Where to get linux-kernel-headers for 11.3

**gogalthorp** · 30-Jul-2010, 10:37

I you should not need to rebuild the kernel. If you do it is a bug!!!!

Several people have reported this problem.

Try add the headers package. see if that one does it.

(I'm still on 11.2 so can not check)

**chucktr** · 30-Jul-2010, 12:04

I truly sympathize with you on the headers cause I experienced that problem up until RC2. Thereafter, it could find them. I have a Web Page, SuSE 11.3 , concerning my exploits with this version as it progressed. You may, or may not, find something useful there. All I can say at this point is: openSuSE 11.3 with the kernel-source and kernel-syms installed will compile the modules for VMware version 7.0 and 7.1. I have done this both after a FULL Install -and- after an UPDATE to openSuSE 11.3 from openSuSE 11.2. Realizing that this does not help you or make you feel better... still I am hoping that I or someone else can help you IF we just discuss it enough. I agree that something appears to be messed up with this new version of openSuSE -but- it really isn't. When I was experiencing the same as you BEFORE RC2 I was getting frustrated with the answers from all the helpful people. Yes I loaded the sources, yes I loaded the compiler yes, yes and so on. This has happened with other versions in the past and I couldn't get a decent VMware module(s) compile UNTIL the final release. Well we are there now. I'm sure it is some little thing. We usually catch the big ones.

**chucktr** · 30-Jul-2010, 22:02

Ok after flappin my yap on how everything works ... I wiped out my Test Partition and re-loaded openSuSE 11.3 as a brand new FULL Install. Including all that I thought should work. Then I tried to Install VMware 7.0. I could install it. However, I could not execute it. Could not find the headers!! My current operating system with a working VMware was via an Update from openSuSE 11.2 to openSuSE 11.3. Also in my current system there is NOT a version.h file in the kernel-source headers. I personally had fought this problem before in other releases and in the Betas of this release. I was successful with RC2 and I must have done an Update from RC2 to the Release cause VMware was working in the RC2 load and then the latest release...on my Test Partition. Unfortunately, I don't have RC2 anymore. If you can get a copy, load it up, install VMware, get it working and then Update to the new release. Until someone can find the trouble, the only other way would be to load up openSuSE 11.2, get VMware working and then Update to 11.3. Stranger things have happened in the 'puting world.

**Alastairo** · 31-Jul-2010, 11:04

I am going to try the 11.2 vmware install and then upgrade.

**chucktr** · 31-Jul-2010, 19:33

Ok. I have done more investigating. Whilst searching I found some info on the "SuSEGeek's" pages.
Install and Configure VMWare Server virtualization in openSUSE | SUSE & openSUSE
There used to be scripts that were used to install VMware. They got modern and now use all this GUI stuff and it is hard to find out where anything is -or- goes. I got a hint from his pages and the headers can also be found in:
/lib/modules/2.6.34-12-desktop/build/include
Here you will find three other Sub-Dirs and they contain the files that are needed. Not sure why so many places are needed, but that is what we have. Anyway, I do believe that there might be a need for some "sets" or "exports" of some Environment Vars that will point the operations to where they need to be going. I remember having to do that in the past. Further investigations will be pursued but will be slow. Celebrating a Birthday ...

**caf4926** · 31-Jul-2010, 22:46

Is this what you are after:
linux-glibc-devel

**chucktr** · 31-Jul-2010, 23:44

No but I found this, and shame on me, I forgot to get the name and WebSite where I obtained it. If the author reads this and recognizes it please say it was your contribution. Anyway, it was suggested to compile the items separately and see what the problems are ... and then fix them. Well he (or she) wrote a script to perform the operations. Part of the script needs root permissions... however, you can just do the compile part first if you want. This script -or- individual commands are to be performed in your own home dir and then the results are copied to the /lib/modules/uname -r/misc dir. Creation of the dir and the copy of the files is what root perms are needed for.
==================================================================
cd ~
rm -rf vmware-modules
mkdir vmware-modules
cd vmware-modules
find /usr/lib/vmware/modules/source -name "*.tar" -exec tar xf '{}' \;
mkdir -p /lib/modules/`uname -r`/misc
rm -f /lib/modules/`uname -r`/misc/{vmblock.ko,vmci.ko,vmmon.ko,vmnet.ko,vsock.ko}
cd vmblock-only; make; cd ..; cp -p vmblock.o /lib/modules/`uname -r`/misc/vmblock.ko
cd vmci-only; make; cd ..; cp -p vmci.o /lib/modules/`uname -r`/misc/vmci.ko
cd vmmon-only; make; cd ..; cp -p vmmon.o /lib/modules/`uname -r`/misc/vmmon.ko
cd vmnet-only; make; cd ..; cp -p vmnet.o /lib/modules/`uname -r`/misc/vmnet.ko
#cd vmppuser-only; make; cd ..; cp -p vmppuser.o /lib/modules/`uname -r`/misc/vmppuser.ko
cd vsock-only; make; cd ..; cp -p vsock.o /lib/modules/`uname -r`/misc/vsock.ko
depmod -a
service vmware restart
#If a new install, remove the not_configured tag or the error will keep coming back
rm -f /etc/vmware/not_configured
=================================================================
Now then, I did the commands individually and then, as root, created the lib dir and copied over the files. Notice the name changes. IF you want to just run the script, su to root first.

This does "fix" the problem. I can run VMware AFTER performing these operations. However, I did get one failure on the startup that still needs investigation.
==========================================================
dusty-tr2:/home/ctaylor/vmware-modules # service vmware restart
Stopping VMware services:
VMware USB Arbitrator done
VM communication interface socket family done
Virtual machine communication interface done
Virtual machine monitor done
Blocking file system done
Starting VMware services:
VMware USB Arbitrator done
Virtual machine monitor done
Virtual machine communication interface done
VM communication interface socket family failed
Blocking file system done
Virtual ethernet done
Shared Memory Available done
================================
It is still a little more trouble than the GUI -but- it works. I plan on putting this on my Web Page with some more info and explanations. You can go there in a couple of hours and it should be there.
http://www.trcompu.com/Computers/Lin...SuSE-11-3.html

**chucktr** · 01-Aug-2010, 00:05

Ok, I found the party I want to credit. Right here in our own Forum. User 'silenuz' and the message page is:
Vmware 7 doesn't install on Opensuse 11.3

Take care and have fun

**rjneilly** · 10-Aug-2010, 23:06

Yes and no. In 11.2 the kernel headers were in a package called...(wait for it)... "linux-kernel-headers".
But as you are trying to point out the kernel headers are now in a differently named package..."linux-glibc-devel".

Let me quote the description of the package for those reading this thread:

"linux-glibc-devel - Linux headers for userspace development

This package provides Linux kernel headers, the kernel API description required for compilation of almost all programs. This is the userspace interface; compiling external kernel modules requires kernel-source instead."

So if one has this package installed then all should be well with the builiding of modules, such as vmware is trying to do. Indeed I have this package installed and indeed vmware is not able to build its modules because as we all know it cannot find the header files that match the version of the kernel that is running.

What is really happening, it seems to me (I am no hacker), is that there is a version mismatch between the installed and running kernel and the above package. On my freshly upgraded from 11.2 to 11.3 system I have:
kernel-desktop-2.6.34-12.3.i586
linux-glibc-devel-2.6.32-3.3.noarch

Shouldn't linux-glibc-devel have the same version as the kernel? Or is that irrelevent? I checked for an update to linux-glibc-devel to match the version of the kernel and there is none. Also the package info that lists what it provides says:
kernel-headers
linux-kernel-headers = 2.6.32
linux-glibc-devel = 2.6.32-3.3

It really feels like the package is out of sync with the installed kernel.

Cheers,

Ron

**rjneilly** · 11-Aug-2010, 01:40

I tried the steps that chucktr outlines on opensuse 11.3 with vmware workstation 7.0.0. Only a couple of the vm modules would load properly - not enough to get vmware workstation running. So I uninstalled 7.0.0 and then installed 7.1 and fortunately had no issues with anything. I am now able to run virtual machines in vmware workstation 7.1.

Cheers,

Ron