VMware on SuSE Linux 8.0: Segmentation Fault on Machines with More Than 850 MB Main Memory

Support knowledgebase (fhassel_vmware_segfault)
Applies to

SuSE Linux: Version 8.0
Kernel: Version 2.4.18
VMware

Symptom

VMware on SuSE Linux 8.0 does not start in computers with more than 850 MB main memory. The following message is displayed during the program start:
The virtual machine is unable to reserve memory. If selecting Retry does
not work, try powering off or suspending any other virtual machines and
retry again. For more information about this error see our Web site at
"http://www.vmware.com/support/memory.html"
The program aborts with "segmentation fault" when you press the Power On button.

Cause

The cause is a bug in the VMware kernel module. Although this is a general VMware problem that may arise in connection with any kernel, the chances improve if you use the SuSE kernel 2.4.18. The reason is that this kernel already enables to keep page table entries in the high memory area (pte-highmem). This is increasingly important when considering today's memory sizes.

Solution

Please update to VMware 3.2., which can be downloaded from http://www.vmware.com/download/. Please close all VMware applications and install the new version as root with
rpm -Uhv VMware-workstation-3.2.0-2230.i386.rpm
Then enter:
vmware-config.pl

Alternative Approach

You may also boot your system with the parameter mem=850M. Consider however that, in this case, the main memory available is limited to 850 MB.

Entering the parameter in the boot loader file /etc/lilo.conf prevents you from having to enter it at each boot prompt. Search for a section similar to:

image = /boot/vmlinuz
    label = linux
    initrd = /boot/initrd
    root = /dev/hda2
and append the line
append="mem=850M"
If an append line is already available in this section, insert the parameter mem=850M after the existing entry separated by a blank. Save the file and execute the command
lilo

Keywords: VMWARE, SEGMENTATION, FAULT, PTE-HIGHMEM

Categories: Commercial Applications

SDB-fhassel_vmware_segfault, Copyright SuSE Linux AG, Nürnberg, Germany - Version: 14. Jun 2002
SuSE Linux AG - Last generated: 07. Oct 2002 by ip (sdb_gen 1.40.0)