Kernel update 2.6.20-1.2925.fc6 kills VMware

[Fedora-hx4700]

ASUS M2NPV-VM-amd 2 64 - Nvidia 6150 - 4 gig internal - 160 gig sata.
Fedora cor 6 (and now a few hours back a kernel update to 2.6.20-1.2925.fc6
I use this machine as a Test environment for my customers and have a lot of work in this machine (VMware is down and i can't fix it).

The Story of a not happy person.

All, (Today 15 maart 2007, vmware stoped working - small disaster for my test environment)

Can't config VMware anymore because of the VMMON module:

Building the vmmon module.

Using 2.6.x kernel build system.
make: Entering directory `/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only'
make -C /lib/modules/2.6.20-1.2925.fc6/build/include/.. SUBDIRS=$PWD SRCROOT=$PWD/. modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/kernels/2.6.20-1.2925.fc6-x86_64'
CC [M] /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.o
In file included from /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:80:
/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/./include/compat_kernel.h:21: error: expected declaration specifiers or ‘...’ before ‘compat_exit’
/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/./include/compat_kernel.h:21: error: expected declaration specifiers or ‘...’ before ‘exit_code’
/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/./include/compat_kernel.h:21: warning: type defaults to ‘int’ in declaration of ‘_syscall1’
make[2]: *** [/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.o] Error 1
make[1]: *** [_module_/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/kernels/2.6.20-1.2925.fc6-x86_64'
make: *** [vmmon.ko] Error 2
make: Leaving directory `/tmp/vmware-config0/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".


this is also on ubuntu:

http://www.vmware.com/community/thre...ssageID=591626

Possible solution:

-------------------------------------------------------
Follow this: http://www.vmware.com/community/thre...ssageID=484981
Look at this:
Re: libpng12.so.0: no version information available
Posted: Jan 20, 2007 8:26 PM in response to: ouhrbach
Click to reply to this topic Reply

I'm using ubuntu 6.10 (2.6.17-10-generic)
This works great!! Everyone should try this fix. Thanks ouhrbach

sudo cp /usr/lib/libpng12.so.0 /usr/lib/vmware/lib/libpng12.so.0/
---------------------------------------------------------------------------


I did copy the file manually (did not work, and removed the file (did also not work).
Still the same output:

So no solution yet for Fedora:

Command to configure VMware: /usr/bin/vmware-config.pl

Result:

[root@localhost ~]# /usr/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]

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? [/lib/modules/2.6.20-1.2925.fc6/build/include]

Extracting the sources of the vmmon module.

Building the vmmon module.

Using 2.6.x kernel build system.
make: Entering directory `/tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only'
make -C /lib/modules/2.6.20-1.2925.fc6/build/include/.. SUBDIRS=$PWD SRCROOT=$PWD/. modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/kernels/2.6.20-1.2925.fc6-x86_64'
CC [M] /tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/linux/driver.o
In file included from /tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:80:
/tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/./include/compat_kernel.h:21: error: expected declaration specifiers or ‘...’ before ‘compat_exit’
/tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/./include/compat_kernel.h:21: error: expected declaration specifiers or ‘...’ before ‘exit_code’
/tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/./include/compat_kernel.h:21: warning: type defaults to ‘int’ in declaration of ‘_syscall1’
make[2]: *** [/tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only/linux/driver.o] Error 1
make[1]: *** [_module_/tmp/vmware-config2/vmmon-only] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/kernels/2.6.20-1.2925.fc6-x86_64'
make: *** [vmmon.ko] Error 2
make: Leaving directory `/tmp/vmware-config2/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.

Please help if possible

[Brian1]

Have you downloaded the latest vmware-any-any-tools file describe in your ubuntu link?
If not the download that file I think version 108 last I new and run the install file from it.

Brian

[Fedora-hx4700]

Yes i tried that, but it was already on this level. normally i use all latest software to prevent issue's

I tried installing that patch, this is the outcome:

root@localhost ~]# /home/patrickd/Public/vmware-any-any-update108/runme.pl
Updating /usr/bin/vmware-config.pl ... already patched

[Brian1]

You have the kernel source installed?

Brian

[cheerio158]

This procedure worked for me.

1. As root, cd to /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source
2. untar vmmon.tar and then move vmmon.tar to vmmon.tar.orig (just to be safe)
3. edit ./vmmon-only/include/compat_kernel.h and comment out line 21 with 2 slashes: //static inline _syscall1(int, compat_exit, int, exit_code);
4. tar vmmon-only and rename resultant archive to vmmon.tar. (I used nautilus "create archive")
5. run vmplayer-config.pl
6. Done! Appears to work for me.

[name_user]

I don't see the problem with kernel. I just updated the kernel and rebuild the vmware. Everything went fine as usual.

[Thetargos]

Why not boot with the previous kernel

If you don't have this, yum it... Run system-config-boot and boot the previous kernel instead until there's a workaround for 2.6.20, simple as that.

[Fedora-hx4700]

All thanks for the reply, but we need to be aware of the fact that i try to configure VMware:

I open a terminal as root and type in the following command: /usr/bin/vmware-config.pl
Next answer a few questions and the installation software is trying to create a new set of files. One of them is the vmmon module that will not be created as you can see in my first post.

I done what you asked me to do, but the is no VMMON file, so i thought lets uninstall the stuff and reinstall it. (even if i do not have to reboot i did 2 rebots 1 unistall and 1 install reboot).

I used the configure command again: /usr/bin/vmware-config.pl and i had the same issue.

The problem here is that the install software can't create the files it need. Please don't ask me if i have all software installed i need because it worked with the old kernel and i added all new kernel i could find. so i have a compiler, kernel code etc.

I think we can ask two extra questions:

Has the kernel update been tested, before shipping the stuff (i am not the only one and all linux products have the same issue)
What has been changed, for some reason the install application is not able to do its job anymore after the new kernel update.

Remeber, this environment is now 3 weeks old (max.) fresch installed nothing hacked and direct from downloaded DVD. I could do all i wanted with VMware before the kernel update even reconfigure it.

I am not going back to the old kernel, this patch is released with a specifc goal and i think we have to respect that

So we have a nice issue here with Fedora in combination with VMWARE server

[Nick C]

This procedure worked for me.

1. As root, cd to /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source
2. untar vmmon.tar and then move vmmon.tar to vmmon.tar.orig (just to be safe)
3. edit ./vmmon-only/include/compat_kernel.h and comment out line 21 with 2 slashes: //static inline _syscall1(int, compat_exit, int, exit_code);
4. tar vmmon-only and rename resultant archive to vmmon.tar. (I used nautilus "create archive")
5. run vmplayer-config.pl
6. Done! Appears to work for me.

Had the same problem. Not sure if it is just the kernel or related to the newest vmware server 1.0.2 though, since I updated to the newest vmware at the same time I installed the new kernel. Either way, this fixed it.

[lazlow]

hx4700

Any chance when you down loaded the source for this new kernel you grabbed the 586 version instead of the 686 version? Or something similiar?

Just a thought

Lazlow

[Fedora-hx4700]

cheerio158

Your tips did it also for me, but as before the vmmon.tar file was not there.

Sorry i can't explain this, i had a running system and all i did was click on the auto update notification and that this all started.

To solve this i removed the VMware software again and shut down the system. restarted the sytem (no errors this time about vmware) i did a reinstall and found the file.

Rest is easy and indeed does work, i coeld configure VMware and now it is running again.

Thanks.

[cheerio158]

I left my VM running all night and it hasn't dumped, ate up all my memory, or generally trashed my machine yet!

Generally speaking, when you get a major release of the kernal (in this case 2.6.19 to 2.6.20), you have to expect a lot of things to break. Major releases always come with major changes to internal data structures, etc.

Moreover, you can't expect proprietory software companies like vmware and cisco (vpn client always breaks) to run out and immediately provide a patch. Fortunately, there is usually a clever person who will come up with a hack like this - you just have to google to find it.

Furthermore, it extremely foolish, perhaps stupid, to immediately upgrade a vital production workstation or server.

Having said that, I had to get my employer's laptop functional again before a show up to work today or I'm in deep s**t.

[Fedora-hx4700]

This will be a delecate subject and i think i hurt people if i tell that i am MCSE etc (so Microsft is all i do for years). Now I want/need to be able to work with Linux because it is getting there.

You don't want to know what I have been doing to get this machine up and running and the time it consumed (3 weeks in the evening) to get a error free system. Most issues where with Nvidia and my old mail archive (that is 20 gig large for 3 years in PST files)

This machine is fresh installed but did go down 2 - 3 times a day, because of drivers and i found the hard way that i have to change some software manual to keep this machine in the air. during work i just lost the graphic stuff and had a nice text screen telling me there was a driver problem. Only way to get it back was to go back to a normal screen (800 x...) and rebuild the machine to its last functional moment

At the moment after 3 weeks it seems to be stable, sometimes my mouse pointer is behind the screen during boot and it takes me 3 to 4 reboorts to get it back. Behind the screen because i can see it moving in the menu section and hit the shutdonw button. (that has to do with something like a harware mouse on the board thing not or bad supported in Linux). But i believe using this latest kernel update and at the same time a Nvidia update, it is better. My machine is up from 6 o clock this morning (bit more fun now)

That was the reason for me to move to this new software.

So i believe the drive issue could have been resolved (1 thing down, 3 to go). I still have (just as all others on the web) if i use DESKTOP EFFECTS, the machine freseses so i hit the reset button and start up. All is working great but (always a but) if i open for example a terminal screen the top is rolled off the screen in the left upper corner, I found a solution for this (also a code hack) on the web.

All this hacking is documented for the next update , i believe this will be made undone (but that is life in Linux land).

Also a SElinux rights item in combi with using a or multiple USB drives. I can see the drive, also the files and i don't have the rights to change these files (is NTFS). Up till now Only if i disable SElinux all is ok and problem solved, but this SElinux stuff is greated so lets use it
This will take a long time, but in the end i will find it. (was also a item on the web, but all this hacking takes a long time)

And i like to have my HX4700 (pda) connect to my mailbox (like i do with Microsoft), i add my customers in the contacts and can drive direct to the place with a navigator. All handy stuff, but....

Hope this explains it a little bit.

Anyway many thanks for the help so far, the VMware environment is running again.

[lmo]

Backups are great. When things go really wrong, restoring from a good backup gets going again fast.

[JN4OldSchool]

ok, my horror show: I have been ignoring the vmware update nag screen the last few weeks now. It was with much satisfaction that I booted into the 2.6.20 kernel a couple hours ago and everything went smooth. Whew. Then I went to run vmware-config.pl. Well hell and damnation. OK, so I search "vmware" in my favorite forum and find this thread. I think my best bet may be to try to just update vmware now, so I boot back into my old kernel, reconfig vmware and hope the app just updates. (I never done this before). No go, I have to re-DL the whole thing. OK...So with that done I figure why not try commenting out line 21 as cheerio explains maybe saving a reinstall. So I stop off in root on my way to booting back into 2.6.20 and make the change. Same error when I try to run config.pl. So I removed the old rpm and installed the new one. Same error when I run config.pl. So I swing back by root and change line 21 again and this time I am gold. VMWare even remembered my 10 installed distros so I didnt have to install them over again. Wonderful! Oh, BTW, I am running 32 bit Linux so this isnt just a 64 bit thing. Thanks Cheerio and how the hell did you figure this out?