Arch Linux

mcsilva

Member

From: Portugal

Registered: 2009-12-16

Posts: 95

Installing vmware-workstation-6.5.3 with kernel26-2.6.32 walkthrough

I changed my Fedora 10 laptop to Archlinux 2 weeks ago (and I'm loving it).
So, I also had to move my vmware-workstation-6.5.3 to my new distro, and also all my virtual machines.
I followed  the wiki (http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Installing_VMware) but until I had a working vmware, I had to do something different from the instructions.
So, I post here my walkthrough, if someone needs it.

Vmware package and kernel:

- VMware-Workstation-6.5.3-185404.i386.bundle.
- kernel26-2.6.32.1-1

1. As root cd to the directory where is VMware-Workstation and follow these steps:

[root@hp]# mkdir -p /etc/rc.d/vmware.d/{rc{0,1,2,3,4,5,6}.d,init.d}
[root@hp]# export VMWARE_SKIP_MODULES=true
[root@hp]# sh VMware-Workstation-6.5.3-185404.i386.bundle --console --custom

2. Read and accept EULA and go on.

3. Then press enter to all answers except "System service runlevels", where you must enter /etc/rc.d/vmware/, like in the example:

Do you agree? [yes/no]: yes

System path prefix.  Please note that choosing a path other than /usr
may result in missing icons, application launchers, and other desktop
integrations [/usr]:

System lib directory [/usr/lib]:

Architecture-independent files [/usr/share]:

User level binaries [/usr/bin]:

Super user level binaries [/usr/sbin]:

Documentation [/usr/share/doc]:

Manual pages [/usr/share/man]:

Header files [/usr/include]:

System configuration files [/etc]:

System service runlevels: /etc/rc.d/vmware.d/       <<--------------------------------

System service scripts [/etc/rc.d/vmware.d/init.d]:

Path to Eclipse directory for use with Integrated Virtual Debugger
(optional):

The product is ready to be installed.  Press enter to begin
installation or Ctrl-C to cancel.

4. Now exit from root and become normal user again. Then run vmware command.

[memyselfandi@hp]$ vmware

It asks to compile modules and you must press de "_Install" button.
After some ERROR messages it asks you the root passord and then it starts to compile modules.
Finally it starts vmware.

5. You must close it again and do this as root:

[root@hp]# ln -s /etc/rc.d/vmware.d/init.d/vmware /etc/rc.d/vmware

6. Then with your favorite editor, include "vmware" to DAEMONS in /etc/rc.conf to allow vmware modules to load while computer boots:

#
# /etc/rc.conf - Main Configuration for Arch Linux
#
...
DAEMONS=(syslog-ng ... ... vmware)

7. You must substitute /sbin/lsmod with /bin/lsmod in the file /etc/rc.d/vmware/init.d/vmware with your favorite editor or use this command instead:

[root@hp]# sed -i 's/\/sbin\/lsmod/\/bin\/lsmod/g' /etc/rc.d/vmware.d/init.d/vmware

8. Restart vmware services and load modules with this command:

[root@hp]# /etc/rc.d/vmware restart

9. There is a common mouse problem (it loses focus outside VGA area 640x480) because of GTK+ new version. To avoid this issue, add this line to the end of "/etc/vmware/bootstrap":

# /etc/vmware/bootstrap
export VMWARE_USE_SHIPPED_GTK=yes

10. Now you can  start as normal user:

[memyselfandi@hp]$ vmware

Or in the gnome menu "System Tools" --> "VMware Workstation"

I didn't experiment any problems with keycodes. I don't know, but they seem to be solved in 6.5.3 version(?)

Hope this help someone!