How to Install Guest Additions in VirtualBox

Edited 2 weeks ago by ExtremeHow Editorial Team

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VirtualBox is a powerful tool used to create virtual machines, which enables running different operating systems on a single host. With VirtualBox, you can run multiple operating systems simultaneously on your machine. One of the key features that enhances the functionality of VirtualBox is Guest Edition. It is a suite of utilities that enhances the performance of the guest operating system of a virtual machine and improves the interaction between the host and guest systems. This guide will provide detailed information on how to install Guest Edition in VirtualBox.

What are VirtualBox guest additions?

Guest Editions are special software packages shipped with VirtualBox that are designed to be installed inside a virtual machine after the guest operating system is installed. They provide closer integration between the host and guest, improving graphical performance and enabling a seamless user experience. Some of the benefits include:

• Improved video performance
• Seamless mouse pointer integration
• Shared folders allow easy file transfer between host and guest
• Time coordination between host and guest systems
• Shared clipboard for copy-paste actions between host and guest
• Enabling automatic window resizing

Preparation before installation

Before proceeding with the installation process, some preliminary steps are important. First, make sure that you have the latest version of VirtualBox installed on your host system as guest additions are constantly improved in new releases. You can download the latest version from the official VirtualBox website.

Next, it is necessary to ensure that the guest operating system is up to date. This applies mainly to Windows and Linux systems. For Linux, make sure that the kernel headers are installed. For Debian-based distributions execute this command in the terminal:

sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade -y

And to install the required packages, run:

sudo apt-get install build-essential dkms linux-headers-$(uname -r)

Installing guest editions on a Windows guest

Installing the Guest Edition on Windows is a straightforward process. Follow these steps to complete the installation:

1. Start your Windows virtual machine.
2. Once the virtual machine is running, go to the top menu bar of VirtualBox and select Devices, then click Insert Guest Edition CD Image…
3. A new CD drive will appear on your Windows guest with the Guest Edition setup. Open it like any regular CD drive from File Explorer.
4. Locate the VBoxWindowsAdditions.exe file and double-click it to execute the Guest Additions installer.
5. Follow the installation wizard. It is recommended to accept the default settings during installation.
6. After the installation is complete, reboot the virtual machine when prompted to apply the changes.

After installation, you will now have advanced graphics support, shared folders, clipboard functionalities, and more.

Installing guest additions on a Linux guest

This process involves several additional steps compared to Windows, but it can be managed by following these steps:

1. First, the Linux guest must have the necessary packages installed to build the kernel module. Use the following command on a Debian-based distro to install these packages:

sudo apt-get install build-essential dkms linux-headers-$(uname -r)

2. Start your Linux virtual machine and log into it.
3. As with the Windows installation, go to Devices, and click Insert Guest Edition CD Image….
4. Open a terminal in the Linux guest. Mount the guest edition CD image using the following command:

mkdir /media/cdrom sudo mount /dev/cdrom /media/cdrom

5. Go to the media/cdrom directory with the following command:

cd /media/cdrom

6. Run the Guest Additions installation script for Linux:

sudo sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run

7. Wait for the installation to complete. Once done, reboot the Linux guest system:

sudo reboot

After a reboot, the Guest Additions will be fully functional on your Linux guest system, providing additional features and improvements.

Troubleshooting common problems

Missing kernel headers

During installation on a Linux guest, you may get errors related to missing kernel headers. This usually indicates that the build tools required to compile the kernel module are not present. Make sure you execute the command build-essential dkms linux-headers to install it with the proper version mentioned earlier.

Script permission errors

If you get permission errors when running the VBoxLinuxAdditions.run script, make sure you have administrative privileges. Type sudo before the commands to execute them as a superuser, granting the necessary permissions.

System reboot required

Many Guest Additions features will not activate until the virtual machine is restarted. If a feature seems inactive after installation, reboot the guest operating system.

Checking the installation status

To verify if the Guest Additions are installed correctly, you can check the modules and look for VBox in the module list. Use the following command in Linux:

lsmod | grep vbox

If present, you will see several VirtualBox modules like vboxguest, vboxsf, etc. listed in the output.

Use of advanced features

Now that the Guest Additions are installed, you can make use of several enhancements:

Automatic window resizing

Guest Additions allows the guest operating system's desktop to automatically resize to fit the VirtualBox window. Simply adjust the window size by dragging the corners, and the guest OS desktop will dynamically adjust to the new size.

Seamless mode

Seamless mode integrates applications from your guest OS with the host. This is especially useful when running windowed applications. You can access it from the View menu on your VirtualBox interface.

Shared folders

Shared folders make it easy to exchange files between the host and guest systems. Set them up as machine folders or transient folders under the Shared Folders section through the VirtualBox Manager.

Copy and paste

With the Guest Edition, copy and paste operations can be performed across the host and guest systems. Enable this feature through the VirtualBox settings under the General > Advanced tab where the Shared Clipboard options are available.

Security considerations

While VirtualBox Guest Additions offer convenience, some security precautions must be kept in mind, especially when dealing with sensitive data in the VM. Shared clipboards and shared files can act as a route for data leaks or malware, so enabling them should be a calculated decision based on the level of trust and required network isolation.

Conclusion

Installing VirtualBox Guest Editions enhances the virtual machine experience, providing better performance and great integration with the host system. The processes are slightly different for Windows and Linux, but both are simple to follow by following the steps mentioned above. Whether you are using Windows, Linux or any other supported OS in your guest VM, these additions greatly enrich the usability, making cross-environment work not only possible but also efficient and enjoyable.

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