9 Replies Latest reply on Jan 19, 2014 5:23 AM by pepelegalbr

Missing Files HGFS Shared Folder in Ubuntu 13.10 x64 Guest

webmonarch Nov 13, 2013 4:54 PM

I am trying to use a shared folder between my linux host an my Ubuntu 13.10 x64 guest...but, I am noticing that files are missing! The files are not completely missing. I can `stat` them by name, but they don't show up in `ls` or similar.

I think the best way to show the problem is with a sample shell session:

vm-guest:/mnt/hgfs/vmshared# pwd

/mnt/hgfs/vmshared

vm-guest:/mnt/hgfs/vmshared# echo newfile >> newfile

vm-guest:/mnt/hgfs/vmshared# ls

# EXPECTED: to see a file

vm-guest:/mnt/hgfs/vmshared# echo newfile2 >> newfile2

vm-guest:/mnt/hgfs/vmshared# ls

newfile2

# EXPECTED: see both newfile and newfile2, only see newfile2

vm-guest:/mnt/hgfs/vmshared# cat newfile2

newfile2

vm-guest:/mnt/hgfs/vmshared# cat newfile

newfile

# The file is there, even though it doesn't show in ls

vm-guest:/mnt/hgfs/vmshared# touch somethingelse

vm-guest:/mnt/hgfs/vmshared# ls

newfile2

# EXPECTED: to see newfile, newfile2, and somethingelse

vm-guest:/mnt/hgfs/vmshared# cat somethingelse

# File is there...empty...

vm-guest:/mnt/hgfs/vmshared# cat notafile

cat: notafile: No such file or directory

# Expected error for a non-existing file

vm-guest:/mnt/hgfs/vmshared# touch somemore

vm-guest:/mnt/hgfs/vmshared# ls

newfile newfile2

# newfile eventually showed...but now not others.

This is very weird behavior. I DO NOT see the same behavior with a Windows 8 guest running on the same Linux host. I am guessing it's something wrong with the vmware-tools on Linux? This is obviously frustrating to anyone actually trying to accomplish something.

Help and suggestions appreciated.

cheers, eric

1. Re: Missing Files HGFS Shared Folder in Ubuntu 13.10 x64 Guest

steve goddard Nov 15, 2013 9:01 AM (in response to webmonarch)

Hi there,
I am the developer for the shared folders feature.

I have to thank you for reporting this. However, this issue is a Linux client issue only. So you will not see it with Windows guests.
It is also only an issue for Linux kernels 3.11 and newer.

This issue was introduced by changes to the directory read (readdir, scandir) file IO handling for the 3.11 kernels. This issue is that one or two entries are erroneously dropped from the list returned. The missed entries will still be accessible but you might not see it in a listing.

It has since been addressed and fixed internally and will be released in the next tools release.
Apologies to anyone who runs into this issue, somehow we missed it in testing with the original changes but only discovered it too late for the current release.

Steve
Like Show 0 Likes(0)

Actions
2. Re: Missing Files HGFS Shared Folder in Ubuntu 13.10 x64 Guest

AlanaA Nov 15, 2013 7:41 PM (in response to steve goddard)

Is this related to the vmhgfs issues reported here with host and guest kernels older than 3.11?
Like Show 0 Likes(0)

Actions
3. Re: Missing Files HGFS Shared Folder in Ubuntu 13.10 x64 Guest

steve goddard Nov 15, 2013 11:20 PM (in response to AlanaA)

No, that is a separate issue completely.

A caching issue in the virtual machine Linux client and detecting when the file has been modified remotely (i.e. on the host), it should purge the cache and read the file as new.
However, I broke something when fixing another caching issue.

Those problems have nothing to do with directory entries not being returned. As I said earlier this issue has been fixed internally, and is ready to go public with the next release of tools.

Thanks.
Steve
Like Show 0 Likes(0)

Actions
4. Re: Missing Files HGFS Shared Folder in Ubuntu 13.10 x64 Guest

YiLing98 Nov 16, 2013 2:56 AM (in response to webmonarch)

Hi

Welcome to the communities.

connect through ssh and share file ext name .

If I have lost confidence in myself, I have the universe against me.
Like Show 0 Likes(0)

Actions
5. Re: Missing Files HGFS Shared Folder in Ubuntu 13.10 x64 Guest

webmonarch Nov 17, 2013 1:43 PM (in response to steve goddard)

Thanks for the update...appreciate that I'm not crazy. It's an unfortunate bug, but it happens. I am working around it with SSHFS.

Any idea when the tools update will go out?
Like Show 0 Likes(0)

Actions
6. Re: Missing Files HGFS Shared Folder in Ubuntu 13.10 x64 Guest

steve goddard Nov 17, 2013 10:10 PM (in response to webmonarch)

I wish I could give you times and dates, but I am not allowed to.
Schedules change and priorities are often modified so it would probably lead to issues which is why it is company policy.

Sorry.
Steve
Like Show 0 Likes(0)

Actions
7. Re: Missing Files HGFS Shared Folder in Ubuntu 13.10 x64 Guest

Quanticles Jan 9, 2014 1:24 PM (in response to webmonarch)

I don't know if this is related or not, but in addition to this issue I'm also finding that small file changes on the host are not being propagated to the guest. This often occurs when changing the parameter to a variable in a source file on the host, and the change not showing up on the client. I'm running RHEL6 for the host, and Ubuntu 13.10 x64 for the guest.
Like Show 0 Likes(0)

Actions
8. Re: Missing Files HGFS Shared Folder in Ubuntu 13.10 x64 Guest

steve goddard Jan 9, 2014 1:46 PM (in response to Quanticles)

Quanticles wrote:

I don't know if this is related or not, but in addition to this issue I'm also finding that small file changes on the host are not being propagated to the guest. This often occurs when changing the parameter to a variable in a source file on the host, and the change not showing up on the client. I'm running RHEL6 for the host, and Ubuntu 13.10 x64 for the guest.

It is broken issue with 6.0.2 tools.
See https://communities.vmware.com/message/2331351#2331351 and https://communities.vmware.com/message/2326272#2326272 for a discussion.
Unfortunately, that is only fixable by avoiding host side edits between VM accesses of the file or downgrading tools to 6.0.1.
The details to do the downgrade should be contained in those discussions. Note, you will need to edit the VM configuration file (ending in .vmx suffix) to prevent automatically upgrading back to 6.0.2. Details are also in the threads.

I am working on that bug actively.

Apologies if you can't downgrade, due to the newer Linux kernel in 13.10.

Thanks for your patience with this.
Steve
Like Show 0 Likes(0)

Actions
9. Re: Missing Files HGFS Shared Folder in Ubuntu 13.10 x64 Guest

pepelegalbr Jan 19, 2014 5:23 AM (in response to webmonarch)

I have tried this on Kali Linux:

HGFS not working on Kali Linux
Like Show 0 Likes(0)

Actions