VMware and SUSE 10.2

[CWBillow]

I've been having some difficulty with VMware and SUSE 10.1 (printer issues) and I came across a post in the SUSE Forums

http://www.suseforums.net/index.php?act=ST&f=3&t=27788

which says that VMware has no support for SUSE 10.2 USB devices

>>

So, in order to get USB support for VMware guests under 10.2, using any of the current VMware program versions (Workstation 5.5, Server 1.0, or Player xxx), you'll need to compile a custom kernel.

<<

Yes?

Regards,

Chuck Billow

[kjuergen]

Thanks for the response which may solve my problem somewhere in the future........ Meanwhile I'm working on getting XEN up and running to use virtualization. If it works I won't have a need for VMware any more and have to write off the money I invested.

That problem isn't new and also affects other distributions since months.

Ubuntu Linux 6.06

SUSE Linux 10.1

SUSE Enterprise Linux Server 10

Mandriva Linux 2006

SLES9 SP3 64 bit

and all later releases just had some sort of double entry for legacy applications.

New releases will for sure disable the old insecure support after such a long grace period..

Juergen

[KevinG]

Thanks for the response which may solve my problem

somewhere in the future........ Meanwhile I'm working

on getting XEN up and running to use virtualization.

If it works I won't have a need for VMware any more

and have to write off the money I invested.

That problem isn't new and also affects other

distributions since months.

Ubuntu Linux 6.06

SUSE Linux 10.1

SUSE Enterprise Linux Server 10

Mandriva Linux 2006

SLES9 SP3 64 bit

l later releases just had some sort of double entry

for legacy applications.

New releases will for sure disable the old insecure

support after such a long grace period..

Juergen

Sorry, but this is NOT the case with the OS' listed above, they can work around this issue, mount USBFS to /proc/bus/usb.

To do this while the host is running, execute the following command as root:

mount -t usbfs none /proc/bus/usb

Good luck with Xen

[kjuergen]

Yes they can as they enabled the work around for legacy support. All required would be that VMware can use the new path to the info required. As one has to run the installation scripts it shouldn't have been too tough to offer a selection there.

This wasknown_ to VMware since these systems with the newer kernel were released yet it looks it had been ignored and the November release could have had it incorporated.

Sure, VMware \_was_ the better solution and I didn't want to get into XEN which is why I paid for it even though I only use it for private use.

Juergen

[KevinG]

A better solution is being looked at and it should available in a later release

[kjuergen]

Kevin,

can I get you into disclosing some kind of totally \_not-garanteed_ time frame this might be done???

(later is a bit too wide open, next 3-6 months/weeks/years or something vague is easier to get comfortable with).

Thanks,

Juergen

[KevinG]

Hi Juergen,

Unfortunately, I can not comment on release dates

[shipinomore]

I have been reading this thread about the usb and printer problem.

I have 10.1 as a host and was trying to get my printer to work in Mandriva 2007 guest.

I found a link KevinG posted where he said to go into /etc/fstab and there I found a line of code that shows usbfs set to noauto so I did as he suggested to remove the no and I now have the printer working fine.

Will this help????

Shipinomore (Larry)

[AVonGauss]

There is another thread that may be of interest to people running SuSE 10.2 and trying to get USB connectivity, it's not a magic answer and still requires either rebuilding or installing a different kernel, but some helpful links are provided...

http://www.vmware.com/community/thread.jspa?threadID=65446&tstart=0

[dmanus]

Here is the Fix!

1. Install kernel-sources and kernel-syms

2. copy .config and Modules.symvers from /usr/src/linux-obj/ to /usr/src/linux

3. make oldconfig

4. make menuconfig, select the usbfs

5. make modules && make modules_install

6. change noauto to auto for the usbfs in fstab

7. reboot

8. ta-da

[striderjw]

I shall be installing openSUSE 10.2 on a new PC in a week or so. Is your 'recipe' really all that needs to be done to get USB support in VMware 5.5.x under 10.2? I have never compiled a kernel in my life but I'm willing to sup with the Devil if it really is that easy!

[prsg]

i was trying your solution for the USB but for me the USB_DEVICEFS doesnt get selected. I checked the PROC_FS and it is selected. Can u please suggest a solution?

[kjuergen]

almost 3 months since the release of SuSE 10.2 and still no word from VMware.......

GREAT!

>kjs

[KevinG]

The solution is to use VMware Workstation 6 that currently is in beta or recompile your 10.2 kernel to support usbfs

[telfred]

How did you do with your kernel compiling ?

Do you have a working system ?

SUSE 9 seems a lot better than version 10

[ddjm]

How did you do with your kernel compiling ?

Instructions below.

Do you have a working system ?

Yes! I can now sync my Windows Mobile Pocket PC with Linux via USB cable + ActiveSync running inside a virtual Windows XP

SUSE 9 seems a lot better than version 10

I like OpenSUSE 10.2 a lot more than the previous releases

How I got it working:

\- the Kernel sources and all needed tools (gcc, make, etc.) have to be installed ... Make sure you select the relevant packages in "yast"; it should take care of the dependencies

\- make sure your system has all the current (kernel-)patches if there are any

\- You did backup your stuff, right? You know how to get it all back running and you're aware that I am not responsible if you hose your installation with these instructions, yes?

As superuser "root", use these commands:

cd /usr/src/linux

make cloneconfig

make menuconfig

==> now we need to enable the "USB Device File System" option:

\- select the menu "Device Drivers"

\- select the menu "USB Support"

\- select "USB device filesystem" and press "y" once

\- you should now be seeing a little asterisk next to it, e.g. "[*]"

\- Voila!

==> press the ESC until you get back to the main menu, select the menu point "Exit". You will be asked if you want to save your kernel config: Yes, you want that!

We're almost done. As "root" type these commands:

make all

make modules_install

make install

reboot

You can also squeeze it all into one single line so that it all happens automagically. As "root" type all this on one single command line:

make all && make modules_install && make install && reboot

And now go to your coffee vending machine, have a coffee or two, go out for a smoke (if you smoke, that is), have a chit-chat with your coworkers, because this might take around 30 minutes, maybe even more.

When you come back you should be greeted with your login screen and from here onwards everything should work.

As I said, I use USB support to have my PocketPC synced with my virtual Windows desktop. Works great now

Regards,

ddjm.

[ddjm]

I forgot to add this:

make sure you correct the line in /etc/fstab[/b] about "usbfs" so it looks like this:

usbfs /proc/bus/usb usbfs defaults[/b] 0 0

[brandonkirsch]

Hey everyone,

I know this has been a big pain in the a__ for all of us but I have been on top of this issue and have an easy fix. The developers at SuSE have opened the hole just a little bit for us who want to use the "usbfs" required for VMWare USB support. It's not turned on by default, but here's how to do it:

First off, run your SUSE 10.2 Online Update. Yast -> Online Update -> Get the newest Kernel

Second, open a shell and su to root. Type the following command:

mount -t usbfs none /proc/bus/usb

Third, open up VMWare and start up your guest OS.

Forth, plug in your USB device and watch VMWare grab the device for your guest OS!

If you want a perment fix, put the mounting of "usbfs" into /etc/fstab so it happens on boot.

**The SUSE developers disabled USBFS because of security concerns. Think twice before you mount the USBFS on a multi user system because there are small but real security issues with it.