I am now encountering the same sort of crash with Workstation 7.1 and Fedora 13 default kernel and Lucid low-latency kernel when using my Sennheiser USB headset. This worked with Fedora 11 (I tested both 11 and 13 today).

It is getting to the point where I have to boot into Karmic whenever I need to do on-line audio conferencing.

There is definitely a problem here, and VMware is on a negative trend for USB compatibility with the linux kernel.

I use a HP KQ246AA 8.0MP USB Deluxe webcam, and the same kernel crash happens with my system:

Ubuntu 9.10 64 Bit - Karmic Koala and WS 7.1

But it happens only if I plug the webcam while the PC is on and WS 7.1 is already started, ( I normally use this camera with a different PC - Win XP ). If I plug it before the PC is on, and start it with the webcam already plugged in, then I don't experience the crash, and the camera works fine with WS 7.1 from a Win XP guest ; it's strange but at least it works.

I tried testing my headset with Fedora 13, Lucid, Maverick, and Natty with all available kernels for each, and in ALL CASES VMware Workstation 7.1.3 is crashing the kernel during the process of taking over the USB device.

Here is another report: http://www.uluga.ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=1389308

The ability to use USB audio is a work requirement, so I am now forced to reinstall Fedora 11, as it is the last version that VMware is compatible with. This is not acceptable, and really requires a resolution from VMware.

C'mon, guys, silence is not golden, and I am willing to help you guys debug the problem.

VMware is on a negative trend for USB compatibility with the linux kernel.

Noel - no need to restrict that to Linux - same on Windows.

Nowadays I ask users "do you need reliable USB ? - if yes - stick to 6.5.4"

Even worse - I see no improvement at all with the newer 7.1.* versions




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VMX-parameters- WS FAQ -[ MOAcd|http://sanbarrow.com/moa241.html] - VMDK-Handbook

VMware is on a negative trend for USB compatibility with the linux kernel.

Noel - no need to restrict that to Linux - same on Windows.

Nowadays I ask users "do you need reliable USB ? - if yes - stick to 6.5.4"

I don't do MS-Windows, so I didn't know that USB support is broken there, too. For the moment, I can work around this bug by blacklisting the host's (Fedora 13) snd-usb-audio module.

Even worse - I see no improvement at all with the newer 7.1.* versions

I agree. None of the new versions have done anything to resolve the problem, and VMware is silent. I'm not sure which is less acceptable.

At the least, they should be here communicating with us, and giving the impression that they are working on the problems. VMware has a lot to learn from Open Source communities about communication and collaboration.

I have tested this with the low-latency kernel (3.0.0.9 at time of posting) from the low latency kernel PPA and WS 7.1.4.  So far, and the sample size is small, I am not seeing this problem with the new kernel.

Please note: if you wish to test this and are an nvidia user, you also need to add the X-Updates PPA.

I have started testing this with Workstation 8.

VMware Workstation no longer crashes the kernel with the Sennheiser USB headset when using Workstation 8.0.1 and Fedora 14.  I have also tested with Workstation 8.0.1 and Ubuntu 11.04, and receive the same results.  Given those combinations, after removing the blacklist and loading  snd-usb-audio, I can once again toggle the device between a Guest and  the Host without crashing the kernel.

I have not yet tested the UVC, but am hopeful that Workstation 8 has resolved the problem.  More testing as time permits.