* /usr/src/linux-$VERSION-$RELEASE/
The kernel sources.
* /usr/src/linux
A symbolic link to /usr/src/linux-$VERSION-$RELEASE. "
So, why is it that /usr/src/linux on my box is not a symbolic link, it's a real directory that contains a bunch of header files dated March 2004.
I don't know. Must be a non standard installation.
Second point, and keep in mind that I am basically clueless here, the original question had to do with compiling MPlayer from source since a pre-built binary RPM for 64 bit doesn't seem to be available. So, the problem resolves around compiling an application so it can be installed and run. Has nothing to do with compiling kernels or kernel modules, just an application.
When I try to compile the MPlayer package using the /usr/src/linux setup that SuSE put on my machine, it fails with the Compile Error `CONFIG_X86_L1_CACHE_SHIFT' error _unless_ I include a configuration switch to exclude framebuffer support, e.g., --disable-fbdev.
If it doesn't compile kernel modules mplayer should access kernel includes. Actually glibc needs some, but it has its own independent copy. Accessing kernel includes with no need would be a bug in Mplayer. But it sounds like your installation is quite messed up. Maybe it is just some missing some files somewhere.
So, what does this have to do with /lib/module/.....? I'm totally confused and I don't think my question has been answered as to whether or not there's a problem with two sets of header files and no symbolic link.
The official way to compile kernel modules for the current kernel is to use /lib/modules/`uname -r`/kernel/include for includes. But it shouldn't be needed for any user space programs. -Andi