Issues with vmplayer [again]

[Fintan]

After not having used vmplayer for a while I wanted to test something. Vmplayer installed just fine on 13.04, so I wasn't expecting any problems.

Starting vmplayer gives me a kernel update screen, which is normal after a kernel update (today). Clicking on "install" does nothing however.

Running in konsole gives the same, with no messages.

Try to reinstall just says:

fintan@fintanws1:~$ cd /home/fintan/Downloads/Vmware
fintan@fintanws1:~/Downloads/Vmware$ sudo sh VMware-Player-5.0.2-1031769.x86_64.bundle
[sudo] password for fintan:
Extracting VMware Installer...done.


[################################################## ####################] 100%
The system is up to date. Nothing has been modified.
fintan@fintanws1:~/Downloads/Vmware$

Since removing/purging vmware player is a pain, is there anything else I can do first?

[SteveRiley]

I just now wrote up my workaround procedure.

http://www.kubuntuforums.net/showthread.php?62913

It's mostly from memory. I'm a little hazy on the exact location of where additional components get downloaded. I'll have run a test later.

[Fintan]

Hi Steve,

Thank you for your response.

I have these kernels installed:

fintan@fintanws1:~$ uname -a
Linux fintanws1 3.8.0-23-generic #34-Ubuntu SMP Wed May 29 20:22:58 UTC 2013 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
fintan@fintanws1:~$

fintan@fintanws1:~$ uname -a
Linux fintanws1 3.8.0-21-generic #32-Ubuntu SMP Tue May 14 22:16:46 UTC 2013 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
fintan@fintanws1:~$

fintan@fintanws1:~$ uname -a
Linux fintanws1 3.8.0-19-generic #30-Ubuntu SMP Wed May 1 16:35:23 UTC 2013 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
fintan@fintanws1:~$

Vmplayer works fine with 3.8.0-19.

When I run:

sudo vmware-modconfig --icon='vmware-player' --appname='VMware'

on the other two kernels I get the Kernel Module updater screen.
Normally on this screen the red "X"'s change to green check marks.

Here nothing happens.

Edit: Oh yeah the konsole shows this:

fintan@fintanws1:~$ sudo vmware-modconfig --icon='vmware-player' --appname='VMware'
[sudo] password for fintan:
Logging to /tmp/vmware-root/vmware-modconfig-2990.log
Stopping VMware services:
VMware Authentication Daemon done
VM communication interface socket family done
Virtual machine communication interface done
Virtual machine monitor done
Blocking file system done
fintan@fintanws1:~$

Also I get this for tools:

fintan@fintanws1:~$ sudo updatedb
[sudo] password for fintan:
fintan@fintanws1:~$ locate *vmware*component
fintan@fintanws1:~$

Hm.....

[SteveRiley]

Wow, that's surprising.

Would you please try the vmware-modconfig command (with one of the other two kernels) again, and post the contents of the log file that you see on the screen?

[Fintan]

HI Steve, yes it is strange.

I am trying now with kernel .....-21

fintan@fintanws1:~$ sudo vmware-modconfig --icon='vmware-player' --appname='VMware'
[sudo] password for fintan:
Logging to /tmp/vmware-root/vmware-modconfig-4183.log
Stopping VMware services:
VMware Authentication Daemon done
VM communication interface socket family done
Virtual machine communication interface done
Virtual machine monitor done
Blocking file system done

Now I can see the Kernel Module updater screen but nothing happens.

When I cancel the screen i get this:

fintan@fintanws1:~$ sudo vmware-modconfig --icon='vmware-player' --appname='VMware'
[sudo] password for fintan:
Logging to /tmp/vmware-root/vmware-modconfig-4183.log
Stopping VMware services:
VMware Authentication Daemon done
VM communication interface socket family done
Virtual machine communication interface done
Virtual machine monitor done
Blocking file system done
fintan@fintanws1:~$

For some reason I can't seem to be able to attch the log file. So I will just quote it here:

2013-06-04T09:45:08.622+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Log for VMware Workstation pid=4183 version=9.0.2 build=build-1031769 option=Release
2013-06-04T09:45:08.622+01:00| vthread-3| I120: The process is 64-bit.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.622+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Host codepage=UTF-8 encoding=UTF-8
2013-06-04T09:45:08.622+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Host is Linux 3.8.0-21-generic Ubuntu 13.04
2013-06-04T09:45:08.621+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Msg_Reset:
2013-06-04T09:45:08.621+01:00| vthread-3| I120: [msg.dictionary.load.openFailed] Cannot open file "/usr/lib/vmware/settings": Datei oder Verzeichnis nicht gefunden.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.621+01:00| vthread-3| I120: ----------------------------------------
2013-06-04T09:45:08.621+01:00| vthread-3| I120: PREF Optional preferences file not found at /usr/lib/vmware/settings. Using default values.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.621+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Msg_Reset:
2013-06-04T09:45:08.621+01:00| vthread-3| I120: [msg.dictionary.load.openFailed] Cannot open file "/home/fintan/.vmware/config": Datei oder Verzeichnis nicht gefunden.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.621+01:00| vthread-3| I120: ----------------------------------------
2013-06-04T09:45:08.621+01:00| vthread-3| I120: PREF Optional preferences file not found at /home/fintan/.vmware/config. Using default values.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.622+01:00| vthread-3| W110: Logging to /tmp/vmware-root/vmware-modconfig-4183.log
2013-06-04T09:45:08.692+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Reading in info for the vmmon module.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.692+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Reading in info for the vmnet module.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.692+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Reading in info for the vmblock module.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.692+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Reading in info for the vmci module.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.692+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Reading in info for the vsock module.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.692+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Setting vsock to depend on vmci.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.692+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Created new pathsHash.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.692+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Invoking modinfo on "vmmon".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.696+01:00| vthread-3| I120: "/sbin/modinfo" exited with status 256.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.696+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Invoking modinfo on "vmnet".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.700+01:00| vthread-3| I120: "/sbin/modinfo" exited with status 256.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.700+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Invoking modinfo on "vmblock".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.704+01:00| vthread-3| I120: "/sbin/modinfo" exited with status 256.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.704+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Invoking modinfo on "vmci".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.708+01:00| vthread-3| I120: "/sbin/modinfo" exited with status 256.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.709+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Invoking modinfo on "vsock".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.712+01:00| vthread-3| I120: "/sbin/modinfo" exited with status 256.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.733+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Obtaining info using the running kernel.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.733+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Setting header path for 3.8.0-21-generic to "/lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.733+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Validating path "/lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include" for kernel release "3.8.0-21-generic".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.733+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Failed to find /lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include/linux/version.h
2013-06-04T09:45:08.733+01:00| vthread-3| I120: /lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include/linux/version.h not found, looking for generated/uapi/linux/version.h instead.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.750+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Preprocessed UTS_RELEASE, got value "3.8.0-21-generic".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.750+01:00| vthread-3| I120: The header path "/lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include" for the kernel "3.8.0-21-generic" is valid. Whoohoo!
2013-06-04T09:45:08.869+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Kernel header path retrieved from FileEntry: /lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include
2013-06-04T09:45:08.869+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Update kernel header path to /lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include
2013-06-04T09:45:08.869+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Validating path "/lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include" for kernel release "3.8.0-21-generic".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.869+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Failed to find /lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include/linux/version.h
2013-06-04T09:45:08.869+01:00| vthread-3| I120: /lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include/linux/version.h not found, looking for generated/uapi/linux/version.h instead.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.885+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Preprocessed UTS_RELEASE, got value "3.8.0-21-generic".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.885+01:00| vthread-3| I120: The header path "/lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include" for the kernel "3.8.0-21-generic" is valid. Whoohoo!
2013-06-04T09:45:08.886+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Found compiler at "/usr/bin/gcc"
2013-06-04T09:45:08.891+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Got gcc version "4.7".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.891+01:00| vthread-3| I120: The GCC version matches the kernel GCC minor version like a glove.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.891+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Using user supplied compiler "/usr/bin/gcc".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.897+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Got gcc version "4.7".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.897+01:00| vthread-3| I120: The GCC version matches the kernel GCC minor version like a glove.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.908+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Trying to find a suitable PBM set for kernel "3.8.0-21-generic".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.908+01:00| vthread-3| I120: No matching PBM set was found for kernel "3.8.0-21-generic".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.908+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Validating path "/lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include" for kernel release "3.8.0-21-generic".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.908+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Failed to find /lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include/linux/version.h
2013-06-04T09:45:08.908+01:00| vthread-3| I120: /lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include/linux/version.h not found, looking for generated/uapi/linux/version.h instead.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.921+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Preprocessed UTS_RELEASE, got value "3.8.0-21-generic".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.921+01:00| vthread-3| I120: The header path "/lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include" for the kernel "3.8.0-21-generic" is valid. Whoohoo!
2013-06-04T09:45:08.921+01:00| vthread-3| I120: The GCC version matches the kernel GCC minor version like a glove.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.922+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Validating path "/lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include" for kernel release "3.8.0-21-generic".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.922+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Failed to find /lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include/linux/version.h
2013-06-04T09:45:08.922+01:00| vthread-3| I120: /lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include/linux/version.h not found, looking for generated/uapi/linux/version.h instead.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.934+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Preprocessed UTS_RELEASE, got value "3.8.0-21-generic".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.934+01:00| vthread-3| I120: The header path "/lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include" for the kernel "3.8.0-21-generic" is valid. Whoohoo!
2013-06-04T09:45:08.934+01:00| vthread-3| I120: The GCC version matches the kernel GCC minor version like a glove.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.935+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Using temp dir "/tmp".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.937+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Invoking modinfo on "vmmon".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.941+01:00| vthread-3| I120: "/sbin/modinfo" exited with status 256.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.941+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Invoking modinfo on "vmnet".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.945+01:00| vthread-3| I120: "/sbin/modinfo" exited with status 256.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.945+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Invoking modinfo on "vmblock".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.947+01:00| vthread-3| I120: "/sbin/modinfo" exited with status 256.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.947+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Invoking modinfo on "vmci".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.952+01:00| vthread-3| I120: "/sbin/modinfo" exited with status 256.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.952+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Invoking modinfo on "vsock".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.956+01:00| vthread-3| I120: "/sbin/modinfo" exited with status 256.

Is this of any use?

[SteveRiley]

So I added another kernel plus its headers and ran the sudo vmware-modconfig command. All is hunky dory (that means "fine").

steve@t520:~$ sudo vmware-modconfig --icon='vmware-player' --appname='VMware'
Logging to /tmp/vmware-root/vmware-modconfig-4229.log
Stopping VMware services:
   VMware Authentication Daemon                                        done
   VM communication interface socket family                            done
   Virtual machine communication interface                             done
   Virtual machine monitor                                             done
   Blocking file system                                                done
Using 2.6.x kernel build system.
[I]   {...compile crud cremated...}[/I]
Starting VMware services:
   Virtual machine monitor                                             done
   Virtual machine communication interface                             done
   VM communication interface socket family                            done
   Blocking file system                                                done
   Virtual ethernet                                                    done
   VMware Authentication Daemon                                        done
   Shared Memory Available                                             done

Log file: http://paste.ubuntu.com/5731855/

Apparently the "Using 2.6.x kernel build system" message is completely bogus, for I have no such ancient kernel anywhere near this laptop

[Fintan]

Okay, so what is wrong here?

[SteveRiley]

OK, so yours appears to be simply bailing early in the process.

Basic question: does yours look like mine:

steve@t520:~$ [B]ll /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source[/B]
total 4872
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root    4096 Apr 30 19:08 ./
drwxr-xr-x 4 root root    4096 Apr 30 19:08 ../
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  747520 Apr 30 19:08 vmblock.tar
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1187840 Apr 30 19:08 vmci.tar
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1187840 Apr 30 19:08 vmmon.tar
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  860160 Apr 30 19:08 vmnet.tar
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root  993280 Apr 30 19:08 vsock.tar

[Fintan]

Yep:

fintan@fintanws1:~$ ll /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source
insgesamt 4872
drwxr-xr-x 2 root root 4096 Mai 1 15:35 ./
drwxr-xr-x 4 root root 4096 Mai 1 15:35 ../
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 747520 Mai 1 15:35 vmblock.tar
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1187840 Mai 1 15:35 vmci.tar
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 1187840 Mai 1 15:35 vmmon.tar
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 860160 Mai 1 15:35 vmnet.tar
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 993280 Mai 1 15:35 vsock.tar
fintan@fintanws1:~$

[SteveRiley]

Hm. This is a stumper. What version of Player have you installed? I have: VMware-Player-5.0.2-1031769.x86_64.bundle, which is the most recent.

Right now I'm gonna suggest a guess before I go to bed. If you reinstall Player (while booted into the new kernel), can you then perform my steps?

I'll check your answer in the morning.

[SteveRiley]

Uh, how much space do you have left in /tmp?

[Fintan]

My version: VMware-Player-5.0.2-1031769.x86_64

Reinstalling from ...-21:

fintan@fintanws1:~/Downloads/Vmware$ sudo sh VMware-Player-5.0.2-1031769.x86_64.bundle
[sudo] password for fintan:
Extracting VMware Installer...done.


[################################################## ####################] 100%
The system is up to date. Nothing has been modified.
fintan@fintanws1:~/Downloads/Vmware$

I did notice this in the log file:

2013-06-04T09:45:08.908+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Validating path "/lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include" for kernel release "3.8.0-21-generic".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.908+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Failed to find /lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include/linux/version.h
2013-06-04T09:45:08.908+01:00| vthread-3| I120: /lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include/linux/version.h not found, looking for generated/uapi/linux/version.h instead.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.921+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Preprocessed UTS_RELEASE, got value "3.8.0-21-generic".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.921+01:00| vthread-3| I120: The header path "/lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include" for the kernel "3.8.0-21-generic" is valid. Whoohoo!
2013-06-04T09:45:08.921+01:00| vthread-3| I120: The GCC version matches the kernel GCC minor version like a glove.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.922+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Validating path "/lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include" for kernel release "3.8.0-21-generic".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.922+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Failed to find /lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include/linux/version.h
2013-06-04T09:45:08.922+01:00| vthread-3| I120: /lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include/linux/version.h not found, looking for generated/uapi/linux/version.h instead.
2013-06-04T09:45:08.934+01:00| vthread-3| I120: Preprocessed UTS_RELEASE, got value "3.8.0-21-generic".
2013-06-04T09:45:08.934+01:00| vthread-3| I120: The header path "/lib/modules/3.8.0-21-generic/build/include" for the kernel "3.8.0-21-generic" is valid. Whoohoo!

Checked muon and found the 64 bit 3.8.0-21-generic installed

What now? Sleep well

Edit:

Uh, how much space do you have left in /tmp?

I have 8.6 Gb left in /

[SteveRiley]

I did notice this in the log file:
{...snip...}

Mine's the same. Player is hardcoded to look for version.h in specific locations. Newer kernel header packages don't have that; instead, they dynamically generate the file and place it in a different location. This change broke the Player installer for a while, and it was necessary to copy the generated file to the expected location. VMware fixed that. If the hardcoded location fails, Player searches for the generated file. The "Woohoo!" lines in the log indicate that the search was successful.

Checked muon and found the 64 bit 3.8.0-21-generic installed

Do you have both linux-headers-3.8.0-21 and linux-headers-3.8.0-21-generic installed?

[Fintan]

Do you have both linux-headers-3.8.0-21 and linux-headers-3.8.0-21-generic installed?

Yes. Linux-tools is not installed

[SteveRiley]

Dibl reported a different sequence on the VMware Player forum:

1. Log out of X

2. Switch to a TTY console

3. Elevate to root

4. Go to the /usr/bin subdirectory

5. Run

vmware-modconfig --console --install-all --icon=vmware-player --appname=VMware

But it might even be simpler. Before you do all that, see if this works in console window while still in X:

sudo vmware-modconfig --console --install-all