As you can reproduce the crash at will, may you read http://techbase.kde.org/Development/Tutorials/Debugging/How_to_create_useful_crash_reports and post a complete backtrace here? You need to install the "kdebase-workspace-dbg" and "kdelibs5-dbg" packages. Thanks

Created attachment 35273 [details]
vmware plasma crash

That backtrace was noted as still being useless.  So... how would one go about running plasma workspace with GDB or valgrind...?

The file you attached is empty.
To run Plasma into GDB:

- Run Konsole
- Type "kquitapp plasma" + Return
Plasma will quit
- Type "gdb plasma" + Return
- Type "run --nofork" + Return
Plasma will restart
- Reproduce the crash
Plasma will crash
- Go back to the Konsole/GDB window, type "bt full" and press Return a couple of times. Then copy and paste that backtrace/output here.

Thanks

Thanks so much!  That was pretty easy.  I appreciate the concise directions.  I can't say I would have gotten there from the Tutorial cited above.  I'm _slowly_ learning this process.

I will attach the resulting backtrace.  It took me a moment to realize what had happened.  I was waiting for the dialog box to pop-up... :-)  I guess that happens *after* the backtrace is created normally so there is something to actually populate the dialog box with, eh?

Created attachment 35349 [details]
Backtrace of plasma crash when stopping vmware-networks

Let me know if there is more info to gather and how I can go about it!

As I thought, this is a NetworkManager crash (it makes sense)
Pasting the backtrace inline: (btw, if there is a package named "plasma-widget-networkmanager-dbg" you should installed as it will provide us more information about the crash)

------

The initial error reported in GDB:

Program received signal SIGSEGV, Segmentation fault.
[Switching to Thread 0x7f24f251c790 (LWP 7284)]
0x00007f24d46fa570 in ?? () from /usr/lib/kde4/plasma_applet_networkmanagement.so


The backtrace:
(gdb) bt full
#0  0x00007f24d46fa570 in ?? () from /usr/lib/kde4/plasma_applet_networkmanagement.so
No symbol table info available.
#1  0x00007f24d470b9cc in ?? () from /usr/lib/kde4/plasma_applet_networkmanagement.so
No symbol table info available.
#2  0x00007f24d46f8700 in ?? () from /usr/lib/kde4/plasma_applet_networkmanagement.so
No symbol table info available.
#3  0x00007f24edaad1f2 in QMetaObject::activate (sender=0x25c7ef0, from_signal_index=<value optimized out>, to_signal_index=5, argv=0x0)
    at kernel/qobject.cpp:3069
        method = 20
        currentSender = {sender = 0x25c7ef0, signal = 5, ref = 1}
        previousSender = (QObjectPrivate::Sender *) 0x7ffffa657660
        count = 2
        signal = 5
        empty_argv = {0x0}
        locker = {{mtx = 0x21140d8, val = 34685144}}
        currentThreadData = (QThreadData *) 0x2114080
        connectionLists = (QObjectConnectionListVector *) 0x2449d80
#4  0x00007f24d46fc6f8 in ?? () from /usr/lib/kde4/plasma_applet_networkmanagement.so
No symbol table info available.
#5  0x00007f24d46f8633 in ?? () from /usr/lib/kde4/plasma_applet_networkmanagement.so
No symbol table info available.
#6  0x00007f24d46f86a5 in ?? () from /usr/lib/kde4/plasma_applet_networkmanagement.so
No symbol table info available.
#7  0x00007f24edaad1f2 in QMetaObject::activate (sender=0x235a610, from_signal_index=<value optimized out>, to_signal_index=7, argv=0x0)
    at kernel/qobject.cpp:3069
        method = 8
        currentSender = {sender = 0x235a610, signal = 7, ref = 1}
        previousSender = (QObjectPrivate::Sender *) 0x0
        count = 3
        signal = 7
        empty_argv = {0x0}
        locker = {{mtx = 0x21140d8, val = 34685144}}
        currentThreadData = (QThreadData *) 0x2114080
        connectionLists = (QObjectConnectionListVector *) 0x2371b00
#8  0x00007f24d44d7854 in NetworkManagerSettings::connectionAdded () from /usr/lib/libknmdbus.so.4
No symbol table info available.
#9  0x00007f24d44d91f3 in NetworkManagerSettings::onConnectionAdded () from /usr/lib/libknmdbus.so.4
No symbol table info available.
#10 0x00007f24d44d93f4 in NetworkManagerSettings::qt_metacall () from /usr/lib/libknmdbus.so.4
No symbol table info available.
#11 0x00007f24edaad1f2 in QMetaObject::activate (sender=0x235a610, from_signal_index=<value optimized out>, to_signal_index=5, argv=0x0)
    at kernel/qobject.cpp:3069
        method = 12
        currentSender = {sender = 0x235a610, signal = 5, ref = 1}
        previousSender = (QObjectPrivate::Sender *) 0x7ffffa657f00
        count = 1
        signal = 5
        empty_argv = {0x0}
        locker = {{mtx = 0x21140d8, val = 34685144}}
        currentThreadData = (QThreadData *) 0x2114080
        connectionLists = (QObjectConnectionListVector *) 0x2371b00
#12 0x00007f24d44d7282 in OrgFreedesktopNetworkManagerSettingsInterface::NewConnection () from /usr/lib/libknmdbus.so.4
No symbol table info available.
#13 0x00007f24d44d742c in OrgFreedesktopNetworkManagerSettingsInterface::qt_metacall () from /usr/lib/libknmdbus.so.4
No symbol table info available.
#14 0x00007f24d44d9355 in NetworkManagerSettings::qt_metacall () from /usr/lib/libknmdbus.so.4
No symbol table info available.
#15 0x00007f24eddb5f83 in QDBusConnectionPrivate::deliverCall (this=0x23524f0, object=0x235a610, msg=@0x293e858, metaTypes=@0x293e860, slotIdx=5)
    at qdbusintegrator.cpp:891
        context = {connection = {static staticMetaObject = {d = {superdata = 0x0, stringdata = 0x7f24eddf1d80 "QDBusConnection", data = 0x7f24eddf1f60,
        extradata = 0x0}}, d = 0x23524f0}, message = @0x293e858}
        old = (QDBusContextPrivate *) 0x0
        ptr = {o = 0x235a610}
        params = {a = 10, s = 2, ptr = 0x7ffffa657cf0, {
    array = "\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000��\223\002\000\000\000\000\200�_\002\000\000\000\000P~e��\177\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000\000� 5\002\000\000\000\000�$5\002\000\000\000\000X%5\002\000\000\000\000�$5\002\000\000\000\000\200�\026\002\000\000\000\000�$5\002\000\000\000", q_for_alignment_1 = 0,
    q_for_alignment_2 = 0}}
        auxParameters = {{p = {static shared_null = {ref = {_q_value = 23903}, alloc = 0, begin = 0, end = 0, sharable = 1, array = {0x0}},
      d = 0x7f24edd8d360}, d = 0x7f24edd8d360}}
        i = <value optimized out>
        pCount = 1
        outputArgs = {{p = {static shared_null = {ref = {_q_value = 23903}, alloc = 0, begin = 0, end = 0, sharable = 1, array = {0x0}}, d = 0x7f24edd8d360},
    d = 0x7f24edd8d360}}
        fail = true
warning: (Internal error: pc 0x7f24eddbdd0e in read in psymtab, but not in symtab.)

warning: (Internal error: pc 0x7f24eddbdd0e in read in psymtab, but not in symtab.)

#16 0x00007f24eddbdd0f in QDBusCallDeliveryEvent::placeMetaCall (this=warning: (Internal error: pc 0x7f24eddbdcf0 in read in psymtab, but not in symtab.)

warning: (Internal error: pc 0x7f24eddbdd0e in read in psymtab, but not in symtab.)

0x7ffffa657410, object=0x7f2400000035) at qdbusintegrator_p.h:101
warning: (Internal error: pc 0x7f24eddbdd0e in read in psymtab, but not in symtab.)

No locals.
#17 0x00007f24edaa7848 in QObject::event (this=0x235a610, e=0x293e810) at kernel/qobject.cpp:1118
        currentSender = {sender = 0x23524f0, signal = -1, ref = 1}
        previousSender = (QObjectPrivate::Sender * const) 0x0
#18 0x00007f24ee1dc78d in QApplicationPrivate::notify_helper (this=0x216a280, receiver=0x235a610, e=0x293e810) at kernel/qapplication.cpp:4084
        consumed = <value optimized out>
#19 0x00007f24ee1e497a in QApplication::notify (this=0x2138100, receiver=0x235a610, e=0x293e810) at kernel/qapplication.cpp:4049
        res = true
#20 0x00007f24f089926b in KApplication::notify (this=0x2138100, receiver=0x235a610, event=0x293e810)
    at /build/buildd/kde4libs-4.2.2/kdeui/kernel/kapplication.cpp:307
No locals.
#21 0x00007f24eda9775c in QCoreApplication::notifyInternal (this=0x2138100, receiver=0x235a610, event=0x293e810) at kernel/qcoreapplication.cpp:602
        result = false
        cbdata = {0x235a610, 0x293e810, 0x7ffffa65837f}
        threadData = (QThreadData *) 0x2114080
        returnValue = <value optimized out>
#22 0x00007f24eda983ca in QCoreApplicationPrivate::sendPostedEvents (receiver=0x0, event_type=0, data=0x2114080)
    at ../../include/QtCore/../../src/corelib/kernel/qcoreapplication.h:213
        e = (class QEvent *) 0x293e810
        r = (class QObject *) 0x235a610
        locker = {{mtx = 0x21140c0, val = 34685120}}
        startOffset = 0
        i = (int &) @0x21140b4: 2
#23 0x00007f24edac11e3 in postEventSourceDispatch (s=<value optimized out>) at ../../include/QtCore/../../src/corelib/kernel/qcoreapplication.h:218
No locals.
#24 0x00007f24e875f20a in g_main_context_dispatch () from /usr/lib/libglib-2.0.so.0
No symbol table info available.
#25 0x00007f24e87628e0 in ?? () from /usr/lib/libglib-2.0.so.0
No symbol table info available.
#26 0x00007f24e8762a7c in g_main_context_iteration () from /usr/lib/libglib-2.0.so.0
No symbol table info available.
#27 0x00007f24edac0e6f in QEventDispatcherGlib::processEvents (this=0x21184f0, flags=<value optimized out>) at kernel/qeventdispatcher_glib.cpp:323
        d = (QEventDispatcherGlibPrivate * const) 0x216a3d0
        canWait = true
        result = <value optimized out>
#28 0x00007f24ee274bef in QGuiEventDispatcherGlib::processEvents (this=0x7ffffa657410, flags=<value optimized out>) at kernel/qguieventdispatcher_glib.cpp:202
        d = (QGuiEventDispatcherGlibPrivate * const) 0x216a3d0
        returnValue = 16
#29 0x00007f24eda96002 in QEventLoop::processEvents (this=<value optimized out>, flags={i = -94009792}) at kernel/qeventloop.cpp:149
        d = (QEventLoopPrivate * const) 0x21cd9b0
#30 0x00007f24eda963cd in QEventLoop::exec (this=0x7ffffa658680, flags={i = -94009712}) at kernel/qeventloop.cpp:200
        d = (QEventLoopPrivate * const) 0x21cd9b0
#31 0x00007f24eda98694 in QCoreApplication::exec () at kernel/qcoreapplication.cpp:880
        threadData = (QThreadData *) 0x2114080
        eventLoop = {<QObject> = {_vptr.QObject = 0x7f24edd88fb0, static staticMetaObject = {d = {superdata = 0x0, stringdata = 0x7f24edb2db40 "QObject",
        data = 0x7f24edb2dbe0, extradata = 0x7f24edd82040}}, d_ptr = 0x21cd9b0, static staticQtMetaObject = {d = {superdata = 0x0,
        stringdata = 0x7f24edb373e0 "Qt", data = 0x7f24edb3a2c0, extradata = 0x0}}}, static staticMetaObject = {d = {superdata = 0x7f24edd82020,
      stringdata = 0x7f24edb3f0e0 "QEventLoop", data = 0x7f24edb3f100, extradata = 0x0}}}
        returnCode = -1
#32 0x00007f24f21f89bb in kdemain (argc=2, argv=0x7ffffa658988) at /build/buildd/kdebase-workspace-4.2.2/plasma/shells/desktop/main.cpp:54
        aboutData = {d = 0x2116bb0}
        app = (class PlasmaApp *) 0x2138100
        rc = <value optimized out>
#33 0x00007f24ece445a6 in __libc_start_main (main=0x400890 <main>, argc=2, ubp_av=0x7ffffa658988, init=0x4008c0 <__libc_csu_init>, fini=<value optimized out>,
    rtld_fini=<value optimized out>, stack_end=0x7ffffa658978) at libc-start.c:220
        result = <value optimized out>
        unwind_buf = {cancel_jmp_buf = {{jmp_buf = {4196544, 5391765463385219397, 4196256, 140737394346368, 0, 0, -5391773213215973051, -5432819066848304827},
      mask_was_saved = 0}}, priv = {pad = {0x0, 0x0, 0x2, 0x400890}, data = {prev = 0x0, cleanup = 0x0, canceltype = 2}}}
        not_first_call = <value optimized out>
#34 0x00000000004007c9 in _start () at ../sysdeps/x86_64/elf/start.S:113

This could be related to bug 192957 (there are also some other related reports, but without a full backtrace is hard to tell)
Thanks

Alas, there is no package of that name.  I have the only network debug package installed:  kdenetwork-dbg ("debugging symbols for the KDE 4 networking...").

I've looked around and I appear to have what networking debug packages there are.

I have followed the suggestion of removing the networking plasmoid from my main panel.  Tomorrow I will try again (perhaps tonight if I am feeling particularly ambitious).

I have followed the suggestion from bug 192957 and it appears to resolve the issue.  I think this serves as one more piece of evidence that there is an issue with the plasma_applet_networkmanagement.

If only I had a debug package to install for that...

I know that there are many issues with plasma_applet_networkmanagement - that's why it is still in 'playground' in KDE's repository.  When I think it's production ready I'll move it to kdenetwork or extragear/network.

I suggest you ask kubuntu specialists which package in which repo contains the debuginfo for this - they provide debuginfo for everything else.  kdenetwork-debuginfo is unrelated.

Cool.  Thank you so much.  I hope this has been helpful to the development effort.  I fully understand the status of the widget.

Thanks again!

*** This bug has been marked as a duplicate of bug 192957 ***