FIX: VMware VMW_HAVE_EPOLL error message with current distributions
Tags: linux, VMware
If you’ve tried installing VMware on a recent Linux distribution (such as Ubuntu Edgy Eft), you’ve probably seen the following:
Using 2.6.x kernel build system. make: Entering directory `/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only' make -C /lib/modules/2.6.17-5-686/build/include/.. SUBDIRS=$PWD SRCROOT=$PWD/. modules make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.17-5-686' CC [M] /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.o In file included from /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.h:20, from /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:49: /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/./include/compat_wait.h:37:5: warning: "VMW_HAVE_EPOLL" is not defined /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/./include/compat_wait.h:43:5: warning: "VMW_HAVE_EPOLL" is not defined In file included from /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.h:20, from /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:49: /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/./include/compat_wait.h:60: error: conflicting types for â include/linux/poll.h:62: error: previous declaration of â was here /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:145: warning: initialization from incompatible pointer type /tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.c:149: warning: initialization from incompatible pointer type make[2]: *** [/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/linux/driver.o] Error 1 make[1]: *** [_module_/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only] Error 2 make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.17-5-686' make: *** [vmmon.ko] Error 2 make: Leaving directory `/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only' Unable to build the vmmon module.
To fix it, follow this procedure (or grab the script I wrote to make it easier, here)..
Uncompress vmnet.tar and edit vmnet-only/Makefile.kernel as follows:
vm_check_build = $(shell if $(CC) $(CPPFLAGS) $(CFLAGS) $(CFLAGS_KERNEL) \ $(EXTRA_CFLAGS) -Iinclude2/asm/mach-default \ -DKBUILD_BASENAME=\"$(DRIVER)\" \ # add this line -Werror -S -o /dev/null -xc $(1) \ > /dev/null 2>&1; then echo "$(2)"; else echo "$(3)"; fi)
Do the same for vmmon.tar in vmmon-only. mv the existing tar files out of the way and tar these two directories back up and re-run vmware-install.pl from the top-level directory.
It should complete cleanly and without any errors.
If you’re wondering why I didn’t just supply the 1-line fixes as a diff, its because Ubuntu Edgy Eft broke patch(1), and it doesn’t patch back in cleanly… so I used the Swiss Army Chainsaw; perl!
Jørgen Elgaard Larsen said on September 13th, 2006 at 2:08 pm quote
Thanks for the tip. It saved me a lot of trouble!
Jørgen, using Debian etch with custom kernel
Tomaz said on September 16th, 2006 at 2:07 pm quote
Thanks,
it worked flawless :)
Jon Woffenden said on October 3rd, 2006 at 12:51 am quote
You, sir, are my hero. Thanks a lot. (Edgy)
SubWolf said on October 20th, 2006 at 2:15 am quote
Trying and trying and trying, not working, same old errors, even tried a fresh install of vmware.
Probably just PEBKAC, thanks for the tip.
lerouge said on October 24th, 2006 at 5:09 am quote
Thanks for sharing this tip.
It worked flawless for me too.
Paul said on October 28th, 2006 at 10:25 pm quote
Not sure what I’m doing wrong … after I apply your fix I get:
Using 2.6.x kernel build system.
make: Entering directory `/tmp/vmware-config3/vmmon-only’
Makefile.kernel:12: *** commands commence before first target. Stop.
make: Leaving directory `/tmp/vmware-config3/vmmon-only’
Unable to build the vmmon module.
Any clues?
Dalsemi said on October 30th, 2006 at 6:10 pm quote
Thanks for the post. Upgraded several systems from Kubuntu 6.06 to 6.10.
Jonas said on October 31st, 2006 at 5:44 am quote
try it with the backslash at the end of the line
palm4ever said on October 31st, 2006 at 4:51 pm quote
You are the man. Now take your bow.
Joe Webb said on December 8th, 2006 at 5:28 pm quote
THANKS!!!! Me and the big bruise on my forehead (from banging my head against the wall over and over and over again) thank you.
Joe
Gergő said on December 9th, 2006 at 1:16 pm quote
Thank you very much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Jinn Koriech said on December 12th, 2006 at 10:33 am quote
Worked a treat! Thanks!
I have put my notes and a link to your entry on http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=288018&page=2
Dweep Advani said on May 9th, 2007 at 2:21 am quote
@Paul
It was the error induced by copy pasting the entire line containing debug flags. Removing ‘add this line’ from copy pasted material will remove that error.
cheers