Kernel Compile Issue

[Thomas Bracht Laumann Jespersen]

> I am trying to compile a old kernel and it compiles fine. I used:
> time make -j$(nproc) and this is a-ok and works.
> make modules_install works fine. Now when I try to install the newly
> compiled kernel I get this error below.
> 
> Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 3.18.2-testing (x86_64)

Just to be clear: This is what you get when running "sudo make install" ?

> it says Consult /var/lib/dkms/open-vm-tools/9.4.6/build/make.log for
> more information.
> and this file shows me what is below:
> 
> ==============================================================
> DKMS make.log for open-vm-tools-9.4.6 for kernel 3.18.2-testing (x86_64)
> Tue Jun 22 22:30:14 EDT 2021
> /bin/sh: 1: test: -I./arch/x86/include: unexpected operator
> Using standalone build system.
> Makefile:167: Makefile.normal: No such file or directory
> make[2]: *** No rule to make target 'Makefile.normal'.  Stop.
> /bin/sh: 1: test: -I./arch/x86/include: unexpected operator
> Using standalone build system.
> Makefile:167: Makefile.normal: No such file or directory
> make[2]: *** No rule to make target 'Makefile.normal'.  Stop.
> ===============================================================

What are the contents of this Makefile (line 167)? Looks like it's expecting a
"Makefile.normal" that it can't find - I don't know what this file is or where
it would come from.

All the best,
-- Thomas