Need help properly configuring VirtualBox and guest additions

[SteveRiley]

I still have only an approximate 10:12 inch screen that does not expand to full screen.

Unfortunately, I can't draw on personal experience at this point. I've never used VirtualBox to host a Linux guest. I've run Windows guests, and they worked with the emulated video driver provided by the extensions without any additional manual configuration.

What procedure did you follow to activate the extensions inside the virtual machine?

I have been trying to find how to add vboxusers to my computer - can't figure how to do it.

This should be handled automatically by the installer. When I used VirtualBox, I never had to perform this step separately. Nevertheless, here's the command to create the group:

sudo groupadd -r vboxusers

And then add yourself to the group:

sudo usermod -a -G vboxusers [I]username[/I]

Substitute your actual user name for username. You will need to log out and log back in for the change to take effect.

[Shabakthanai]

Thanks again, however, I now believe I have everything installed properly and USB still is not recognized nor fullscreen working. Is there anything else I can do, or should I just relax for now, my patient friend.

Unfortunately, I can't draw on personal experience at this point. I've never used VirtualBox to host a Linux guest. I've run Windows guests, and they worked with the emulated video driver provided by the extensions without any additional manual configuration.

What procedure did you follow to activate the extensions inside the virtual machine?


This should be handled automatically by the installer. When I used VirtualBox, I never had to perform this step separately. Nevertheless, here's the command to create the group:

sudo groupadd -r vboxusers

And then add yourself to the group:

sudo usermod -a -G vboxusers [I]username[/I]

Substitute your actual user name for username. You will need to log out and log back in for the change to take effect.

[SteveRiley]

If you edit the virtual machine's settings and remove the check next to "Enable 3D acceleration," are you then able to adjust the resolution of the guest when it runs?

[Shabakthanai]

Hi Steve, I unchecked 3D Acceleration, but I could not find a place to set Aspect Ratio. I looked in System Settings Monitor settings and Multimedia, but could find nothing that would offer a change, other than the monitor I am running is set to 1920x1080 which is correct. Nonetheless, the VB OS occupies approximately 12x10 inches, the balance of the screen is either Gray or Black when expanded. Also, I still do not have USB support, and when I attempt to view a movie, the player opens, but the movie does not start. I do see the movie mentioned in the far left column of Dolphin, so it appears the virtual CDROM is recognized. For me to test K13.04 properly, I really need USB support. Any other ideas?

If you edit the virtual machine's settings and remove the check next to "Enable 3D acceleration," are you then able to adjust the resolution of the guest when it runs?

[SteveRiley]

Let me install VirtualBox and check something. Hang on.

[SteveRiley]

In VirtualBox Manager, when you click File | Preferences | Extensions, do you see the following version of the extensions pack installed?

[Shabakthanai]

In my application, the title is not VirtualBox - Settings for that screen; the title in mine is "Kubuntu 13.04 amd64 - Settings. The list of options is different and are as follows:

General
System
Display
Storage
Audio
Network
Serial Ports
USB
Shared Folders

Extensions is not an option. I vaguely remember downloading VirtualBox Extensions, but I am not sure I either knew how or installed it. I have a copy of it in my Kubuntu 12.10 Documents folder. I clicked on it and my computer said:

The extension pack is already installed with the same verison, would you like reinstall it?

Name: Oracle VM VirtualBox Extension Pack
Version: 4.2.6r82870
Description: USB 2.0 Host Controller, VirtualBox RDP, PXE Rom with E1000 support.
Reinstall Cancel

Apparently it is installed while somehow our Settings choices differ. Any ideas?

[SteveRiley]

In my application, the title is not VirtualBox - Settings for that screen; the title in mine is "Kubuntu 13.04 amd64 - Settings.

That's the settings dialog for a virtual machine. I'm asking you to check the preferences dialog for the VirtualBox Manager.

Review what I wrote in post #54: In VirtualBox Manager, when you click File | Preferences | Extensions. I didn't ask you to click Machine | Settings or to click the yellow gear.

Give me a minute to get a Kubuntu VM set up so I can see what to do about resolution.

[Shabakthanai]

I feel quite stupid. Thanks for taking me back so I would learn from my inattentiveness. Mine is exactly like yours. Thanks friend.

That's the settings dialog for a virtual machine. I'm asking you to check the preferences dialog for the VirtualBox Manager.

Review what I wrote in post #54: In VirtualBox Manager, when you click File | Preferences | Extensions. I didn't ask you to click Machine | Settings or to click the yellow gear.

Give me a minute to get a Kubuntu VM set up so I can see what to do about resolution.

[Snowhog]

I feel quite stupid.

Don't. You are learning, and that is one of the goals here in KFN. Each to their abilities. That you are willing to persevere, even though it is taking you longer, is a testament to your desire to understand. That makes you a willing student, and that is more than half the battle.

[Shabakthanai]

What next, my friend?

Don't. You are learning, and that is one of the goals here in KFN. Each to their abilities. That you are willing to persevere, even though it is taking you longer, is a testament to your desire to understand. That makes you a willing student, and that is more than half the battle.

[SteveRiley]

No need to feel stupid; you're learning some advanced stuff here. I admire your persistence.

When dealing with virtual machine software, getting guest extensions to work is a two step process. First, you have to install the extensions package into the management console. Given what you mentioned just now, you have successfully accomplished that. Second, you have to enable the extensions in the virtual machine itself.

Alas, after spending a couple hours testing this, I've learned that there's a bug in the installer, triggered by the 3.8 kernel version in Raring. You will need to wait until Oracle updates the extension pack to fix this. I don't know when that will happen.

[Shabakthanai]

Ouch, I hope I can remeber those things that are still pretty fresh in my mind until that happens. Is this something that will probably happen relative soon, or a long time wait? I wish I had made a second post on the VB issue alone. I may not remember that resolution of the problem is in a post on something unrelated. You have been just great, I do think I am learning a little. At least maybe I will be better at following instructions, hopefully. Cheers friend.

No need to feel stupid you're learning some advanced stuff here. I admire your persistence.

When dealing with virtual machine software, getting guest extensions to work is a two step process. First, you have to install the extensions package into the management console. Given what you mentioned just now, you have successfully accomplished that. Second, you have to enable the extensions in the virtual machine itself.

Alas, after spending a couple hours testing this, I've learned that there's a bug in the installer, triggered by the 3.8 kernel version in Raring. You will need to wait until Oracle updates the extension pack to fix this. I don't know when that will happen.

[SteveRiley]

I found a workaround for the bug. I tested it and can report success. I'll type instructions later.

[SteveRiley]

This should get your VM going with guest additions and the ability to switch to full screen.


Step 1. In the menu at the top of the virtual machine window, choose Devices | Install Guest Additions:




Step 2. After a few seconds, the Available Devices list will pop up in the lower right corner of the window. Click Open with File Manager. If the list disappears before you can get to it, click the USB logo icon, indicated with the green arrow. This will bring back the list.




Step 3. Dolphin will open. In the Dolphin menu, choose Control | Tools | Open Terminal:




Step 4. To configure the build environment for the required kernel modules, run the following command:

sudo apt-get install dkms

Step 5. To build and enable the extensions, run the following command:

sudo sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run

Note that the command will fail:



We need to force the failure so that we can then fix it. The fix is contained in a replacement source code file.


Step 6. To download this file and store it in the correct place, run the following command. A few things to note as you type it... The URL http://goo.gl/NVz6k is a shortening service that points to the real download location. To make it easier to type, I've used the service to act as a shortcut for you. Following the URL is a hyphen and a capital letter O (not the numeral zero). Don't forget the spaces on each side of the -O otherwise the command won't work! Also, make sure you capitalize exactly as shown.

sudo wget http://goo.gl/NVz6k -O /usr/src/vboxguest-4.2.6/vboxguest/VBoxGuest-linux.c

Step 7. Now that you've downloaded the bug fix, finish building and enabling the extensions. This may take a few minutes to complete. Run the following command:

ls /var/lib/initramfs-tools | sudo xargs -n1 /usr/lib/dkms/dkms_autoinstaller start

If all goes well, this is what you should see when the build process is done:




Step 8. Now type exit and hit Enter. Then close the Dolphin window.

In the menu at the top of the virtual machine window, choose Devices | CD/DVD Devices | Remove disk from virtual drive:



You may see a dialog box with a Force Unmount button; if so, click that button:




Step 9. Restart the virtual machine. When the graphical login screen appears, it should be larger this time, and after you log in, you should be able to switch the virtual machine to full screen. Note also that your mouse will move seamlessly between the guest and the host.


Let us know how it goes for you.