VirtualBox - USB & Guest Additions [Solved]

[faraaz]

Hi...I've recently installed VirtualBox (1.4.0) on my Sabayon 3.3 install with Windows XP SP2 as the guest OS. I was trying to get USB working as a means of transferring files from my Linux installation into the guest OS, but when I open up the VM, I get an error msg saying USB services are not available on the host OS.

Also, I was trying to set up a shared folder in VB, but it said I need to install Guest Extensions. I looked in the User Manual to see what these things are and I've been trying to find the Guest Extensions ISO online. Can someone please tell me how to fix that annoying USB problem as well as how to find the Guest Extensions for VirtualBox please?

[WarraWarra]

The iso you are looking for is under /usr/lib/virtualbox/additions/ 2.2mb iso file

USB:
http://www.google.com/search?q=virtual+ ... =firefox-a

Downloads:
http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
Can likely extract the tar zip file and copy the additions iso to correct folder if it is missing.

Shared folder:
Only thing I can think of is to have a shared folder and then via eth once in windows guest browse the network and access it.
As for sabayon and how to make a shared folder no clue here or even what packages is needed to do this.

If you can get the additions installed then just drag and drop the files across nothing else needed.

[dave_p_b]

Hi

You might want to look at this:
http://www.sabayonlinux.org/forum/viewt ... ght=#44986

Also, you need to be installing the binary version of Virtualbox as the OSE (open source edition) doesn't include USB or shared folder support as explained here. http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Editions

btw: I haven't worked out how to get shared folders working yet either. I just copy files via a usb stick or via a Samba network share.

You can find the guest additions in this folder after you've installed the binary from the Virtualbox site /opt/VirtualBox/additions

All the best

Dave

[faraaz]

Okay, so I managed to install guest additions, and now I am having mouse integration which is pretty neat.

However, I read the link which dave provided and apparently, I need to emerge the virtualbox modules in order to get USB support working. This is going to be a problem...I don't have internet access on my current Sabayon machine.

Is there any way to compile and install these modules offline from source or something like that? Any links and tips I could get would be really helpful!

Edit: If I can get a network share going which lets me transfer files from my home folder into my XP vm I don't need USB support at all...for now atleast. Can someone also please please please tell me how to setup a working network share between my VM and host system?

[WarraWarra]

There is likely a easier option.

KDE:
Right click the little house next to the start button on the desktop and select storage media. Or the one on the desktop and do the same.

Once this is open double click the windows partition and it should mount and you can read / write to it.

or you can as root "cd /mnt" then "mkdir windows" inside /mnt folder.

Not changing directory "cd" stay in /mnt and "mount /dev/sda3 /mnt/windows"
where /dev/sda9 is the actual windows partition sda 1st sata hd , sdb = 2nd sata hd.
partitions = sda1 / sda2 / sda3 = 1st partition / 2nd partition / 3rd partition.

Now once the windows partition is mounted browse it either with linux type explorer or mc or "cd /mnt/windows" and "cd dell" or similar.

cd /dell goes to highest folder root/dell where cd dell = subfolder of current folder with name of dell.

the / makes a big difference .

Either way you can read and write to any windows / OSX / linux partition once it is mounted.

What has this got to do with the price of egg ?
Well download in windows your needed *.tar.bz2 type file and once in linux mount and copy it over and in kde right click and extract.

then using terminal as root browse to your desktop and install after reading the actual readme file that was extracted.

desktop is either " /root/Desktop" or "/home/elvis/Dekstop" elvis being your user name what ever it might be.

Network:
as root type "net-setup" provided you have a driver / module loaded for the network adapter and follow as close to what you think is good.

Once network / internet is working copy file from windows mounted partition to linux desktop and then drag and drop to virtual ??

Or " emerge -uD virtual* "
the star = rest of the name or * might end up being anything with this name will be emerged not sure.
Busy painting my house on 5 min break.

Hope this helps.

[dave_p_b]

Hi faraaz

You might already have the VirtualBox modules installed. If you open up a root konsole and type "modprobe vboxdrv" then see whether it loads the module ok. You can check to see whether it is loaded by typing "lsmod | grep vbox".

Alternatively, If you installed Virtualbox from their website then there is a directory that you can go into that will build the module for you. I installed Virtualbox into my /opt/VirtualBox/ folder. This is how you can do it.
1) open up a normal user konsole and goto the folder /opt/VirtualBox/src/
2) type "make" and hopefully it will make the vboxdrv.ko module with out any problems.
3) type "su" and enter root password.
4) type "make install"
5) If all gone well then you can load the module by typeing "modprobe vboxdrv"

All the best

Dave

[faraaz]

@dave: Thanks a lot mate!! Yeah, I already had the modules installed...your tip worked beautifully! And I am happy to say that my VM is fully working with all my USB devices...again, thanks a LOT for all the hlep guys!