Patching things using Ubuntu Server 9.10

Whilst trying to install VMware Server 2.0.2 on a freshly squeezed Ubuntu Server 9.10 installation, I needed to run a script that patches the out-of-the-box VMware install scripts.

This script, found here ( amongst other places ) uses the patch command. Sadly, for some strange reason, the script itself kept failing with: -

Testing patch ./vmware-server.2.0.1_x64-modules-2.6.30.4-fix.sh: 71: patch: not found Sorry, problem with the patch, I can't apply it 

After mucking about with permissions etc., I Googled around and found that the problem was that the patch command ( /usr/bin/patch ) wasn't installed - however, the command: -

sudo apt-get install patch

didn't find owt, and Synaptic Package Manager implied that patch was already installed as part of the same package that includes the diff command - which WAS there.

To cut a long story short, the trick was to run: -

sudo apt-get update

( with an Internet connection, of course )

and then re-run: -

sudo apt-get install patch

Once done, /usr/bin/patch miraculously appeared, and the aforementioned script worked without a problem.

Simple ? I DON'T BLOOMIN' THINK SO ...