Revise advice on /tmp: Difining TMPDIR would be better way than

creating /compat/linux/tmp to fake /tmp.

2 files changed, 40 insertions, 18 deletions

diff --git a/emulators/vmware2/files/Hints.FreeBSD b/emulators/vmware2/files/Hints.FreeBSD
index 63617d56341f..f1528c31697a 100644
--- a/emulators/vmware2/files/Hints.FreeBSD
+++ b/emulators/vmware2/files/Hints.FreeBSD
@@ -75,17 +75,28 @@ empty or when you're about to eject the media.
 
 (Obtain the write permission on /dev/rfd0 if you write floppy disks)
 
-- Consider making a link /compat/linux/tmp if your /tmp doesn't have
-sufficient free space or is slow.  VMware uses /tmp to back the VM's
-memory.
+- VMware creates a file that is about 25% larger than the guest OS's
+RAM size, unlinks it and mmap's on it on the first startup of the VM.
 
-e.g.
-	ln -s /usr/tmp /compat/linux/tmp
+The default directory for the mmap is the value of TMPDIR environment
+variable, or if it's undefined, /tmp.
 
-Also, be very careful if /tmp/ is an MFS partition. VMware
-creates a file that is about 25% larger than the guest's RAM size,
-unlinks it and does mmap on it. Such a large, active file in
-MFS can lead to deadlocks.
+Therefore, it would be a good idea to have your TMPDIR variable
+defined as a directory 1) that performs fast, 2) that has sufficient
+free space, and 3) that isn't on MFS; if your /tmp doesn't meet those
+three conditions.
+
+1 is because that will significantly improve the performance, 2 is
+because the VM cannot even boot when the mmap fails, and 3 is because
+such a large, active file on MFS could lead the system to deadlocks.
+
+
+Alternatively, you can make /compat/linux/tmp to fake /tmp, however,
+you should note that it would cause you silly troubles: Imagine a
+Linux application (say, Linux Netscape) which creates a temporary file
+in /tmp and passes it to some external program; you'll see it actually
+creates a file in /compat/linux/tmp when the external program searches
+/tmp literally.
 
 - Don't miss the VMware FAQ available on the official site.
 
diff --git a/emulators/vmware3/files/Hints.FreeBSD b/emulators/vmware3/files/Hints.FreeBSD
index 63617d56341f..f1528c31697a 100644
--- a/emulators/vmware3/files/Hints.FreeBSD
+++ b/emulators/vmware3/files/Hints.FreeBSD
@@ -75,17 +75,28 @@ empty or when you're about to eject the media.
 
 (Obtain the write permission on /dev/rfd0 if you write floppy disks)
 
-- Consider making a link /compat/linux/tmp if your /tmp doesn't have
-sufficient free space or is slow.  VMware uses /tmp to back the VM's
-memory.
+- VMware creates a file that is about 25% larger than the guest OS's
+RAM size, unlinks it and mmap's on it on the first startup of the VM.
 
-e.g.
-	ln -s /usr/tmp /compat/linux/tmp
+The default directory for the mmap is the value of TMPDIR environment
+variable, or if it's undefined, /tmp.
 
-Also, be very careful if /tmp/ is an MFS partition. VMware
-creates a file that is about 25% larger than the guest's RAM size,
-unlinks it and does mmap on it. Such a large, active file in
-MFS can lead to deadlocks.
+Therefore, it would be a good idea to have your TMPDIR variable
+defined as a directory 1) that performs fast, 2) that has sufficient
+free space, and 3) that isn't on MFS; if your /tmp doesn't meet those
+three conditions.
+
+1 is because that will significantly improve the performance, 2 is
+because the VM cannot even boot when the mmap fails, and 3 is because
+such a large, active file on MFS could lead the system to deadlocks.
+
+
+Alternatively, you can make /compat/linux/tmp to fake /tmp, however,
+you should note that it would cause you silly troubles: Imagine a
+Linux application (say, Linux Netscape) which creates a temporary file
+in /tmp and passes it to some external program; you'll see it actually
+creates a file in /compat/linux/tmp when the external program searches
+/tmp literally.
 
 - Don't miss the VMware FAQ available on the official site.