VMware Tools on SLES 11 SP2

[robpou]

Hi there,

anyone using ESX 3.5 with SLES 11 SP2 yet/already?

On ESXi5, I can install VMware Tools (8.6.0) without problems on a clean SP2 install or after an upgrade from SP1 to SP2.

On 3.5 however, the kernel version change - SP2 got a shiny new 3.0.13 after SP1's 2.6.32 - distracts the installer. The problem is, that SUSE provided every kernel package with version 3.0.13 (kernel-default, kernel-default-base, kernel-source, kernel-syms - but the linux-kernel-headers package remains 2.6.32, to provide backward compatibility...

What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running
kernel? [/usr/src/linux/include]

The directory of kernel headers (version @@VMWARE@@ UTS_RELEASE) does not match
your running kernel (version 3.0.13-0.27-default).  Even if the module were to
compile successfully, it would not load into the running kernel.

What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running
kernel? [/usr/src/linux/include] /lib/modules/3.0.13-0.27-default/build/include

The directory of kernel headers (version @@VMWARE@@ UTS_RELEASE) does not match
your running kernel (version 3.0.13-0.27-default).  Even if the module were to
compile successfully, it would not load into the running kernel.

as said, the Tools installer in ESXi5 does not have any problems like this. Unfortunately, our 3.5 hosts are not compatible with newer ESX(i) versions, hence must remain on 3.5.

Any hints?

[JimKnopf99]

The only thing i found is that you need esx3.5 u4 to support sles11

See the guest os compatibility guide.

http://partnerweb.vmware.com/comp_guide2/search.php?testConfig=16&deviceCategory=software

Frank

[robpou]

After playing some more with the tools installer, I see now that you're right

ESX 3.5 + SLES11SP1 = no problems

ESX 3.5 + SLES11SP2 = can not be installed

ESXi5 GA (build 469512) + SLES11SP2 = it may be installed, but in the most cases, it fails

ESXi5 with updates (build 515841) + SLES11 SP2 = no problems

So the problem is not simply in SUSE's devision to replace the kernel and the tools-installer being dumb not to find the header files, but in the kernel being at version 3.0 etc... If even the tools from ESXi5 GA can't be installed (there is a problem when compiling the vsock.h) and updated tools are neccessary, then we can't expect the 3.5 tools to install.

Anyway, we're moving away from these servers so ESX 3.5 will be replaced soon. Thanks for your reply.

[Joaquim]

Encontro-me ausente até 20/03/2012.

[Cordb]

Hi there all.

What also can help is to check if there are any Open VMware tools installed by default.

I did de-install them and then installing the (ESX) Vmware-tools without any problem.