VMware on Fedora Core 5

Submitted by Yousif on Mon, 17/04/2006 - 7:41pm.

Fedora on Fedora

We want to install VMWare's free VMWare Player 1.0.1 build 19317 on Fedora Core 5. As far as I can tell this guide works with other VMWare products as well (eg. VMware Workstation/ ESX / GSX / Server etc.)

Fedora Core 5 comes with the 2.6.x Kernel which is not yet supported by VMWare. By default we shouldn't expect a new kernel to be supported out of the box.

my `uname -r` is 2.6.16-1.2080_FC5

Intalling

  • Switch to root
  • Download and install VMware Player from here

    Now running VMware Player would give you this message

[root@localhost ~]# vmplayer

vmware is installed, but it has not been (correctly)

configured for this system. To (re-)configure it,

invoke the following command: /usr/bin/vmare-config.pl.

[root@localhost ~]#

  • We need the kernel source (to build the vmmon modules). If you don't have it, install it by typing this in bash

yum install kernel-devel

Problems with vmware-config.pl

[You can skip this part if you want, it's here to show you what would happen if you run the vmware-config.pl without the patch below]

  • Run the config script

/usr/bin/vmware-config.pl

  • It will show you the EULA , you have to agree to it. Press Enter and space 3-4 times, type y then enter.
  • You will be asked about the location of "mime type icons", "desktop menu entry files",and where to install the application icon. I don't really care for these stuff so I press enter for defaults but if you do care give the script the proper locations.
  • If you continue, the script will give you the following message

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

Obviously we want to build the vmmon modules so we answer "y"

Now the script will ask you about the location of the C header files of your Kernel. Incase you are wondering the location is :

/lib/ modules/ 2.6.16-1.2080_FC5/ build/include

Even if you type the correct path you'll get the following message

The kernel defined by this directory of header files does
not have the same address space size as your running kernel.

Patching and reconfiguring

  • Download this script taken originally from here. Extract to a folder then run

./runme

This script appears to be made by VMWare. I have no idea why it's not included by default. Answer "y" to all questions and it will start vmware-config.pl for you.

  • Same as above enter all info and answer "y" to all to start building the vmmon modules.

    If all goes well the script will start building the vmmon module. It will ask you if you want virtual networking, default ethernet adaptor, etc etc answer as you wish.

  • Finally you'll get the good-to-go message

    Starting VMware services:

Virtual machine monitor [ OK ]

Virtual ethernet [ OK ]

Bridged networking on /dev/vmnet0 [ OK ]

The configuration of VMware Player 1.0.1 build-19317 for
Linux for this kernel completed successfully. You can
now run VMware Player by invoking the following command:
"/usr/bin/vmplayer".

Enjoy,

--the VMware team

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Still not working...

Submitted by Anonymous on Mon, 08/05/2006 - 6:11am.

Hi..
Where is the kernel headers located ?
even after downloading the sources with yum, i encountered these
problems:
1. i got kernel sources not with the exact version of my kernel
in fedora, and then vmware screams of course,
2. yum downloaded me the exact sources, but still vmware shouted:
"The path "/usr/src/linux/include" is a kernel header file directory, but it does not contain the file "linux/version.h" as expected. This can happen if the kernel has never been built, or if you have invoked the "make mrproper" command in your kernel directory. In any case, you may want to rebuild your kernel."

what should I do ?
rebuilding the kernel doesn't seem logical..
(btw, my kernel is 2.6.15-1.2054_FC5)

thanks a lot
Dan.

The kernel header directory is incorrect

Submitted by Yousif on Mon, 08/05/2006 - 4:53pm.

Fedora does not use the default location for the kernel header directory.


You probabily figured that out by now. But in case you didn't the location is :

/lib/ modules/2.6.15-1.2054_FC5/ build/include

and NOT the one you mentioned above which is the default.

Try that and let me know.

thanks

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 09/05/2006 - 5:18am.

ok, thanks.

if i do yum update kernel,
does it downloads the sources ? the binaries ? both ?

thanks.

Did it work?

Submitted by Yousif on Tue, 09/05/2006 - 7:27am.

No problem. Did it work for you though?

I heard the kernel that comes with the FC5 release has some flaw in it. Maybe its a good idea to update. Yum should update both at the same time if you type
yum update kernel
or
yum update kernel*

Also don't forget to remove the old kernel if you don't need it.
yum remove "your old kernel name here"

if you don't know the name type this BEFORE you update
yum list | grep kernel
this should show the one currently installed.

yes it did, thank you !

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 09/05/2006 - 7:56am.

yes it did, thank you !

It occurs a error when I perform: yum update kernel

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 25/05/2006 - 12:02pm.

When I perform some yum command, happens a error, it follows:

Loading "installonlyn" plugin
Setting up Install Process
Setting up repositories
core
Cannot find a valid baseurl for repo:core
Error:Cannot find a valid baseurl for repo:core

follows my repos configuration:

file fedora-core.repo

[core]
name=Fedora Core $releasever - $basearch
#baseurl=http://download.fedora.redhat.com/pub/fedora/linux/core/$releasever/$basearch/os/
mirrorlist=http://fedora.redhat.com/download/mirrors/fedora-core-$releasever
enabled=1
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-fedora file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY

[core-debuginfo]
name=Fedora Core $releasever - $basearch - Debug
baseurl=http://download.fedora.redhat.com/pub/fedora/linux/core/$releasever/$basearch/debug/
enabled=0
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-fedora file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY

[core-source]
name=Fedora Core $releasever - Source
baseurl=http://download.fedora.redhat.com/pub/fedora/linux/core/$releasever/source/SRPMS/
enabled=0
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-fedora file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY

file fedora-updates.repo

[updates]
name=Fedora Core $releasever - $basearch - Updates
#baseurl=http://download.fedora.redhat.com/pub/fedora/linux/core/updates/$releasever/$basearch/
mirrorlist=http://fedora.redhat.com/download/mirrors/updates-released-fc$releasever
enabled=1
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-fedora

[updates-debuginfo]
name=Fedora Core $releasever - $basearch - Updates - Debug
baseurl=http://download.fedora.redhat.com/pub/fedora/linux/core/updates/$releasever/$basearch/debug/
enabled=0
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-fedora

[updates-source]
name=Fedora Core $releasever - Updates Source
baseurl=http://download.fedora.redhat.com/pub/fedora/linux/core/updates/$releasever/SRPMS/
enabled=0
gpgcheck=1
gpgkey=file:///etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-fedora

Is there some error in my repos configuration?

thanks!

It occurs a error when I perform: yum update kernel

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 02/08/2006 - 2:10am.

You will have to uncomment (aka remove the # sign) from the "baseurl" label.

I don't know why but this happened to me in the default FC 5 install.

Same problem and a solution

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 02/08/2006 - 2:25pm.

I had the same problem. Yum used to work and stopped. I uncommented the baseurl line (remove the #) from all of the fedora non-development repo files in /etc/repos.d and it started working again.

When I tried to access the mirror url through a browser, I got a "down for maintenance" page. I don't know if it has been down since you had the problem, but I doubt it.

Of course, this solution assumes that your internet connection is good.

Thanks

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 11/05/2006 - 12:50pm.

Thank you very much

It works.

Submitted by Anonymous on Tue, 16/05/2006 - 6:34am.

Thanks for your article.
Now I can run VMware player on FC5.
Wonderful.

THANKS!! you rock!

Submitted by Anonymous on Sun, 23/07/2006 - 9:02pm.

THANKS!! you rock!

thanks it works

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 18/05/2006 - 4:50pm.

thanks alot

it worked

FC5 and vmware tools fail

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 25/05/2006 - 3:53am.

I am installing FC5 under vmware 5.5.
When I install vmware tools I get the same error.
"The kernel defined by this directory of header files does not have the same
address space size as your running kernel."

My kernel and sources are the same version.

I tried the vmware.any.any.update101. When I run ./runme.pl I get this:
"Unable to open the installer database /etc/vmware/locations in read-mode."

Am I doing the correct things?
Any ideas?

Thanks,
Guy

This script is not for

Submitted by Yousif on Thu, 25/05/2006 - 10:17am.

This script is not for VMWare Tools. Its for the vmware-config.pl and VMWare Player/workstation etc.

If you want to install VMWare Tools In VM 5.5 Click VM menu -> Install VMWare Tools

This will mount an ISO CD image. Open the CD then run the RPM installer there. That's how I got VMWare Tools installed.

It works

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 31/05/2006 - 10:18am.

It works thanks.
the perl i download contain runme.pl
so i run
./runme.pl instead.

vmware - no network

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 07/06/2006 - 8:32pm.

Hi

I ahve tried several times to get this to work on my lan at the office, but I can not get it to work.

I have tried sevral appliances.

Any steps on troubleshooting? Install finished OK

thanks
Matt

problem in your VM?

Submitted by Yousif on Thu, 08/06/2006 - 6:40pm.

This is what i would do if i faced your problem.

* Make sure that the /dev/eth0 is working properly. Try accessing something on your lan.

* when you ran the wmware-config.pl script, did it tell you that
Virtual ethernet [ OK ]
?

* Does the /dev/vmnet0 device exist ? no? then run vmware-config.pl again.

* Is networking enabled in your "Virtual Machine"? Maybe the Virtual Machine you are trying to run does not have networking. I have a strong feeling it's this.

Works on Debian

Submitted by Anonymous on Fri, 09/06/2006 - 7:54pm.

Thank you, the script works with Debian unstable.

I thought it's distro

Submitted by Yousif on Sat, 10/06/2006 - 4:27pm.

I thought it's distro specific. cool...

Installed OK, but does not run for me

Submitted by Anonymous on Sat, 24/06/2006 - 1:49pm.

I used the vmware-any-any-update101 script and got the vmmon for VMware workstation 5.5 to build for my kernel (2.6.15-1.2054_FC5) this way.

However, when I run vmware, either via command line or from the menu, the process just stops after a few seconds. No error message, no console window appearing, nothing.

VMware worked fine for me in FC4, and as soon as I upgraded to FC5 it wouldn't run since the vmmon needed to be rebuilt. I thought this patch script here was the answer, but now I'm stuck again. It's the same outcome for VMware player on my system too.

Anyone seen anything like this or have any ideas?

Easier method ...

Submitted by Anonymous on Thu, 14/09/2006 - 7:35pm.

Forget the script. After installing kernel-devel or kernel-smp-devel, point it to /usr/src/kernels//include

where the value for can be found by running 'uname -r'

Worked for me. But thanks for pointing me to the right package to install - I'm new to Fedora Core. :)

Eric

Compilation error in FC5

Submitted by sumanc on Fri, 16/03/2007 - 8:12pm.

On running vmware-config.pl (and also your script) I am getting the following error message at the end of the compilation (before it is aborted) ....

Similar error is found while installing vmware server and player (free versions).

This problem has started since I have updated my kernel-smp to last few versions.

Any help/suggestion will be highly appreciated.

==========================================================================

Building for VMware Player 1.0.x or VMware Workstation 5.5.x.
Using 2.6.x kernel build system.
make: Entering directory `/tmp/vmware-config6/vmmon-only'
make -C /lib/modules/2.6.20-1.2300.fc5smp/build/include/.. SUBDIRS=$PWD SRCROOT=$PWD/. modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/kernels/2.6.20-1.2300.fc5-smp-i686'
CC [M] /tmp/vmware-config6/vmmon-only/linux/driver.o
In file included from /tmp/vmware-config6/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:85:
/tmp/vmware-config6/vmmon-only/./include/compat_kernel.h:21: error: expected declaration specifiers or ‘...’ before ‘compat_exit’
/tmp/vmware-config6/vmmon-only/./include/compat_kernel.h:21: error: expected declaration specifiers or ‘...’ before ‘exit_code’
/tmp/vmware-config6/vmmon-only/./include/compat_kernel.h:21: warning: type defaults to ‘int’ in declaration of ‘_syscall1’
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/2.6.20-1.2300.fc5-smp-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.

cant work on my fc 5

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 19/12/2007 - 2:29am.

None of the pre-built vmmon modules for VMware Player 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] 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/linux/include] /usr/src/kernels/2.6.20-1.2320.fc5-i686/include/

The directory of kernel headers (version @@VMWARE@@ UTS_RELEASE) does not match
your running kernel (version 2.6.20-1.2320.fc5smp). 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]

cant run on my fc 5 - 2

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 19/12/2007 - 2:39am.

None of the pre-built vmmon modules for VMware Player 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] 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/linux/include]

The path "/usr/src/linux/include" is not an existing directory.

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

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