help-center-docs/software/virtualbox/en.md

+++ title = "VirtualBox" lastmod = "2017-09-22T20:12:22+03:00" +++

VirtualBox

VirtualBox is an x86 virtualization software package developed by Oracle.

Install kernel headers

For using VirtualBox in either guest or host mode, it is important that you install the correct headers for your kernel, as Solus support both a current and lts kernel.

If you aren't sure which kernel you are running, run the following in terminal:

uname -r

You will either have a .current or .lts suffix. Examples: 4.12.12-19.current or 4.9.49-46.lts

If you have an lts kernel, install the lts headers:

sudo eopkg install linux-lts-headers

If you have a current kernel, installing the current headers:

sudo eopkg install linux-current-headers

Now proceed for setting up Solus as Guest or Host.

Solus as Guest

Make sure you have the necessary core packages installed:

sudo eopkg upgrade
sudo eopkg install gcc make autoconf binutils xorg-server-devel

Reboot your system first so that it's all up to date.

Now install the Guest Additions : from the VirtualBox menu Devices -> Insert Guest Additions CD image...

On the guest Machine, open Files and click on the optical drive icon (CD name starts with VBOXADDITIONS) then click on the Run Software button and follow the on screen instructions.

{{< altimg "autorun.png" "help-center/software/virtualbox/" >}}

Note: For each kernel update you will need to rebuild the VirtualBox Modules. So simply remount the ISO and run the instructions again.

Virtual machine settings

Here is a brief overview on some options you may want to set (you can only do it when your virtual machine is not running).

Select your guest machine and click on the Settings icon.

Clipboard Sharing, Drag & Drop

By default, Clipboard Sharing and Drag'n'Drop are disabled, you can change this in General -> Advanced

{{< altimg "vbox-clipboard.png" "help-center/software/virtualbox/" >}}

Number of CPU

Virtual machines are created with only 1 CPU. You can change this in System -> Processor

3D Acceleration

For better performances, it is strongly recommended to enable 3D Acceleration in Display -> Screen

USB Controller

If you have installed the extension pack and your hardware supports it, you set the USB Controller to USB 2.0 or 3.0, in USB

Note: Access to USB is granted by the user group vboxusers on the Host operating system. You can add yourself to this group with the following command:

sudo usermod -aG vboxusers `whoami`

Shared Folders

You can share folders from the Host to the Guest in Shared Folders

Note: auto-mounted shared folders are mounted into the /media directory, along with the prefix sf_. For example, the shared folder myfiles would be mounted to /media/sf_myfiles. Access to auto-mounted shared folders is only granted to the user group vboxsf on the Guest operating system.

Execute these commands to set the permissions and add yourself to the group:

sudo chmod 755 /media
sudo usermod -aG vboxsf `whoami`

Solus as Host

Download the latest VirtualBox Installer - direct link (5.1.28) right click link and Save As. Now install the dependencies and VirtualBox like so:

sudo eopkg it -c system.devel
sudo sh ~/Downloads/VirtualBox-5.1.28-117968-Linux_amd64.run

Replace the version number of the file with the one you downloaded.

Note: You will probably want to install the Extension Pack to extend the functionalities of VirtualBox.