I've been struggling to get VMware Server 1.0.3 running properly on Debian sid with an x86_64 kernel.

some backstory (effectively that with a 2.6.22 amd64 kernel from Debian and Petr's 113 patch, I was seeing I/O and process control hangs on the host after some time, with even programs like top hanging and vmnet-* processes hanging in D unkillable sleep state)

Debian pushed out an updated kernel:

[code]
[2:50|~]
amitg@athena. COLUMNS=160 dpkg -p linux-image-2.6.22-2-amd64
Package: linux-image-2.6.22-2-amd64
Priority: optional
Section: admin
Installed-Size: 69280
Maintainer: Debian Kernel Team <debian-kernel@lists.debian.org>
Architecture: i386
Source: linux-2.6
Version: 2.6.22-4
Provides: linux-image, linux-image-2.6, linux-modules-2.6.22-2-amd64
Depends: module-init-tools (>= 0.9.13), e2fsprogs (>= 1.35-7), initramfs-tools (
Suggests: linux-doc-2.6.22, grub (>= 0.97-3) | lilo (>= 19.1)
Conflicts: grub (<= 0.95+cvs20040624-17), initramfs-tools (<< 0.55), yaird (<< 0
.0.12-8)
Size: 18409752
Description: Linux 2.6.22 image on AMD64
This package provides the binary image and pre-built loadable modules for
Linux kernel 2.6.22 on all 64bit single- and multiprocessor AMD and Intel
machines.
[2:51|~]
amitg@athena. uname -a
Linux athena 2.6.22-2-amd64 #1 SMP Fri Aug 31 02:15:40 UTC 2007 x86_64 GNU/Linux
[2:51|~]
amitg@athena. modinfo vmmon
filename: /lib/modules/2.6.22-2-amd64/misc/vmmon.ko
description: VMware Virtual Machine Monitor.
author: VMware, Inc.
depends:
vermagic: 2.6.22-2-amd64 SMP mod_unload
parm: vmversion:VMware version you use: 1=VMware 2, 2=GSX 1, 3=VMware
3, 4=VMware 3.2, 5=GSX 2, 6=GSX 2.5, 7=VMware 4, 8=VMware 3.2.1, 9=GSX 2.5.1, 10
=VMware 4.5, 11=VMware 4.5.2, 12=GSX 3.2, 13=VMware 5.0, 14=VMware 5.5, 15=Serve
r 1.0, 16=VMware 6.0, 17=TOT (int)
[2:51|~]
amitg@athena. modinfo vmnet
filename: /lib/modules/2.6.22-2-amd64/misc/vmnet.ko
description: VMware Virtual Networking Driver.
author: VMware, Inc.
depends:
vermagic: 2.6.22-2-amd64 SMP mod_unload
[/code]

As before, I tried to use Petr's patch vmware-any-any-update113.tar.gz. This time, however, 3-4 seconds after starting any VM, the machine locks hard. Even magic SysRq (Alt-SysRq R[aw], [SA]K, T[erminate all tasks], [k]I[ll all tasks], S[ync], U[nmount], B[oot]) was completely ineffective.

Also, I get the same hard lock with the 2.6.22-2-vserver-686 2.6.22-4 kernel from Debian uploaded at the same time.


[code]
[3:04|~]
amitg@athena. dpkg -p vmware-server
Package: vmware-server
Priority: extra
Section: alien
Installed-Size: 200180
Maintainer: root <root@athena.gurdasani.com>
Architecture: i386
Version: 1.0.3-44356
Depends: libc6 (>= 2.6-1), libice6 (>= 1:1.0.0), libjpeg62, libsm6, libx11-6, li
bxext6, libxi6, libxt6, libxtst6, zlib1g (>= 1:1.2.3.3.dfsg-1)
Size: 105482932
Description: VMware Server
VMware Virtual Platform is a thin software layer that allows multiple guest
operating systems to run concurrently on a single standard PC, without
repartitioning or rebooting, and without significant loss of performance.
.
(Converted from a rpm package by alien version 8.68.)
[/code]

It's VMware Server 1.0.3, build 44356, with Petr's patch version 113.


[code]
[3:05|~]
amitg@athena. cat /etc/debian_version
lenny/sid
[3:06|~]
amitg@athena. uname -a
Linux athena 2.6.22-2-amd64 #1 SMP Fri Aug 31 02:15:40 UTC 2007 x86_64 GNU/Linux
[3:06|~]
amitg@athena. file /lib/libc-2.6.1.so
/lib/libc-2.6.1.so: ELF 32-bit LSB shared object, Intel 80386, version 1 (SYSV),
for GNU/Linux 2.6.8, stripped
[/code]

Debian unstable (sid) i386 with an x86_64 kernel packaged by Debian, based on 2.6.22.5 according to the Debian changelog for the package.


Windows XP Professional SP2 x86 (32-bit OS) among others (happens with all guests).

Can anyone else reproduce this aggravating issue I am seeing?

Does anyone at VMware or otherwise have any idea how to get VMware Server working again?