Install kernel-header for VMware 

# kernel version
kv=`uname -r`

Getting the kernel source 

% debfoster kernel-headers-$kv
The following extra packages will be installed:
  kernel-headers-2.4.27-2
The following NEW packages will be installed:
  kernel-headers-2.4.27-2 kernel-headers-2.4.27-2-k7
0 upgraded, 2 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
Need to get 2122kB of archives.
After unpacking 29.9MB of additional disk space will be used.

Prepare the kernel 

cd /usr/src/
 rm linux
ln -s kernel-headers-$kv linux
 dir /boot/config-*
cp -v /boot/config-$kv linux/.config

VMware module build log 

Trying to find a suitable vmmon module for your running kernel.

None of the pre-built vmmon modules for VMware Workstation is suitable for your running kernel. Do you want this program to try to build the vmmon module for your system (you need to have a C compiler installed on your system)? [yes]

Using compiler "/usr/bin/gcc". Use environment variable CC to override.

What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running kernel? [/usr/src/linux/include]

# install the kernel header as above

Extracting the sources of the vmmon module.

Building the vmmon module.

Using standalone build system.
make: Entering directory `/vars/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only'
make[1]: Entering directory `/vars/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only'
make[2]: Entering directory `/vars/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/driver-2.4.27-2-k7'
make[2]: Leaving directory `/vars/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/driver-2.4.27-2-k7'
make[2]: Entering directory `/vars/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/driver-2.4.27-2-k7'
make[2]: Leaving directory `/vars/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only/driver-2.4.27-2-k7'
make[1]: Leaving directory `/vars/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only'
make: Leaving directory `/vars/tmp/vmware-config0/vmmon-only'
The module loads perfectly in the running kernel.

NB, do not use make 

cd linux
% make mrproper
make: *** arch/i386/boot: No such file or directory.  Stop.
make: *** [archclean] Error 2
% make dep
make: *** arch/i386/boot: No such file or directory.  Stop.
make: *** [archdep] Error 2
% make oldconfig
rm -f include/asm
( cd include ; ln -sf asm-i386 asm)
/usr/src/linux/include
/bin/sh scripts/Configure -d arch/i386/config.in
#
# Using defaults found in .config
#
scripts/Configure: line 556: arch/i386/config.in: No such file or directory
make: *** [oldconfig] Error 1

documented on: 2005.04.20

Prepare the Debian kernel-source 

 # kernel & kernel source version
 kv=`uname -r`
 ksv=`uname -r | sed 's/-.*$//'`
// svs kv ksv
debfoster kernel-source-$ksv kernel-headers-$kv

Ref:

% debfoster kernel-source-$kv
E: Couldn't find package kernel-source-2.4.27-2-k7

Unpacking kernel sources 

cd /usr/src/
tar jfx kernel-source-$ksv.tar.bz2
 rm linux
ln -sf kernel-source-$ksv linux
cp -v /boot/config-$kv linux/.config

Unpacking kernel sources 

cd linux
# use all answers from ./.config file
% make oldconfig
*** End of Linux kernel configuration.
*** Check the top-level Makefile for additional configuration.
*** Next, you must run 'make dep'.
# Finally, do a "make dep" to set up all the dependencies correctly.
% make dep

For vmware 

What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running kernel? [/usr/src/linux/include]

The path "/usr/src/linux/include" is not an existing directory.

# install the kernel source as above

What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running kernel? [/usr/src/linux/include]

The directory of kernel headers (version 2.4.27) does not match your running kernel (version 2.4.27-2-k7). Even if the module were to compile successfully, it would not load into the running kernel.

What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running kernel? [/usr/src/linux/include]

documented on: 2005.04.20