VMware Causing Keyboard Issues in Ubuntu

Refer to these threads:

• https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/vmware-server/+bug/248376
• http://communities.vmware.com/thread/150155

My environments are:

• Ubuntu Linux 8.04
• X.org 1.4
• VMWare 1.0.6 (Windows XP installed)

The problem is when you switch to the guest os and do anything for an undetermined period of time, after you switch back to your host os (i.e. Ubuntu Linux), your keyboard stops working properly.
People in those threads say that it is because the guest os does not release control from the keyboard layout to the host os.
From the threads above, ager-wick described his investigation result which is very useful for us.
By summarizing his test cases, I come to a solution that can solve my problem.
The solution that works for me is:
1. Disable these options inVMWare:

• grab keyboard and mouse input on mouse click
• grab keyboard and mouse input on mouse click
• grab when cursor enters window
• ungrab when cursor leaves window

2. Do this when switching between host os and guest os:

• if you want to switch to the guest os, you press: ctrl + alt + enter
• if you want to switch to the host os, you press: ctrl + alt

This way, we don't use automatic grabbing keyboard and mouse feature of VMWare which contains bugs.