Not permitted to open the USB device, check usbfs options

Concorde7340 · Post by **Concorde7340** » 30. May 2007, 01:20

This is the error I receive when trying to add my USB device to the Windows XP VM:
Not permitted to open the USB device, check usbfs options.

I edited /etc/fstab and added the following:
#usbfs
none /proc/bus/usb usbfs devgid=46,devmode=664 0 0

I can access my USB HP Printer but not my USB Flash Drive.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks for a great product!!
Keep up the good work!

Concorde7340
"Linux Forever"

sirscott43 · Post by **sirscott43** » 30. May 2007, 04:11

I get the same issue..

Concorde7340 · Post by **Concorde7340** » 30. May 2007, 04:52

sirscott43, I figured it out bud.
When you edit the fstab file and you have the USB info in a filter on VirtualBox, go ahead and shutdown VirtualBox.

Now, restart your OS, then fire up VirtualBox and then Windows XP.
Finally insert your USB device, it recognized mine after this.
A lightning strike knocked out the power to our house which caused my pc to shutdown. When I rebooted, then restarted VB, my USB device was recognized. Remember to start up VB fully with your OS choice before inserting your USB drive.

Hope this helps..

Cesa · Post by **Cesa** » 30. May 2007, 13:33

Unfortunately I have the same problem (and I tried your solution), but in my case rebooting didn't help. Anyone who has any idea?

Post by **bodhi.zazen** » 30. May 2007, 15:39

The other potential solution is to edit /etc/udev/rules.d/40-permissions.rules

Note: This file is called by different names on various versions of Linux. The above file is for Ubuntu.

Change this line :

SUBSYSTEM=="usb_device", MODE="0664"

To :

SUBSYSTEM=="usb_device", MODE="0666"

Or modify your fstab line :

#usbfs
none /proc/bus/usb usbfs devgid=46,devmode=666 0 0

olivier2831 · Post by **olivier2831** » 1. Jun 2007, 23:43

bodhi.zazen wrote:The other potential solution is to edit /etc/udev/rules.d/40-permissions.rules

I'm a newbie in Linux.
Is it possible or recommended to try to implement tighter control over VirtualBox and USB devices permissions ?

Does changing access rights from 0664 to 666 have side effects on other applications ?
In other words, is it safe to offer write access to anyone for the sake of allowing USB use with VirtualBox ?

Cheers

olivier2831 · Post by **olivier2831** » 2. Jun 2007, 00:00

olivier2831 wrote: Does changing access rights from 0664 to 666 have side effects on other applications ?

Replying to myself, Virtualbox manual (in 10.4.6 USB not working") qualify this (0664 to 666) as "security hole".

It is seems from that manual, that in the first place, troubles come from distributions not being to share the settings for usbfs mounting script location :
Etch uses /etc/init.d/mountkernfs.sh while SUSE uses something else.