Hi, I just installed Redhat 9.0 on my Dell Dimension 4550. I use my computer for work, and I use Windows-only applications, so I thought I would try out VMware. I downloaded the trial version and ran the rpm, and had no trouble with that. The problem came when I ran the configuration file, it told me that none of VMware's pre-built vmmon modules are suitable for my kernel, and offered to try to compile one on its own. It tried to use gcc, but apparently my "C header files" are incompatible with the kernel I'm running. It wanted me to point it to the correct directory. The /include directory, which it was looking for turns out to be in two places: /usr/local/include and /usr/include. The former is just empty.

Can anybody help?

Thanks,
Marc

hello,

i had the same problem a time ago but there is something you can do:

your kernel sources should be in /usr/src/linux .

go to the directory /usr/src/linux/include/linux and change the kernel version name in version.h to the name of your running kernel. this should let vmware compile the modules for you.

worked for me.

Just a quick follow-up:

It turned out that the problem lay in the fact that I was booting from a bootdisk which had a kernel of the wrong version. I ran mkboodisk with the correct kernel version, rebooted, and the problem was solved.

Also, the default location for the C header files wasn't the one it suggested, but somewhere else (... ummm, yeah, I'm a newbie, I forget where. /lib/modules/something?)

Phil

I wouldnt change the version.h file as suggested earlier. I've been having the same problem with vmware (and I yet have to fix it) but just changing the version.h file wont help.

vmware is not only using the version name in the header files. it will crap out on ya.

I finally got the Vmware "C Header File" problem fixed. So everybody out there having the same problem, listen up. This was in RH9, by the way.

in /usr/src if there is not a /linux.2.4 or /linux.2.4.20-8 or something of that nature, then you MUST install the kernel development tools. This will install the kernel-source correctly. I tried just installing the kernel-source rpm, but it didnt work.

for you newbies, you can find the "add-remove applications" under system settings and run that. it's a nice graphical tool. scroll down and check the kernel development. fyi: you will need disk 2 and 3 if you are in RH9.

after you install that, head back to the /usr/src and you will see you a couple new folders. head into the /usr/src/linux.2.4.20-8/include and you will see all the good stuff that vmware is looking for, like the asm, net, and linux.

so when it asks, where are the c header files? [/usr/src/linux/include]

obviously that is not the right place, just type in the path correctly, and you will be rockin! hope that helps!