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-   -   Sun Vbox on Mint: Guest OS's unable to see USB devices (https://www.linuxquestions.org/questions/linux-virtualization-and-cloud-90/sun-vbox-on-mint-guest-oss-unable-to-see-usb-devices-762105/)

Albert Gerber 10-14-2009 10:43 PM
Sun Vbox on Mint: Guest OS's unable to see USB devices
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by OralDeckard (Post 3719666)
Since your company is tending more toward Virtualbox because of its better memory management, maybe I should take a look at it.

Once a VM is created by it and deployed, how does the VM compare as far as complexity for the user. My users have basic computer knowledge only, and operation must be as close to dirt simple as possible. Will they have to be more technically aware with a Virtualbox VM?
Hi folks,
I read about vmware of one kind or another in one of the Linux newsgroups. I chose Suns VBox because someone said it was the easiest to use. As I don't have a real need for using VBox it has been an experience in a learning way. I'm running it from within LinuxMint as Mint is on a 150 gig hard drive. The only problem I have is that of the four guests in the box none of them see my USB flash drives however the printer is seen and in at least one of the guests that I tried the printer in it set up OK. I followed the directions for getting USB recognised by VBox and the program knows they are there but doesn't pass the information on to the guest programs. Anyone have a suggestion about how I can fix this problem. Sorry, but I haven't googled it yet.

Little Al

kyphi 10-15-2009 05:49 PM
The usual way to set up USB devices in VBox:

1. Open VBox.
2. Plug in your USB device.
3. Select (not open) a guest operating system.
4. Go to "Settings" then "USB". Enable the Controllers.
5. Still in the Settings, USB screen, click on the USB icon with the + symbol and select the device from the drop-down list.

After that your USB device will be registered for that particular guest operating system and will be accessible. To make a USB device accessible to any of the other operating systems you have installed follow the same procedure for each system.

catkin 10-16-2009 01:25 AM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Albert Gerber (Post 3719742)
the printer is seen and in at least one of the guests that I tried the printer in it set up OK.
The printer is USB-attached?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Albert Gerber (Post 3719742)
followed the directions for getting USB recognised by VBox and the program knows they are there but doesn't pass the information on to the guest programs
What are you seeing that leads you to these conclusions?

Cr45h 10-16-2009 03:26 AM
Another question:

What version of VBox are u using? And what is your Host OS?

Wolfhere 10-16-2009 03:35 PM
Make sure to install the Guest additions
 
When allowing usb on the VBOX control panel, make sure to just enable. Do not add devices in the panel. Then follow the previous instructions for enabling on the Guest. You can either install the Guest Additions through the virtual CD or through the Devices menu on the Guest (Host + D is the shortcut). I would suggest installing 3.0.8 VirtualBox.

smeezekitty 10-16-2009 04:09 PM
what guest? are the VBOX additions installed?

Albert Gerber 10-18-2009 10:22 PM
Sun Vbox on Mint: Guest OS's unable to see USB devices
 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Wolfhere (Post 3722088)
When allowing usb on the VBOX control panel, make sure to just enable. Do not add devices in the panel. Then follow the previous instructions for enabling on the Guest. You can either install the Guest Additions through the virtual CD or through the Devices menu on the Guest (Host + D is the shortcut). I would suggest installing 3.0.8 VirtualBox.
I followed your advice about installing Guest Additions, first tried it in Knoppix which didn't accept it but closed Knoppix and opened PC/OS and it installed without problem. I still have no access to the USB flash drives but it does see the USB printer and I used it to print some info. I would much rather copy and past but without the flash drives I have no place to put the document.

Thanks Wolfhere,
Little Al

j1alu 10-18-2009 10:58 PM
Quote:
Originally Posted by Albert Gerber (Post 3724408)
I followed your advice about installing Guest Additions, first tried it in Knoppix which didn't accept it but closed Knoppix and opened PC/OS and it installed without problem. I still have no access to the USB flash drives but it does see the USB printer and I used it to print some info. I would much rather copy and past but without the flash drives I have no place to put the document.

Thanks Wolfhere,
Little Al
as a workaround you may mount the usb on the host,
go to Virtualbox, settings, shared_folder and set the mount point as a shared folder (say ~/My_Share.

on host:
$ mkdir /home/user_name/My_share
# su
# mount /dev/sdb1 /home/user_name/My_Share
exit root and boot the guest:
on guest
#su
# mkdir /media/shared_folder
# mount -t vboxsf My_Share /media/shared_folder

after shuting down the gues umount the stick:
# umount /home/user_name/My_Share.

as said: a workaround, i read it over here and just checked. it works (but i had to mount it in my home-folder).

You may choose the name in your home and the name in the guest as you like, but they must be different.
greetings


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