I'm currently running Ubuntu 11.10 in Workstation 7.  After upgrading to 11.10 I uninstalled the tools I had installed previously.  (I used /usr/bin/vmware-uninstall-tools.pl - this may be different for you if you used a Tools version packaged by Ubuntu.)  I then went to VM -> Install VMware Tools in the Workstation menu.  It mounted a virtual CD drive in Ubuntu containing the folder "vmware-tools-distrib".  I copied this folder to the local file system and executed vmware-install.pl contained therein.  This is a link to the Perl script which is designed to work with Ubuntu.

If it helps, I just upgraded VMware Workstation to 7.1.5 b491717 and that's what I'm working with.  When Tools went through its setup routine after install (vmware-config-tools.pl) I do recall it pointing out 2-3 issues stating dependencies need to be installed to use them.  However, I had those dependencies installed so I'm not sure if they were normal FYI messages, or if they were trying to tell me those parts of Tools were inoperable.  I didn't need that functionality so I didn't even bother to check to see whether it was working.  I didn't see any actual errors during the install process, though, and drag/drop from host to guest and other functionality seems to work.  I received no errors during the re-complie of the kernel, nor during the creation of that pesky RAM drive which the boot routine uses.

I'm pretty wet to Ubuntu, but I don't appear to have had the issues you're referring to - just as an FYI.

The important distinction here is that Gork has upgraded his tools.  Every time there is a new release of WS the tools are updated along with it.  This would include new guest support (like 11.10).  Try following Gorks suggestion after you upgrade WS 7 to the most up to date version possible.  If that doesn't fix the issue post your compiler output in this thread.

I too am having the same issue. Running the latest VMware Workstation 7 on Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit host. All was working well with Kubuntu 11.04, but after the upgrade to 11.10, the shared folders feature is not available. I uninstalled the vmware tools using the script, then mounted the CD-ROM for the latest version (VMwareTools-8.4.8-491717) unzipped and extracted the tarball. Below is the output from the vmware-config-tools.pl run. Note the missing header file "linux/smp_lock.h".

Any help? Will an upgrade to Workstation 8 solve this issue?

Thanks,

swatters@swatters-linux:/usr/bin$ sudo vmware-config-tools.pl
Initializing...

Making sure services for VMware Tools are stopped.

The module vmmemctl has already been installed on this system by another
installer or package and will not be modified by this installer.  Use the flag
--clobber-kernel-modules=vmmemctl to override.

Before you can compile modules, you need to have the following installed...

make
gcc
kernel headers of the running kernel

Searching for GCC...
Detected GCC binary at "/usr/bin/gcc".
The path "/usr/bin/gcc" appears to be a valid path to the gcc binary.
Would you like to change it? [no]

Searching for a valid kernel header path...
Detected the kernel headers of the running kernel at
"/lib/modules/3.0.0-12-generic/build/include".
The path "/lib/modules/3.0.0-12-generic/build/include" appears to be a valid
path to the kernel headers of the running kernel.
Would you like to change it? [no]

Using 2.6.x kernel build system.
make: Entering directory `/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmhgfs-only'
make -C /lib/modules/3.0.0-12-generic/build/include/.. SUBDIRS=$PWD SRCROOT=$PWD/. \
          MODULEBUILDDIR= modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.0.0-12-generic'
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmhgfs-only/backdoor.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmhgfs-only/backdoorGcc32.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmhgfs-only/bdhandler.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmhgfs-only/cpName.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmhgfs-only/cpNameLinux.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmhgfs-only/cpNameLite.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmhgfs-only/dentry.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmhgfs-only/dir.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmhgfs-only/file.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmhgfs-only/filesystem.o
/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmhgfs-only/filesystem.c:48:28: fatal error: linux/smp_lock.h: No such file or directory
compilation terminated.
make[2]: *** [/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmhgfs-only/filesystem.o] Error 1
make[1]: *** [_module_/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmhgfs-only] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.0.0-12-generic'
make: *** [vmhgfs.ko] Error 2
make: Leaving directory `/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmhgfs-only'

The filesystem driver (vmhgfs module) is used only for the shared folder
feature. The rest of the software provided by VMware Tools is designed to work
independently of this feature.

If you wish to have the shared folders feature, you can install the driver by
running vmware-config-tools.pl again after making sure that gcc, binutils, make
and the kernel sources for your running kernel are installed on your machine.
These packages are available on your distribution's installation CD.
[ Press Enter key to continue ]

Using 2.6.x kernel build system.
make: Entering directory `/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmxnet-only'
make -C /lib/modules/3.0.0-12-generic/build/include/.. SUBDIRS=$PWD SRCROOT=$PWD/. \
          MODULEBUILDDIR= modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.0.0-12-generic'
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmxnet-only/vmxnet.o
  Building modules, stage 2.
  MODPOST 1 modules
  CC      /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmxnet-only/vmxnet.mod.o
  LD [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmxnet-only/vmxnet.ko
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.0.0-12-generic'
make -C $PWD SRCROOT=$PWD/. \
          MODULEBUILDDIR= postbuild
make[1]: Entering directory `/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmxnet-only'
make[1]: `postbuild' is up to date.
make[1]: Leaving directory `/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmxnet-only'
cp -f vmxnet.ko ./../vmxnet.o
make: Leaving directory `/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmxnet-only'

Using 2.6.x kernel build system.
make: Entering directory `/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmblock-only'
make -C /lib/modules/3.0.0-12-generic/build/include/.. SUBDIRS=$PWD SRCROOT=$PWD/. \
          MODULEBUILDDIR= modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.0.0-12-generic'
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmblock-only/linux/block.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmblock-only/linux/control.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmblock-only/linux/dbllnklst.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmblock-only/linux/dentry.o
/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmblock-only/linux/dentry.c: In function ‘DentryOpRevalidate’:
/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmblock-only/linux/dentry.c:107:4: error: implicit declaration of function ‘path_lookup’ [-Werror=implicit-function-declaration]
cc1: some warnings being treated as errors

make[2]: *** [/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmblock-only/linux/dentry.o] Error 1
make[1]: *** [_module_/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmblock-only] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.0.0-12-generic'
make: *** [vmblock.ko] Error 2
make: Leaving directory `/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmblock-only'

The vmblock module enables dragging or copying files from within a host and
dropping or pasting them onto your guest (host to guest drag and drop and file
copy/paste).  The rest of the software provided by VMware Tools is designed to
work independently of this feature (including guest to host drag and drop and
file copy/paste).

If you would like the host to guest drag and drop and file copy/paste features,
you can install the driver by running vmware-config-tools.pl again after making
sure that gcc, binutils, make and the kernel sources for your running kernel
are installed on your machine. These packages are available on your
distribution's installation CD.
[ Press Enter key to continue ]

Using 2.6.x kernel build system.
make: Entering directory `/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only'
make -C /lib/modules/3.0.0-12-generic/build/include/.. SUBDIRS=$PWD SRCROOT=$PWD/. \
          MODULEBUILDDIR= modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.0.0-12-generic'
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/kernelStubsLinux.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmciDatagram.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmciEvent.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmciGuestDs.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmciGuestKernelIf.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmciKernelIf.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmciProcess.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmciQueuePair.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmciUtil.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmci_drv.o
/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmci_drv.c:32:28: fatal error: linux/smp_lock.h: No such file or directory
compilation terminated.
make[2]: *** [/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmci_drv.o] Error 1
make[1]: *** [_module_/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.0.0-12-generic'
make: *** [vmci.ko] Error 2
make: Leaving directory `/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only'

The communication service is used in addition to the standard communication
between the guest and the host.  The rest of the software provided by VMware
Tools is designed to work independently of this feature.
If you wish to have the VMCI feature, you can install the driver by running
vmware-config-tools.pl again after making sure that gcc, binutils, make and the
kernel sources for your running kernel are installed on your machine. These
packages are available on your distribution's installation CD.
[ Press Enter key to continue ]

Using 2.6.x kernel build system.
make: Entering directory `/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only'
make -C /lib/modules/3.0.0-12-generic/build/include/.. SUBDIRS=$PWD SRCROOT=$PWD/. \
          MODULEBUILDDIR= modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.0.0-12-generic'
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/kernelStubsLinux.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmciDatagram.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmciEvent.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmciGuestDs.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmciGuestKernelIf.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmciKernelIf.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmciProcess.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmciQueuePair.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmciUtil.o
  CC [M]  /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmci_drv.o
/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmci_drv.c:32:28: fatal error: linux/smp_lock.h: No such file or directory
compilation terminated.
make[2]: *** [/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only/vmci_drv.o] Error 1
make[1]: *** [_module_/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-3.0.0-12-generic'
make: *** [vmci.ko] Error 2
make: Leaving directory `/tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmci-only'

The VM communication interface socket family is used in conjunction with the VM
communication interface to provide a new communication path among guests and
host.  The rest of this software provided by VMware Tools is designed to work
independently of this feature.  If you wish to have the VSOCK feature  you can
install the driver by running vmware-config-tools.pl again after making sure
that gcc, binutils, make and the kernel sources for your running kernel are
installed on your machine. These packages are available on your distribution's
installation CD.
[ Press the Enter key to continue.]

The module vmxnet3 has already been installed on this system by another
installer or package and will not be modified by this installer.  Use the flag
--clobber-kernel-modules=vmxnet3 to override.

The module pvscsi has already been installed on this system by another
installer or package and will not be modified by this installer.  Use the flag
--clobber-kernel-modules=pvscsi to override.

Disabling timer-based audio scheduling in pulseaudio.

Detected Xorg X server version 1.10.4.

Distribution provided drivers for Xorg X server are used.

Skipping X configuration because X drivers are not included.

Creating a new initrd boot image for the kernel.
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-3.0.0-12-generic
initctl: Job failed to start
Unable to start services for VMware Tools                                                                          
                                                                                                                   
Execution aborted.

Has anyone gotten the shared folders to work with Ubuntu 11.10?

I have updated to the latest version of Workstation 7 (7.1.5 build-491717) and tried to re-install vmware tools. I pasted my compiler output above but received no replies.

Can anyone help?

I'm sorry, srwatters, but I'm not able to help.  I've never used shared folders in VMware Wokstation, I just use networking, so I've never even tried doing anything with them.  I find drag and drop very helpful, so I either use that or networking from within the OS.  I have noticed that with Ubuntu drag and drop is sometimes problematic, but that's for a different thread.

Same exact problem here.

So is this one of those... Pay the upgrade fee to 8.0 if you want new guest support?

Some kind of answer from vmware would be nice.

Hi all,

VMWare Workstation 7.1.5

VMWare Tools 8.4.8-491717

Guest Linux kernel 2.6.39, 3.0

Compile error, spin lock

(including a bunch of information to make this thread easier to find with google)

I am suffering from the same issue. Basically I cannot reasonably use a paid-for product anymore. If you look at the following comment on weltall's blog: http://weltall.heliohost.org/wordpress/2011/06/26/vmware-7-3-4-guest-modules-fixes-for-linux-2-6-39-and-3-0/#comment-229, you will see that somebody managed to massage the original patch from weltall to make the VMWare Tools from Workstation 7.1.5 compile with a 2.6.39/3.0 kernel. Unfortunately he did not post his "patch for the patch" as a file, but used copy/paste, which messed up the patch-file-format to such an extend that it doesn't apply anymore to weltall's patch.

I have attempted to manually apply this "patch for the patch", but unfortunately failed. Perhaps somebody with a better understanding of the patch file format could have a look at this? I think that if an update to Weltall's patch specifically for VMWare Tools 8.4.8-491717 can be created, a lot of users would be very happy.

I've also tried to find a way to contact the "bercin" who created this "patch for the patch" to ask for further help, but have not been successful in that either.

Edit: Now, would you imagine. After writing this comment, I decided to read the wikipedia page on the unified diff format, and I've managed to manually apply that "patch for the patch", and compile the VMWare Tools 8.4.8-491717 for Linux kernel 3.0.0-1-686-pae (this is Linux Mint Debian Edition). If you want to repeat this yourself, first go to Weltall's blog (link above) to download the original vmware2.6.39guest.tar file (which is actually compressed with bzip2).  Extract that, and then replace the vmwareguest2.6.39.patch file with the version attached. Finally run (as root) the patch-modules_2.6.39.sh script, which will automatically patch the modules and build them for you. Note that if your VMWareTools are not installed in /usr, you will need to edit the shell script (2 places) to correct some hardcoded paths.

Maarten

Message was edited by: mboekhold

Thank you very much! I now have the sources compiled and installed. Your work is very much appreciated.

Still having some issues getting the shared folders to work, but that might just be a permissions issue.

Edit: Fixed and now fully functional. Problem was at some point in installing/uninstalling the VMware tools / open vmware tools, the mount helper (mount.vmhgfs) was renamed to mount.vmhgfs.old.0. Once properly named and execute permission enabled, I have automounting shares from the VMware host. One again thanks to all who contributed!

Message was edited by: srwatters - added final solution text

Can somebody now provide a little help for a Linux newb?

I'm running Win7 x64 host with the lastest WS7.1.5.

I downloaded Ubuntu 11.10 x86 ISO and created a new VM to install Ubuntu on.

WS told me that it recognized Ubuntu and would do the EasyInstall. It gets to a point where it displays a terminal login but with a message that it is installing VMWare Tools and I should wait until the GUI comes up. Then it displays a Windows dialog box with a message that the VM is trying to unlock the CD-ROM drive (or something like that) and do I want to allow it or not. I tried it clicking Yes and then, again, later (from scratch) clicking No. Either way, the Ubuntu VM eventually changes to just a standard Linux terminal login screen and the GUI never comes up.

Help?

Ubuntu 11.10 is not officialy supported by VMware Workstation 7.x as a guest.

U can still avoid to install proprietaty VMware Tools and go for much more up to date open source Open VM Tools for Ubuntu.

Don'ìt do easy install on a not supported VMware guest host. Go for normal install. Ubuntu should avoid to install the broken VMware Tools and install VMware Xorg graphic driver and complete the install. U can think about installing Open VM Tools (and not VMware Tools) after the install was done (maybe before take a snapshot, just in case).