[Bug 1275656] [NEW] open-vm-dkms 2011.12.20-562307-0ubuntu1: open-vm-tools kernel module failed to build

Launchpad Bug Tracker 1275656 at bugs.launchpad.net
Tue May 13 20:23:32 UTC 2014


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[Impact]

 * Failure to build the kernel modules in open-vm-dkms for HWE kernels impedes guest configuration, host/guest file system, desktop copy buffer sharing, etc when running a Precise VM on a VMWare host.
 * This SRU focuses on HWE support for VMWare's vCloud Hybrid Service (vCHS) which requires open-vm-tools from the upstream stable stream (in Trusty) and the 3.9 kernel.
 * These kernel modules from open-vm-dkms have been merged with the upstream kernel as of 3.9
 * Upstream changes only available in the mainline kernel modules and the 9.4.x stable series of open-vm-tools are required to support VMWare's vCloud Hybrid Service (vCHS).

 State of Precise
 * open-vm-tools in Precise is based on an unsupported development snapshot from upstream (http://open-vm-tools.sourceforge.net/)
  * open-vm-dkms fails to build its kernel modules for open-vm-tools on Precise.
  * Kernel modules affected include vmc_vmci and vmc_vsock both of which are host/guest communication.  They are used for guest configuration, host/guest file system, desktop copy buffer sharing, etc.
  * This version of open-vm-tools is not supported by upstream or Debian.
  * The modules which fail to build have been merged upstream, with the exception of the host-guest file system (hgfs) module which has been replaced with an hgfs FUSE helper.  These modules are available in v3.9 of the kernel and later (Saucy and later). This vmware knowlegebase article (2073804 http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=2073804) maps out when each driver landed upstream but kernel 3.9 includes everything.
 
 State of Trusty/Upstream
 * open-vm-tools in Debian testing/unstable and Trusty are based on the stable 9.4.x release from upstream.
  * The kernel modules previously shipped by open-vm-dkms are now supported in the upstream kernel (v3.9 and later)
  * The upstream kernel modules and open-vm-tools have received enhancements to support vmware's vCloud Hybrid Service (vCHS) which are not available downstream.

 Changes
 1) back-ported the version of open-vm-tools in Trusty as a separate HWE package (open-vm-tools-hwe).
   * It will not be an upgrade target (does not contain "provides: open-vm-tools") but would require manual installation along with an HWE kernel from Saucy or later.  The newer package will not regress open-vm-tools as it exists in Precise.
   * The open-vm-tools for Precise based on the 2011.12.20-562307 development snapshot can still be maintained by the community to support Precise with the stock kernel.
 2) updated the open-vm-tools package in Trusty to replace the open-vm-tools-hwe packages created by this change.

[Test Case]

 * Install Precise with GA packages in a vmware host.
 * Install open-vm-dkms and open-vm-desktop
   * On Precise GA kernel the modules will build.
 * Copy text on the host desktop and attempt to paste into a terminal on the precise guest.  This, and the reverse, should work.
 * Drag a file from the file manager on the host to the file manager on the precise guest.  This, and the reverse, should work.
 * Upgrade the guest to the current Precise kernel or a new HWE kernel.
   * DKMS packages will fail to build
   * Copy/paste and file drag-and-drop will not function.

 * Additionally, zero-config of the guest from the host, necessary to
support vCHS, and memory ballooning will also not function without the
fixes.

[Regression Potential]

There is a large delta between this development snapshot in the Precise
packages and this stable release package.  Were this package to replace
the package in Precise there would be a high risk of regression.  This
is mitigated by introducing the back-port as it's own new package.  This
package does not provide open-vm-tools-*, only open-vm-tools-hwe-*, so
that the original package is still available and this new package is
only installed through manual selection by informed users.

[Other Info]
 
 * The development snapshot in precise is unaffected by the addition of this new package.  My intention is to create this 'hwe' package for use with a 3.9 or later kernel to provide support for new virtual hardware enablement of the vCHS cloud.  This will allow it to live alongside the open-vm-tools for the precise kernel.


------ Original description ------

ocurred during kernel upgrade

ProblemType: Package
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 12.04
Package: open-vm-dkms 2011.12.20-562307-0ubuntu1
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.8.0-35.50~precise1-generic 3.8.13.13
Uname: Linux 3.8.0-35-generic x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
ApportVersion: 2.0.1-0ubuntu17.6
Architecture: amd64
DKMSKernelVersion: 3.8.0-35-generic
Date: Mon Feb  3 09:39:30 2014
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 12.04.3 LTS "Precise Pangolin" - Release amd64 (20130820.1)
MarkForUpload: True
PackageArchitecture: all
PackageVersion: 2011.12.20-562307-0ubuntu1
SourcePackage: open-vm-tools
Title: open-vm-dkms 2011.12.20-562307-0ubuntu1: open-vm-tools kernel module failed to build
UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install)

** Affects: open-vm-tools (Ubuntu)
     Importance: Critical
     Assignee: Robert C Jennings (rcj)
         Status: In Progress

** Affects: open-vm-tools (Ubuntu Precise)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New

** Affects: open-vm-tools (Ubuntu Trusty)
     Importance: Undecided
         Status: New


** Tags: amd64 apport-package patch precise
-- 
open-vm-dkms 2011.12.20-562307-0ubuntu1: open-vm-tools kernel module failed to build
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/1275656
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