Common Problem Installing VMware Tools

[motsteve]

I don't wish to sound melodramatic, but Fusion with VMware tools is a vital part of making my computer system a productive part of my life. The ability to switch from XP to Linux to Leopard with ease, is a miracle to me. This is why I'm so frustrated with my inability to put VMware tools on all of my distro's. There is a common problem in all cases where tools could not be installed. I have successfully installed Ubuntu, Kubuntu, Fedora 8, DSL, SuSe, and Mandriva with very few problems. Following the normal procedures of installing tools, which are never really explained clearly in any one place for normal human users btw, I have successfully installed tools in Ubuntu and Kubuntu. All the other distro's have the same problem when trying to install the tools. The header files to build whatever the installer is trying to build are never put into the vm's files and so you are left with the script hung up asking su to supply them. For whatever reason, Ubuntu and Kubuntu using the files from the .tar.gz file from the install VMware tools menu pick are able to build and execute the installer. I'm an average unix user and not an admin type. I am definitely not familiar with compiling programs. I could make the directories for the header files and put these files in the right places, but I don't know where or how to get them. I am just hoping that this is the only hang up. :(

I have the console responses for my installation if it would help the trouble shooting. Apparently the vmmemctl module is never built. There's a make: *** [vmmemctl.ko] error 2 during the process. This is true for all the attempted installations of vmware tools by root in the vm subdirectory containing vmware......pl in the /tmp directory.

[smyl]

vmware tools need to be updated to work w/ the kernels in those distros...
I know somewhere there is a list of what is supported by there tools...

I'll try to find a link to it later...