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

Wed May 21 16:07:10 UTC 2014

Attaching a debdiff to update open-vm-tools in trusty so that it
replaces open-vm-tools-hwe upon upgrade from precise.

v3 changes:
 Rename prior package from *-hwe to *-lts-trusty

v2 changes:
 Add missing Conflicts directive for precise HWE packages

** Patch added: "open-vm-tools update for trusty to upgrade from open-vm-tools-hwe [v3]"
   https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/open-vm-tools/+bug/1275656/+attachment/4116930/+files/trusty%5Bv3%5D.debdiff

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Title:
  open-vm-dkms 2011.12.20-562307-0ubuntu1: open-vm-tools kernel module
  failed to build

Status in “open-vm-tools” package in Ubuntu:
  In Progress
Status in “open-vm-tools” source package in Precise:
  In Progress
Status in “open-vm-tools” source package in Trusty:
  In Progress

Bug description:
  [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)

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