[SOLVED] VirtualBox - how to get VM to have a larger screen

sneakyimp · 11-29-2016, 04:46 PM

I need some way to determine if I have the necessary additions installed. I ran this command which succeeded on my ubuntu-desktop VM:

Code:

apt-get install virtualbox-guest-additions-iso

I am in fact able to view the VM's GUI interface at 1024-768 but this is still quite small -- and the interface is quite sluggish which makes me think that I'm not taking advantage of the guest additions.

I do see that I've managed to mount the ISO disk in the virtual optical drive on the VM.

c0wb0y · 11-29-2016, 06:54 PM

How much RAM did you allocate to your virtual graphics adapter? Does the vboxguest module gets loaded?

BW-userx · 11-29-2016, 07:24 PM

from the CLI in your VM directory.

Code:

VBoxManage setextradata global GUI/MaxGuestResolution any

VBoxManage setextradata "VM-Name" CustomVideoMode1 1920x1200x32 <- what ever size your screen can handle

after you install your additions and restart your client VM you'll have your choise of size of screen.

sneakyimp · 11-29-2016, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c0wb0y

How much RAM did you allocate to your virtual graphics adapter?

64MB (half of my total)

Quote:

Originally Posted by c0wb0y

Does the vboxguest module gets loaded?

How would I know?

sneakyimp · 11-29-2016, 07:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BW-userx

from the CLI in your VM directory.

I'm not sure what "VM directory" you are talking about. Also, do you mean on the host machine or on each guest machine?

Quote:

Originally Posted by BW-userx

Code:

VBoxManage setextradata global GUI/MaxGuestResolution any

VBoxManage setextradata "VM-Name" CustomVideoMode1 1920x1200x32 <- what ever size your screen can handle

after you install your additions and restart your client VM you'll have your choise of size of screen.

As I posted (perhaps I wasn't clear) I am not certain that I have the GuestAdditions installed. As I said, I ran this on each guest VM:

Code:

apt-get install virtualbox-guest-additions-iso

I see that the VBoxManage command is meaningful on my host machine (i.e., my workstation):

Code:

$ VBoxManage -v
5.1.10r112026

I also see that the VBoxManage command is meaningful on my ubuntu desktop machine:

Code:

$ VBoxManage -v
5.0.24Ubuntur108355

I'm also a bit worried about having to apply these settings via CLI. Perhaps there is some method of doing so using a GUI? Or perhaps some kind of configuration at installation?

c0wb0y · 11-29-2016, 07:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sneakyimp

64MB (half of my total)

How would I know?

Issue this from within VM:

Code:

lsmod | grep vboxguest

sneakyimp · 11-29-2016, 07:38 PM

On ubuntu-server VM:

Code:

lsmod | grep vboxguest
vboxguest            253952  1 vboxvideo

Same thing on ubuntu-desktop VM:

Code:

lsmod | grep vboxguest
vboxguest            253952  1 vboxvideo

c0wb0y · 11-29-2016, 07:41 PM

Ok, that's good. Now make sure that X server is picking up vboxvideo instead of vesa or something. Issue this from within VM:

Code:

grep vboxvideo /var/log/Xorg.0.log

If it did not show anything, locate it:

Code:

find /usr/lib64 -type f -name 'vboxvideo*'

sneakyimp · 11-29-2016, 08:01 PM

I really appreciate your help.

On ubuntu-desktop, I get this:

Code:

$ grep vboxvideo /var/log/Xorg.0.log
[    24.842] (==) Matched vboxvideo as autoconfigured driver 0
[    24.842] (==) Matched vboxvideo as autoconfigured driver 1
[    24.843] (II) LoadModule: "vboxvideo"
[    24.857] (WW) Warning, couldn't open module vboxvideo
[    24.857] (II) UnloadModule: "vboxvideo"
[    24.857] (II) Unloading vboxvideo
[    24.857] (EE) Failed to load module "vboxvideo" (module does not exist, 0)
[    25.009] (==) Matched vboxvideo as autoconfigured driver 0
[    25.009] (==) Matched vboxvideo as autoconfigured driver 1
[    25.010] (II) LoadModule: "vboxvideo"
[    25.010] (WW) Warning, couldn't open module vboxvideo
[    25.011] (II) UnloadModule: "vboxvideo"
[    25.011] (II) Unloading vboxvideo
[    25.011] (EE) Failed to load module "vboxvideo" (module does not exist, 0)

It would appear there's some kind of problem.

The file /var/log/Xorg.0.log doesn't exist on ubuntu-server.

c0wb0y · 11-29-2016, 08:16 PM

Ok, we're getting there. On your VM, you need to install kernel-devel package. You would need that to rebuild the vboxguest modules. Then under the Devices tab of your VM -> insert Guest additions and rebuild the module.

By the way, your host machine does not need the virtualbox-guest-additions installed and I advised not to even install it.

sneakyimp · 11-29-2016, 08:24 PM

Thanks for your help.

Quote:

Originally Posted by c0wb0y

Ok, we're getting there. On your VM, you need to install kernel-devel package. You would need that to rebuild the vboxguest modules. Then under the Devices tab of your VM -> insert Guest additions and rebuild the module.

OK I don't really follow here. If you read further back in this post, you'll see that I've had a great deal of trouble with the Devices->Insert Guest Additions CD Image.... I also don't undetsand what you mean by "rebuild vboxguest modules." I haven't built anything myself. I used apt-get install on the VMs.

Quote:

Originally Posted by c0wb0y

By the way, your host machine does not need the virtualbox-guest-additions installed and I advised not to even install it.

I don't believe I have. Anything installed on my host was likely put there when I downloaded and installed VirtualBox from virtualbox.org.

c0wb0y · 11-29-2016, 08:34 PM

Well, if you want a shiny, full-desktop sized VM you have to compile the vboxguest module. The reason you're having trouble with 'Devices->Insert...' is that you have no virtual DVD drive, thus no way the ISO can be "inserted". So, allocate one now, then retry the 'Insert' thing. Once you've done that, go to the DVD mountpoint -> ./VBoxLinuxadditions.sh then sit back and relax for a few minutes.

By the way, the vboxguest module is something that apt-get can't help and no idea about.

BW-userx · 11-29-2016, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sneakyimp

I'm not sure what "VM directory" you are talking about. Also, do you mean on the host machine or on each guest machine?

this one where VBox puts all of your VM installed

Quote:

/home/userx/VirtualBox VMs

IN your terminal cd into that directory. You'' have to use quotes to make it all one word to get into it.

Code:

cd "VirtualBox VMs"

then issue you commands. putting your VM name you gave it in quotes where it is in that code I showed you.

Quote:

As I posted (perhaps I wasn't clear) I am not certain that I have the GuestAdditions installed. As I said, I ran this on each guest VM:

Code:

apt-get install virtualbox-guest-additions-iso

you need to run that inside of your VM client or virtualbox-ose-guest - gets installed within your client. the addtions you have to download and mount then install. On a non GUI install, with GUI you only have to use the menu for the client and pick add vboxaddtions, then it asks you if your want to download it. You can go to there web sight and download it then mount it from your client to get to it . then run the .sh program to get that installed.

mine is located here after the client downloads it.

Code:

/home/userx/.config/VirtualBox/VBoxGuestAdditions_5.1.10.iso

Quote:

I see that the VBoxManage command is meaningful on my host machine (i.e., my workstation):

Code:

$ VBoxManage -v
5.1.10r112026

I also see that the VBoxManage command is meaningful on my ubuntu desktop machine:

Code:

$ VBoxManage -v
5.0.24Ubuntur108355

I'm also a bit worried about having to apply these settings via CLI. Perhaps there is some method of doing so using a GUI? Or perhaps some kind of configuration at installation?

OK lets start over. Your CLI is that BIG BLACK screen without GUI. Command Line Interphase is all CLI means. It is the command line of your terminal which is what you see after you log in.

I just happen to have a fresh install of Slackware without GUI set up.Now that I've done all of the steps to see how I have to do this without a GUI here we go. Using my CLI before a startx ...

first start your client then select the menu "devices" then click on "insert guest additions CD" if you have not done so already. If not then do so and have the additions iso down load it will attached itself after that process.

Then from your CLI issue a find on it from the CLI to find where it gets put inside of your client. You are in root of course to do this, or using SUDO being it is Ubuntututu I think. They lock out root.

Code:

find / -iname vboxaddition*

when you get the path to where it is at. Then mount it. using my CLI and the path to it in Slack

Code:

mount /dev/disk/by-label/VBOXADDITIONS_5.1.10_112026 /media/cdrom0
cd /media/cdrom0
ls

that gives you everything in that iso. Now find this one
VBoxLinuxAdditions.run
then issue this command from the cli

Code:

sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions.run

let it install. Then you're good to go on that part of it.

If your Ubuntututu has a virtualbox-ose-guest or anything vbox guest related as you'll have to query your repo to see. Then install it from within your Client.

now shut down your client. Then on your host being your actual Hardware Computer, cd into your "VirtualBox VMs" that should be in your home directory with a terminal emulator, using that CLI issue this/these commands.

Code:

VBoxManage setextradata global GUI/MaxGuestResolution any

VBoxManage setextradata "VM-Name" CustomVideoMode1 1920x1200x32

where 1920x1200x32 is whatever size you want it to be when it starts up, and "VM-Name", is your actual name you gave your client that is located in your VirtualBox VMs directory.

then restart your client you should see the changes take effect. Look on your menu in you client and click "view" then go down to the "virtual screen 1" click on that. You should see you have a selection of whatever size you want it to be.

then carry on smartly.

sneakyimp · 11-29-2016, 08:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c0wb0y

Well, if you want a shiny, full-desktop sized VM you have to compile the vboxguest module.

I yearn for it. I'm resigned to the task.

Quote:

Originally Posted by c0wb0y

The reason you're having trouble with 'Devices->Insert...' is that you have no virtual DVD drive, thus no way the ISO can be "inserted". So, allocate one now, then retry the 'Insert' thing.

There has in fact been, since I fired up this VM, an optical drive listed under Devices->Optical Drives in virtualbox that presents the option Choose Disk Image. For some reason, it has worked today. In fact, it was from this virtual optical drive from which I booted the machine initially and installed Ubuntu in the first place.

Quote:

Originally Posted by c0wb0y

Once you've done that, go to the DVD mountpoint -> ./VBoxLinuxadditions.sh then sit back and relax for a few minutes.

The dir in my case is /media/sneakyimp/VBOXADDITIONS_5.1.10_112026 and the shell script VBoxLinuxAdditions.run is running now (thanks!)

Quote:

Originally Posted by c0wb0y

By the way, the vboxguest module is something that apt-get can't help and no idea about.

I see that these steps you recommend are suggested by this page linked earlier in this thread. I did not understand this file before and still aver that it is poorly written. I must ask: how did you learn all the extra stuff about what was going on here?

Also: thanks!

c0wb0y · 11-29-2016, 09:14 PM

Reading the documentation. Lots and lots of reading

.

The trick is, you have to develop the habit of reading the complete documentation not just the quick answers you can get from forums like this. That knowledge would be more beneficial in the long term because you will have an idea of the bigger picture, not just the fragments.