How to install guest additions on Solaris 11.4 guest on Windows host

Discussions about using Solaris guests in VirtualBox.
Bone
Posts: 25
Joined: 15. Apr 2019, 21:03
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Linux
Location: Florida

How to install guest additions on Solaris 11.4 guest on Windows host

Post by Bone »

I honestly have searched. I'm curious about this statement in the instructions; whether it's true or
it's a windows guest only statement.
"Extension packs. Additional extension packs can be downloaded which extend the functionality of the Oracle VM VirtualBox base package.
Currently, Oracle provides >> a single extension pack << , available from: http://www.virtualbox.org. And when I download
that file that says for "All Platforms", it is named "Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.1.10.vbox-extpack"

The part about "Oracle provides a single extension pack". So I downloaded it : Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.1.10.vbox-extpack and the instructions in the user manual
go on to say to double click and install it. Other instructions that I've used with prior versions had me download an .iso image, mount it in the unix guest and install it that way.
I thought these "single extension pack" instructions above might be a new way for newer version than what I used last year.
Can anyone clear this up for me?
I downloaded the Solaris 11.4 template image and it has a V5 extension pack installed and I have installed the latest windows VBox Manager version 6.1.10 on my laptop.
So, I'm looking for how to de-install that version guest additions from my Solaris guest and download and install the newer one. If I go to the downloads site - https://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/
the latest in the directory shows 6.1.0, not 6.1.10. LATEST-STABLE.TXT file says 6.1.10. The user guide there says 6.1.10. The windows version I installed is : VirtualBox-6.1.10-138449-Win
but I couldn't find any 138449 here either.
Here - https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch04.html I find
4.2.3.2. Uninstalling the Oracle Solaris Guest Additions
The Oracle Solaris Guest Additions can be safely removed by removing the package from the guest. Open a root terminal session and run the following command:
pkgrm SUNWvboxguest

So, I'm assuming that will uninstall, but I need to know how to get the proper version of: VBoxGuestAdditions.iso if indeed the above info about the single file - Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.1.10.vbox-extpack is inaccurate and how to install it. I'm assuming mount the iso, and run: pkgadd -G -d ./VBoxSolarisAdditions.pkg
?

Thanks for any help.
Last edited by Bone on 25. Jun 2020, 13:51, edited 1 time in total.
Bone
Posts: 25
Joined: 15. Apr 2019, 21:03
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Linux
Location: Florida

Re: How to install guest extensions on Solaris 11.4 guest on Windows host

Post by Bone »

Let me post first reply. I found the version as it was partway up the list.
Scrolling to the bottom where it shows latest files doesn't really show the latest.
It can't just be me. :-)

Have to scroll halfway up -
6.1.10/ 08-Jun-2020 12:00 -
debian/ 08-Jun-2020 12:00 -
images/ 25-Jul-2018 15:48 -
rdpweb/ 25-Jul-2018 15:48 -
rpm/

But, that still leaves the question for Solaris 11.4 guest running under Windows host...
Should I use this file - Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.1.10-138449.vbox-extpack
or this file - VBoxGuestAdditions_6.1.10.iso
or this file - VirtualBox-6.1.10-138449-SunOS.tar.gz
Bone
Posts: 25
Joined: 15. Apr 2019, 21:03
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Linux
Location: Florida

Re: How to install guest extensions on Solaris 11.4 guest on Windows host

Post by Bone »

So I mounted the iso image per windows instructions as it stated.
Normally I had in the past been prompted that a cd was mounted when I started
the vbox. But in this case, nothing.
So, how to access the iso image in Solaris 11.4 ?
There is nothing in /media except . .. and .hal-mtab
Everyone's Linux saavy I guess. That's another thing... Is there
a network configuration gui in Solaris like Linux?
I have not yet found it.
Bone
Posts: 25
Joined: 15. Apr 2019, 21:03
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Linux
Location: Florida

Re: How to install guest extensions on Solaris 11.4 guest on Windows host

Post by Bone »

I'm beginning to wonder if the 11.4 Solaris template I downloaded might be bad.
In Settings/System/Boot Order, I have two optical drives. When I try to move
the hard disk drive up in the boot order to the top, it won't save. It complains
of five objects and the range is 1-4 meaning that the second optical drive is probably
forcing this error. If I leave it alone and don't re-order, it's perfectly happy. But maybe
this second optical drive is what is causing the problem with my cd guest extensions installation.
I thought the .ova file would save me some time, but looks like it would have been better
to do it from scratch. Just as an fyi, this is where I got it from :
Oracle Solaris 11.4 VirtualBox Template (x86) (3.3 GB)
https://www.oracle.com/solaris/solaris1 ... loads.html
Wish my client were working with Linux. At least the install worked.
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Bone
Posts: 25
Joined: 15. Apr 2019, 21:03
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Linux
Location: Florida

Re: How to install guest extensions on Solaris 11.4 guest on Windows host

Post by Bone »

Bump, anyone experienced with this? Or, just better suggestion/url/youtube
for installing latest Solaris vbox?
Bone
Posts: 25
Joined: 15. Apr 2019, 21:03
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Linux
Location: Florida

Re: How to install guest extensions on Solaris 11.4 guest on Windows host

Post by Bone »

Hey, let me grab this one... :-)
So I followed this youtube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UAZ6TCsg-k which was good. Not sure why
it didn't get more positive thumbs up. Only thing that didn't work for me was that he selected DHCP. It did not
err for him, but it did for me. I probably needed static anyway.
I installed using this download - sol-11_4-text-x86.iso from https://www.oracle.com/solaris/solaris1 ... loads.html
otherwise known as the Oracle Solaris 11.4 Text Installer - x86 Text Installer (742 MB)
and it installed configured with the SATA controller instead of IDE like the download template from oracle.
That was one thing I wondered about as prior versions installed on SATA as well, but not with that template that also produced two CD's in my bootable device list.
And only one CD showed up in the list after this install as should be.
The youtube video did not cover the guest additions, but it worked fine. Download the VBoxGuestAdditions_6.1.10.iso or whatever version matches your Vbox manager
noted above and mount it like many youtube videos show.
Even the Solaris section of the Guest Additions installation instructions was lacking.
But once the cd was mounted then I could get to it as root in
cd /media/VBOXADDITIONS_6.1.10_1038449 << it didn't mention that this is where it is
pkgadd -G -d ./VBoxSolarisAdditions.pkg

Hope this helps somebody.
Bone
Posts: 25
Joined: 15. Apr 2019, 21:03
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Location: Florida

Re: How to install guest extensions on Solaris 11.4 guest on Windows host

Post by Bone »

Might have claimed victory too soon.
I bounced and got these signature errors...attached. Wondering why amd64 path
when my system is Intel.
Also no mouse was usable in cmd window, so I found in settings/system the pointing device was set to "USB tablet" so I
reset it to PS/2 Mouse. Once I bounced though, then I got:
WARNING: this usb EHCI hostcontroller is unusable. No SOF interrupts have been received, this USB EHCI hostcontroller is unusable
Then changed usb to 3.0 and bounced. That seems to have fixed the usb errors but the mouse doesn't work. The mouse itself
is plugged into a usb 2.0 port. Wondering if that underlying usb 2 error is the problem. Anyone?
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Bone
Posts: 25
Joined: 15. Apr 2019, 21:03
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Linux
Location: Florida

Re: How to install guest extensions on Solaris 11.4 guest on Windows host

Post by Bone »

So I was getting the VBox Extension Pack that's installed as part of the host OS VirtualBox Manager software
confused with the Guest Additions VBoxGuestAdditions_6.1.10.iso cd image that gets installed in the Guest OS
Although I installed both. At the moment the error I'm curious about is the Signature Error. See attached.
Is that a Vbox bug or Solaris Bug?
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Bone
Posts: 25
Joined: 15. Apr 2019, 21:03
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
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Guest OSses: Linux
Location: Florida

Re: How to install guest extensions on Solaris 11.4 guest on Windows host

Post by Bone »

Long day, but relative success other than the Signature Errors.
I'm led to believe they are benign, but they do take time when booting.
For others who also don't have any help with this Solaris install -
I followed this video -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_UAZ6TCsg-k
using sol-11_4-text-x86.iso just as he did. If you follow that, be sure to
change the network adapter to bridged so that dhcp will work. You really
will benefit by letting dhcp configure your network settings automatically
as Solaris 11 is totally different to configure network than most flavors of unix.
I had already installed the VBox extensions in the windows OS host,
then after the main solaris install, I checked to be sure I had internet
connectivity, and I did. So, I ran "pkg update" to get Solaris all the way up
to latest. Then just for my particular case, I installed
the Oracle preinstall for rac ---->> pkg install oracle-rdbms-server-12-1-preinstall
and also the gui ---->> pkg install solaris-desktop
The Signature Errors are either gone or just buried by the gui when it comes up.
Then after all the updates, installed the guest extensions.
Bone
Posts: 25
Joined: 15. Apr 2019, 21:03
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Linux
Location: Florida

Re: How to install guest extensions on Solaris 11.4 guest on Windows host

Post by Bone »

Clipboard doesn't work still. I installed the correct version
of guest extensions. General/Shared Clipboard and ./Drag'n'drop are both set to bidirectional

That's on Solaris 11.4 and VBox 6.1.10

??
Bone
Posts: 25
Joined: 15. Apr 2019, 21:03
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
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Guest OSses: Linux
Location: Florida

Re: How to install guest extensions on Solaris 11.4 guest on Windows host

Post by Bone »

Nobody ? Can anyone just tell me if this is a known bug?
If so, what version works?
Something else weird happened yesterday. I re-installed several times
and got a brand new error that had not come up before when installing ten's
of times. That is the Solaris installation error: SUNOS-8000-LG
wherein this is the bug and the fix:
https://docs.oracle.com/cd/E37838_01/ht ... nstal.html
Essentially this: (at windows command prompt)
set PATH=%PATH%;"C:\Program Files\Oracle\VirtualBox"
C:\Windows\system32>VBoxManage list vms
"Solaris 11.4" {cbd1f6a6-0bab-4d56-94a3-627b30f5262f}
C:\Windows\system32>VBoxManage modifyvm "Solaris 11.4" --spec-ctrl on
Why in the world would this bug suddenly manifest itself when it had not
reared it's ugly head for about twenty or more installs? There were no changes
in the executables I used.
Bone
Posts: 25
Joined: 15. Apr 2019, 21:03
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Linux
Location: Florida

Re: How to install guest additions on Solaris 11.4 guest on Windows host

Post by Bone »

Seems this post below is applicable. I suppose that I can go try 6.1.6, but I would disagree that it
is fixed as it's still a problem in 6.1.10
=======================================================================================
6.1.4 clipboard not working on S10, S11.3 and S11.4 guest
Postby rf28723 » 13. Apr 2020, 16:47

Not sure if copy/pasting username and password to login on the CDE GUI ever worked, but I certainly lost the ability to copy/paste into a terminal window, on both S10U11, S11.3 and S11.4 guests.
Copy/paste into a terminal window worked with S10U11 with CPU_JUL2019 + 6.0.12 guest additions, now with CPU_JAN2020 + 6.1.4 clipboard stopped working.
Ditto for a S11.3 guest with 6.1.4 and S11.4 SRU19.3 guest.

Looking at the process table, in both cases "vboxclient --clipboard" does get started, or does not stay alive.
A regression was accidentally introduced in the 6.1.4 Guest Additions
which broke the 'Shared Clipboard' functionality which provides
copy/paste between guest and host as described in the following ticket:

Linux guest: shared clipboard doesn't work (on fresh VirtualBox-6.1.4-136177) => fixed in 6.1.6
https://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/19336

This has now been addressed in the just released 6.1.6 Guest Additions.
I've confirmed that with VirtualBox 6.1.6 and the 6.1.6 GAs copy/paste
now works for me in both directions between a Solaris host and Solaris
guest.
=====================================================================================
Bone
Posts: 25
Joined: 15. Apr 2019, 21:03
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Linux
Location: Florida

Re: How to install guest additions on Solaris 11.4 guest on Windows host

Post by Bone »

It's pretty sad that there's little to no support here on this forum for solaris.
I decided to try earlier versions of VirtualBox and also a different iso for solaris 11.4.
I used VBox 6.0.4 since that worked for me last year with Linux. I also used the ia version
of solaris instead of the text version. No idea if that helped or mattered, but I selected the
default installation option, then installed the solaris desktop, mounted the cd, ran the
guest additions and this time I didn't see any signature errors. After the gui desktop was
enabled, the system would freeze up where login prompt is. I played around with different
settings and all failed until VBoxVGA with 3d acceleration, but no 2D. I also added memory
18gb and total two processor cores. Below actually and finally copied from terminal window.
I doubt the memory or processors matters. I'll try about 10gb and 1 processor in a few minutes.
@solaris:~$ ps -ef | grep -i vbox
root 864 1 0 18:16:28 ? 0:00 /usr/bin/VBoxService
ab123 1472 1 0 18:17:50 ? 0:00 /usr/bin/VBoxClient --clipboard
ab123 1473 1472 0 18:17:50 ? 0:00 /usr/bin/VBoxClient --clipboard
ab123 1590 1548 0 18:21:05 pts/1 0:00 grep -i vbox
ab123 1478 1 0 18:17:50 ? 0:00 /usr/bin/VBoxClient --display
ab123 1479 1478 0 18:17:50 ? 0:00 /usr/bin/VBoxClient --display
ab123 1481 1 0 18:17:50 ? 0:00 /usr/bin/VBoxClient --seamless
ab123 1482 1481 0 18:17:50 ? 0:00 /usr/bin/VBoxClient --seamless
ab123 1484 1 0 18:17:50 ? 0:00 /usr/bin/VBoxClient --draganddrop
ab123 1485 1484 0 18:17:50 ? 0:01 /usr/bin/VBoxClient --draganddrop
ab123 1487 1 0 18:17:50 ? 0:00 /usr/bin/VBoxClient --vmsvga-x11
stes
Posts: 154
Joined: 28. Apr 2018, 11:07

Re: How to install guest additions on Solaris 11.4 guest on Windows host

Post by stes »

There are 2 different forums : Solaris host and Solaris guest.

If you want to install the "guest additions on a Solaris guest" (where VirtualBox runs on a Windows host),
then your question can be posted in the "VirtualBox on Solaris guest" forum.

If on the other hand, you want to install the "extension pack" for the VirtualBox host software then that question can be asked in the "VirtualBox on Windows host" forum.

In fact I think there is confusion between "Vbox Guest Additions" and "Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.1.10.vbox-extpack".

The Oracle_VM_VirtualBox_Extension_Pack-6.1.10.vbox-extpack is the extension pack which for example provides Intel firmware support for PXE boot and some other "extensions" to the VirtualBox host software.

So there is confusion here between 2 different components (or more) of VirtualBox.
stes
Posts: 154
Joined: 28. Apr 2018, 11:07

Re: How to install guest additions on Solaris 11.4 guest on Windows host

Post by stes »

Basically I think you are posting your question or story in the wrong forum.

This is the forum for VirtualBox on Solaris hosts.

But you are not running a Solaris host with VirtualBox. You are running a Windows host with VirtualBox.

You are trying to install a Solaris guest. So the appropriate forums could be "VirtualBox for Windows host",
or "VirtualBox for Solaris guest".

But there is nothing in your post that indicates that you are running a VirtualBox on Solaris host.

This is the forum for people who want to use a Solaris host with VirtualBox to run for example Windows guests on Solaris.
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