Installing vmware-workstation-6.5.3 with kernel26-2.6.32 walkthrough

Question

I changed my Fedora 10 laptop to Archlinux 2 weeks ago (and I'm loving it).
So, I also had to move my vmware-workstation-6.5.3 to my new distro, and also all my virtual machines.
I followed  the wiki (http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Installing_VMware) but until I had a working vmware, I had to do something different from the instructions.
So, I post here my walkthrough, if someone needs it.
Vmware package and kernel:
- VMware-Workstation-6.5.3-185404.i386.bundle.
- kernel26-2.6.32.1-1
1. As root cd to the directory where is VMware-Workstation and follow these steps:
[root@hp]# mkdir -p /etc/rc.d/vmware.d/{rc{0,1,2,3,4,5,6}.d,init.d}
[root@hp]# export VMWARE_SKIP_MODULES=true
[root@hp]# sh VMware-Workstation-6.5.3-185404.i386.bundle --console --custom
2. Read and accept EULA and go on.
3. Then press enter to all answers except "System service runlevels", where you must enter /etc/rc.d/vmware/, like in the example:
Do you agree? [yes/no]: yes
System path prefix.  Please note that choosing a path other than /usr
may result in missing icons, application launchers, and other desktop
integrations [/usr]:
System lib directory [/usr/lib]:
Architecture-independent files [/usr/share]:
User level binaries [/usr/bin]:
Super user level binaries [/usr/sbin]:
Documentation [/usr/share/doc]:
Manual pages [/usr/share/man]:
Header files [/usr/include]:
System configuration files [/etc]:
System service runlevels: /etc/rc.d/vmware.d/       <<--------------------------------
System service scripts [/etc/rc.d/vmware.d/init.d]:
Path to Eclipse directory for use with Integrated Virtual Debugger
(optional):
The product is ready to be installed.  Press enter to begin
installation or Ctrl-C to cancel.
4. Now exit from root and become normal user again. Then run vmware command.
[memyselfandi@hp]$ vmware
It asks to compile modules and you must press de "_Install" button.
After some ERROR messages it asks you the root passord and then it starts to compile modules.
Finally it starts vmware.
5. You must close it again and do this as root:
[root@hp]# ln -s /etc/rc.d/vmware.d/init.d/vmware /etc/rc.d/vmware
6. Then with your favorite editor, include "vmware" to DAEMONS in /etc/rc.conf to allow vmware modules to load while computer boots:
# /etc/rc.conf - Main Configuration for Arch Linux
DAEMONS=(syslog-ng ... ... vmware)
7. You must substitute /sbin/lsmod with /bin/lsmod in the file /etc/rc.d/vmware/init.d/vmware with your favorite editor or use this command instead:
[root@hp]# sed -i 's/\/sbin\/lsmod/\/bin\/lsmod/g' /etc/rc.d/vmware.d/init.d/vmware
8. Restart vmware services and load modules with this command:
[root@hp]# /etc/rc.d/vmware restart
9. There is a common mouse problem (it loses focus outside VGA area 640x480) because of GTK+ new version. To avoid this issue, add this line to the end of "/etc/vmware/bootstrap":
# /etc/vmware/bootstrap
export VMWARE_USE_SHIPPED_GTK=yes
10. Now you can  start as normal user:
[memyselfandi@hp]$ vmware
Or in the gnome menu "System Tools" --> "VMware Workstation"
I didn't experiment any problems with keycodes. I don't know, but they seem to be solved in 6.5.3 version(?)
Hope this help someone!

Answer 1

My vmware install logs don't really help here but they do show where it trails off into oblivion:
Sep 06 21:47:10.011: app| Log for VMware Workstation pid=26637 version=6.5.3 build=build-185404 option=Release
Sep 06 21:47:10.012: app| Host codepage=UTF-8 encoding=UTF-8
Sep 06 21:47:11.081: app| Extracting the sources of the vmmon module.
Sep 06 21:47:11.117: app| Building module with command: /usr/bin/make -C /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmmon-only auto-build SUPPORT_SMP=1 HEADER_DIR=/lib/modules/2.6.30-ARCH/build/inc$
Sep 06 21:47:20.240: app| The vmmon module loads perfectly in the running kernel.
Sep 06 21:47:20.240: app|
Sep 06 21:47:20.265: app| Registering file: /usr/lib/vmware/installer/vmware-installer --register-file vmware-player regular /lib/modules/2.6.30-ARCH/misc/vmmon.o
Sep 06 21:47:20.616: app| Registering file: /usr/lib/vmware/installer/vmware-installer --register-file vmware-player regular /lib/modules/2.6.30-ARCH/misc/vmmon.ko
Sep 06 21:47:21.673: app| Extracting the sources of the vmnet module.
Sep 06 21:47:21.697: app| Building module with command: /usr/bin/make -C /tmp/vmware-root/modules/vmnet-only auto-build SUPPORT_SMP=1 HEADER_DIR=/lib/modules/2.6.30-ARCH/build/inc$
Last edited by jebus (2009-09-06 18:51:34)