[SOLVED] Slackware 14.1 on VMware Workstation guest : VMware Tools doesn't work

Shkel · 05-05-2014, 02:49 AM

I tried to install Slackware 14.1 x64 (kernel 3.10.17) in VMware Workstation 10.0.2 on a host Windows 7 x64.

It works, but if I want to install the VMware Tools it doesn't work.
I created the directory pam.d to /etc, mounted VMware Tools ISO image, copied the archive VMwareTools-x.x.x-xxxxx.tar.gz to /tmp/ decompress it and lauched vmware-install.pl script.

I configured options by default.

Code:

Installing VMware Tools.

In which directory do you want to install the binary files?
[/usr/bin]

What is the directory that contains the init directories (rc0.d/ to rc6.d/)?
[/etc/init.d]

What is the directory that contains the init scripts?
[/etc/rc.d/init.d]

In which directory do you want to install the daemon files?
[/usr/sbin]

In which directory do you want to install the library files?
[/usr/lib/vmware-tools]

The path "/usr/lib/vmware-tools" does not exist currently. This program is
going to create it, including needed parent directories. Is this what you want?
[yes] yes

In which directory do you want to install the documentation files?
[/usr/share/doc/vmware-tools] /usr/share/doc/vmware-tools

The path "/usr/share/doc/vmware-tools" does not exist currently. This program
is going to create it, including needed parent directories. Is this what you
want? [yes] yes

The installation of VMware Tools x.x.x build-xxxxx for Linux completed
successfully. You can decide to remove this software from your system at any
time by invoking the following command: "/usr/bin/vmware-uninstall-tools.pl".

Before running VMware Tools for the first time, you need to configure it by
invoking the following command: "/usr/bin/vmware-config-tools.pl". Do you want
this program to invoke the command for you now? [yes] yes

On reboot, I have a kernel panic : "VFS: Unable to mount root fs on unknown-block (8,3)"
Before reboot the tools run fine.
I looked solutions on web, I found http://linux.wxs.ro/2012/03/30/vmwar...kware-install/ and it isn't work.
With VirtualBox the VM VirtualBox Extension Pack work fine.

Any ideas/suggestions ?
Thank you.

willysr · 05-05-2014, 03:31 AM

you need to edit the pl script inside the bin directory and comment the pam installation line since Slackware do not ship PAM in default configuration

Shkel · 05-05-2014, 04:00 AM

Which script that I must to edit ? vmware-install.pl before running it ?
willysr, can you give me the solution in showing me the source to edit ?
Thank you.

willysr · 05-05-2014, 04:20 AM

the script you need to edit: vmware-tools-contrib/bin/vmware-config-tools.pl
Have a look on line 4058
put a "#" character in front of install_symlink($pamfile, '/etc/pam.d/vmtoolsd');
and then re-execute the vmware-install.pl

You can also delete your /etc/pam.d as well

Don't forget to see my blog post about fixing the broken network script as well: http://slackblogs.blogspot.com/2013/...en-script.html

Shkel · 05-05-2014, 04:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willysr

the script you need to edit: vmware-tools-contrib/bin/vmware-config-tools.pl
Have a look on line 4058
put a "#" character in front of install_symlink($pamfile, '/etc/pam.d/vmtoolsd');
and then re-execute the vmware-install.pl

You can also delete your /etc/pam.d as well

Great, thank you willysr

Quote:

Don't forget to see my blog post about fixing the broken network script as well: http://slackblogs.blogspot.com/2013/...en-script.html

Well done, I follow this fixing after to running vmware-install.pl ?

willysr · 05-05-2014, 04:34 AM

yes, let me know if it solves your problem

Shkel · 05-05-2014, 04:39 AM

Yes I hold you informed.

Shkel · 05-05-2014, 05:40 AM

willysr, I made your suggestion and it doesn't work.
Same problem, kernel panic on reboot.

I modified the script vmware-config-tools.pl add a comment in front of install_symlink($pamfile, '/etc/pam.d/vmtoolsd'); and launched vmware-install.pl.
I answered options by default to valid installation.
After installation, HGFS sharing doesn't run but it doesn't no matter.

Look the attached file.

willysr · 05-05-2014, 07:02 AM

I always answered no on HGFS since it's not working either, but it seems you have another problem
can you explained what have you done besides installing Slackware and VMWare Tool?
Did you upgrade any package at all?

kenw232 · 05-05-2014, 07:26 AM

It will work. I've done exactly this and also moved the vm to a vsphere 4 server after. I did not have to comment out any pam stuff in the scripts from what I can remember. The only thing I did do is build a new kernel first.

willysr · 05-05-2014, 07:39 AM

why do you need to build a new kernel?
the default kernel works with VMWare Workstation 10.0.2 as well

if you don't comment the pam thing, the script will fail as Slackware doesn't ship PAM

Shkel · 05-05-2014, 07:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by willysr

Can you explained what have you done besides installing Slackware and VMWare Tool?

-Mount VMware Tools

Code:

mount /dev/sr0 /mnt/cdrom/

-Copy VMwareTools-x.x.x-xxxxx.tar.gz to /tmp/

Code:

cp /mnt/cdrom/VMwareTools-x.x.x-xxxxx.tar.gz /tmp/

-Decompress VMwareTools-x.x.x-xxxxx.tar.gz from /tmp/

Code:

tar xvfz VMwareTools-x.x.x-xxxxx.tar.gz

-Edit script vmware-config-tools.pl from vmware-tools-distrib directory (/vmware-tools-distrib/bin/).
Line 4058, comment

Code:

#install_symlink($pamfile, '/etc/pam.d/vmtoolsd');

-Launch vmware-install.pl from VMware Tools directory (/vmware-tools-distrib/).

Code:

./vmware-install.pl

Validate all installation instructions by default.

Quote:

Did you upgrade any package at all?

Yes, my guest Slackware is completely upgraded.

willysr · 05-05-2014, 07:47 AM

Just to be sure, did you upgrade using -stable or -current mirrors?

Shkel · 05-05-2014, 07:57 AM

I use Slackware64-14.1 mirrors stable from Germany.

willysr · 05-05-2014, 09:17 AM

OK, did you perform full installation right?
that means that you are using huge kernel, so that kernel panic thing shouldn't happen even after installing VMWare Tools, unless i missed something from your activities