vmplayer crash with Fedora 2.6.32 kernels

[rob72]

Hi,

Running VMplayer 3.0.0 build-203739 on Fedora 12 works with the 2.6.31 kernels, but with the 2.6.32 kernels, vmplayer crashes on startup.

I had to patch the vmware kernel modules to compile on 2.6.32 as mentioned elsewere, but then they compiled cleanly and the vmware service starts sucessfully. It is when I actually start vmplayer that it briefly shows the vmplayer UI and then vanishes. Starting it as "GDK_NATIVE_WINDOWS=1 vmplayer" makes no difference.

The kernel I am currently using is kernel-2.6.32.8-48.rc2.fc12.x86_64 but previous 2.6.32 builds out of Koji had the same problem.

When I look at the player log I see a bunch of errors related to /dev/mem permission denied

Feb 18 12:02:03.408: player| Log for VMware Player pid=15009 version=3.0.0 build=build-203739 option=Release

Feb 18 12:02:03.408: player| The process is 64-bit.

Feb 18 12:02:03.408: player| Host codepage=UTF-8 encoding=UTF-8

Feb 18 12:02:03.408: player| LOCALE en_GB.UTF-8 -> NULL

Feb 18 12:02:03.477: player| HAL05LoadHALLibraries: dlopened libhal.so.1.

Feb 18 12:02:03.477: player| HAL05LoadHalLibraries: dlopened libdbus-1.so.3.

Feb 18 12:02:03.477: player| HAL05LoadGlibLibrary: dlopened libdbus-glib-1.so.2.

Feb 18 12:02:03.497: player| Unable to classify bus of disk: /dev/sda (/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/storage_serial_HITACHI_HTS723216L9SA60_090204FC1220NCGGZGDD). Using SCSI.

Feb 18 12:02:03.501: player| Unable to classify bus of cdrom: /dev/sr0 (/org/freedesktop/Hal/devices/storage_model_DVD_RAM_UJ_842). Using SCSI.

Feb 18 12:02:03.751: player| HAL05Init: HAL05 Initialized successfully.

Feb 18 12:02:03.808: player| UUID: Unable to open /dev/mem: Permission denied

Feb 18 12:02:03.833: player| UUID: Invalid gethostid routine. Value = 0.

Feb 18 12:02:04.321: player| SMBIOS: can't open /dev/mem: Insufficient permissions to access the file

Feb 18 12:02:04.321: player| VmhsHostInfoPopulateSystem: Could not get information from smbios to populate VMDB.

Feb 18 12:02:04.321: player| UUID: Unable to open /dev/mem: Permission denied

Feb 18 12:02:04.322: player| HOSTINFO: Seeing Intel CPU, numCoresPerCPU 2 numThreadsPerCore 1.

Feb 18 12:02:04.322: player| HOSTINFO: This machine has 1 physical CPUS, 2 total cores, and 2 logical CPUs.

Feb 18 12:02:04.413: player| Using system libcrypto, version 90809F

[rob72]

OK, it seems I found a workaround to the crash. Not sure why it did not effect 2.6.31 but did 2.6.32

"mv /usr/lib/vmware/resources/mozilla-root-certs.crt /usr/lib/vmware/resources/mozilla-root-certs.crt.old"

After that I am able to start it again

[chrison]

I had to patch the vmware kernel modules to compile on 2.6.32 as mentioned elsewere, but then they compiled cleanly and the vmware service starts sucessfully. It is when I actually start vmplayer that it briefly shows the vmplayer UI and then vanishes. Starting it as "GDK_NATIVE_WINDOWS=1 vmplayer" makes no difference.

The kernel I am currently using is kernel-2.6.32.8-48.rc2.fc12.x86_64 but previous 2.6.32 builds out of Koji had the same problem.

Hi, Rob72:

Where did you see a patch for compiling the kernel modules? I'm running VMware Player 3.0.0 build-203739 on Fedora 64-bit kernel 2.6.32.9-67.fc12.x86_64 and I'm having problems compiling the modules. I've searched the community high and low and can't find a patch for the 2.6.32 kernels, so if you (or anyone else) could point me in the right direction I'd be VERY thankful!

Thanks!

Regards, Chris

P.S. I'm attaching the log file, in case that's helpful.

[rob72]

VMplayer and Workstation 7 have the exact same problem

http://communities.vmware.com/thread/239221

[chrison]

VMplayer and Workstation 7 have the exact same problem

http://communities.vmware.com/thread/239221

That worked, Rob72... Thank you VERY much!

Btw, just out of curiosity, is this a problem with VMPlayer 3.0.1 too? I haven't upgraded yet, but I'm thinking 'bout it.

Regards, Chris

[rob72]

Well, I have upgraded to 3.0.1, and already noticed that the certificate issue is NOT fixed. And the release notes make no mention of kernel 2.6.32 support so I suspect they did not bother to fix that either.

The modules I am using are still from the patched 3.0 release for now. But I'm sure to find out the next time I do a kernel upgrade and the modules need to be rebuild.

[kissanej]

VMplayer 3.0.1 build-227600 looks to be working ok for me under the lastest released Fedora 12 kernel (2.6.32.9-67.fc12.x86_64). I just had to use the 'vmware-modconfig --console --install-all' command to recompile after the kernel was updated without any patches. The certificate issue is still there but that isn't a big problem as the Windows image I use has the vmtools pre-installed, used a Fedora 10 PC to get the correct one.

[chrison]

Thanks, kissane and rob72, for that additional information. I still haven't upgraded VMware, but will be doing so in the next few days. My guest also has VMware Tools preinstalled so (hopefully!) there won't be a problem.

Regards, Chris

[chrison]

Well, I have upgraded to 3.0.1, and already noticed that the certificate issue is NOT fixed. And the release notes make no mention of kernel 2.6.32 support so I suspect they did not bother to fix that either.

The modules I am using are still from the patched 3.0 release for now. But I'm sure to find out the next time I do a kernel upgrade and the modules need to be rebuild.

Hi rob72:

I just upgraded to Player 3.0.1 so here's a quick update...

1. If by "certificate issue" you mean having to do "mv /usr/lib/vmware/resources/mozilla-root-certs.crt /usr/lib/vmware/resources/mozilla-root-certs.crt.old" to get Player to run, you're correct... that's still an issue but at least it's an easy fix.

2. The modules compiled without a problem, so I didn't have to apply the patch.

3. For some reason, Adobe Photoshop Elements 8 has died (in my Win7 guest), so I'll have to uninstall/reinstall that. Otherwise, everything else in the Win7 guest "seems" to be working. Also, everything in my Ubuntu 9.10 guest "seems" to be working.

So, overall, it was a "relatively" easy upgrade.

Regards, Chris