I'm using Linux kernel 4.15.0-43 on Linuxmint 19.1, and when I run Guest Additions in VirtualBox, it says to install kernel headers.

So far, I've installed

• linux-headers-kvm
• linux-headers-4.15.0-43-lowlatency
• linux-headers-generic-hwe-18.04
• linux-headers-generic-hwe-18.04-edge
• linux-headers-virtual-hwe-18.04
• linux-headers-virtual-hwe-18.04-edge
• linux-headers-$(uname -r)
• linux-headers-generic
• virtualbox-guest-dkms
• build-essential & dkms
• linux-headers-4.15.0-43
• linux-headers-4.15.0-43-generic

It still gives the same error message. What else should I install?


There are many other packages like linux-headers-4.15.0-[1004-1036]-[oem,gcp,aws,oracle,azure], linux-headers-[aws,azure,gcp,gke,oem,oracle], should I install any of them?

Why are there so many packages for
linux-kvm-headers-4.15.0- 1008, 1011, 1012, 1016, 1017, 1019, 1020 ... 1029???

What is your guest operating system?

Are you installing these header packages in the guest or host operating system?

Just as general advice, it's not a good idea to install lots of packages without really knowing what you are doing.

1 members found this post helpful.

Guest is Slackware 14.2 on Virtualbox 5.2.18_Ubuntu r123745.

I'm installing the headers in the host.

Well, I'm very desperate to get it running. Now, I've removed linux-headers-kvm & linux-headers-4.15.0-43-[1029 & lowlatency].
I also purged and installed virtualbox-dkms,guest-dkms

Forgive me if I'm wrong but, as far as I know, if you're running Guest additions in the guest, and running that requires a header file, then it is the guest that will need the relevant header package.

1 members found this post helpful.

For Slackware you need to install the kernel-headers-4.4.* package for the kernel VERSION you did install in that guest O/S (there have been several kernel updates in 14.2, so the specific version will depend on which kernel package you installed IN that guest).
Latest version has been 4.4.172, but as far as I know that version will not work yet with VirtualBox, especially not one that old. VB's code for the Guest additions hasn't been updated for kernels 4.4.168 or later.

See the VirtualBox & Kernel 4.4.172 thread too for more info.

2 members found this post helpful.

hydrurga Well, you are right.
ehartman Okay