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)