I use VMware on my Linux box, too. In fact, I'm writing this from a 98
machine (yuk) running inside of VMware on a Red Hat 7.2 host. Take a look
at vmware's web site for VMwareWorkstationKernelModules-3.0.0-1491.i386.rpm
(for VMware 3). This kernel module will answer your gcc problems and
others. With this installed, I don't think you'll have trouble finishing
the installation.

Hope that helps,

David Cross

++++++++++++++++++++++
David Cross, KC0KII
Northwestern College
Telephone: (651) 628-3438
Fax: (651) 628-3363

"He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep
to gain what he cannot lose."  -- Jim Elliot, missionary to the Waorani