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Bug 159266

Summary: warnings from vmware-player and vmware-modules don't cover a common case
Product: Gentoo Linux Reporter: Kevin O'Gorman <kogorman>
Component: New packagesAssignee: Gentoo Linux bug wranglers <bug-wranglers>
Status: RESOLVED INVALID    
Severity: enhancement    
Priority: High    
Version: 2006.1   
Hardware: All   
OS: Linux   
Whiteboard:
Package list:
Runtime testing required: ---

Description Kevin O'Gorman 2006-12-27 22:01:34 UTC
This is really a bug in the messages produced by vmware products.
vmware-modules, when being emerged, issues messages
vmware-player when failing to start issues similar messages

They suggest 
1) re-emerging vmware modules
2) re-running the configuration utility.

This is not enough when one has just switched kernels, even in
the slightest.  One also has to ensure the symlink "/usr/src/linux"
is correctly pointing to the kernel that _will be_ used.  It seems
to be that the emergence of vmware-modudules has to be done with
the symlink set right, and running under that kernel.

The messages don't mention any of this.  It's an easy thing to do
and I suggest the wording:
"If you have switched kernels, or are about to do so, you must
adjust the symlink '/usr/src/linux' and re-emerge vmware-modules
once you are running the new kernel.  You can use the command
    emerge --oneshot vmware-modules
You may also need to re-run /opt/vmware/player/bin/vmware-config.pl"

Depending on how these messages are generated, you may have to
fiddle with the wording, of course.
Comment 1 Jakub Moc (RETIRED) gentoo-dev 2006-12-27 22:04:43 UTC
This is the case with *any* external kernel module; really fail to see why should this deserve a special warning.