kernel-default-2.6.18.2-34
kernel-source-2.6.18.2-34

What do you get?

I get:

darktown:~ # rpm -qa | grep kernel
kernel-source-2.6.18.2-34
linux-kernel-headers-2.6.18.2-3
kernel-default-2.6.18.2-34

This may also be of interest:

darktown:~ # uname -a
Linux darktown 2.6.18.2-34-default #1 SMP Mon Nov 27 11:46:27 UTC 2006 i686 i686 i386 GNU/Linux

darktown:~ # find / -name version.h
/usr/include/linux/dvb/version.h
/usr/include/linux/version.h
/usr/src/linux-2.6.18.2-34-obj/i386/default/include/linux/version.h
/usr/src/linux-2.6.18.2-34-obj/i386/bigsmp/include/linux/version.h
/usr/src/linux-2.6.18.2-34-obj/i386/debug/include/linux/version.h
/usr/src/linux-2.6.18.2-34-obj/i386/kdump/include/linux/version.h
/usr/src/linux-2.6.18.2-34-obj/i386/um/include/linux/version.h
/usr/src/linux-2.6.18.2-34-obj/i386/xen/include/config/xen/interface/version.h
/usr/src/linux-2.6.18.2-34-obj/i386/xen/include/linux/version.h
/usr/src/linux-2.6.18.2-34-obj/i386/xenpae/include/config/xen/interface/version.h
/usr/src/linux-2.6.18.2-34-obj/i386/xenpae/include/linux/version.h
/usr/src/linux-2.6.18.2-34/arch/i386/math-emu/version.h
/usr/src/linux-2.6.18.2-34/drivers/macintosh/mol/include/version.h
/usr/src/linux-2.6.18.2-34/include/linux/dvb/version.h
/usr/src/linux-2.6.18.2-34/include/linux/version.h
/usr/src/linux-2.6.18.2-34/include/pcmcia/version.h
/usr/src/linux-2.6.18.2-34/include/sound/version.h
/usr/src/linux-2.6.18.2-34/include/xen/interface/version.h
darktown:~ #

Thanks.

Okay, you've got the files you need. What happens if you leave the answer to "What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running kernel?" as the default? I didn't change this to set up VMware player.

First of all, thanks for your help. Remark: I'm installing VMware server, not VMware player.

When I do not change the default, this is what happens:

What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running
kernel? [/usr/src/linux/include]
The directory of kernel headers (version @@VMWARE@@ UTS_RELEASE) does not match
your running kernel (version 2.6.18.2-34-default). Even if the module were to
compile successfully, it would not load into the running kernel.

What bothers me is the "@@VMWARE@@" bit, which seems like an internal variable name of some scripting language (perl?).

If I choose the folder "/usr/include/", I get at least a kernel version number: "version 2.6.18" in stead of "@@VMWARE@@".

What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running
kernel? [/usr/src/linux/include] /usr/include/
The header files in /usr/include are generally for C libraries, not for the
running kernel. If you do not have kernel header files in your /usr/src
directory, you probably do not have the kernel-source package installed. Are
you sure that /usr/include contains the header files associated with your
running kernel? [no] yes
The directory of kernel headers (version 2.6.18) does not match your running
kernel (version 2.6.18.2-34-default). Even if the module were to compile
successfully, it would not load into the running kernel.

This problem is referenced on the VMware Forums here:
http://www.vmware.com/community/mess...ssageID=498748

The bottom line is that you need to run the "any-any" patch.

The current patch (as of 29-Jan-2007) is:
http://ftp.cvut.cz/vmware/vmware-any...date107.tar.gz

For further reference, this exact problem is discussed on LQ here:
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...d.php?t=502830

I just successfully installed VMware Server on a Debian (Sid) system by:
(1) running the vmware-install.pl script, and having it fail.
(2) running the runme.pl any-any script, and letting it patch things.
(3) running the vmware-install.pl script again, and watching it work.

Hope that helps.

The problem is that the version on the linux kernel is now in linux/utsrelease.h and vmware is looking for in version.h

The any-any patch is the solution to my problem indeed. Thanks a lot, everything works fine now.

Unable to Install VMWare in OpenSuse 10.2
 

I was having the same issue with @@VMWARE@@ Variable. Turns out that when I installed my Kernel sources it installed the wrong version from a YAST installation source and I just inserted my OpenSUSE 10.2 DVD and reinstalled the version that came on the DVD and reinstalled VMWare Workstation and it was fixed.

the kernel headers you installed dont match the kernel you have. i guess install a different kernel and reboot (the kernel that matches)