I tried to install Debian Lenny in a guest OS with the latest 64-bit VMware workstation. After I started the vm with the Debian netinst image, the welcome screen starts, but the keyboard does not work. Only a few keys work, among them the Tab and Esc. After searching a bit, I found this kb article by VMware: http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/search.do?cmd=displayKC&docType=kc&externalId=1007439 (Linux Hosts That Use the evdev Driver for Keyboards Do Not Map Keys Correctly in Any Guest) where it states: "Some of the newest Linux distributions use Xorg 1.4, and the new evdev driver manages all devices, including keyboards. The evdev driver causes the keyboard to send different key codes. For example, the down arrow is key code 116, which other drivers understand to be Win+R. Consequently, keyboard mapping problems occur in all guest operating systems." I use xorg-server-1.5.3 with the evdev driver. The solution is to put this statement inside /etc/vmware/config: xkeymap.noKeycodeMap = "TRUE" Afterwards, I managed to install Debian without any problem. I suppose a post-install notice in the ebuild would solve any other users trying to use the keyboard.
As you say, this is a known bug. There's also specific keyboard remappings available (which I'll add as an attachment). I've got several bugs to clean up in the coming weeks, so I'll try and add the warning on the end of the ebuild when I do those. Thanks for reporting this! 5:)
Created attachment 186033 [details] Vmware config file for keyboard remappings
I don't know the status with the latest vmware workstation, but this bug is way too old. Maybe mark it as closed?
workstation 6 was removed from the tree. bug bug 385727.
