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[Solved] Guest Additions can't find Linux headers?

Posted: 17. May 2011, 15:08
by hackerNovitiate
Hi all,

I recently upgraded to VirtualBox 4.0.6 and Ubuntu 11.04. While installing Guest Additions, I was told, "The headers for the current running kernel were not found. If the following module compilation fails then this could be the reason."

`uname -a` tells me that I'm running 2.6.38-8-generic, and my package manager tells me that I do have the following installed:

linux-headers-generic
linux-headers-2.6.38-8
linux-headers-2.6.38-8-generic

What else do I need?


All the Guest Additions features that I've tested seem to be working as expected, but I'm wondering if something wasn't installed properly.

Re: Guest Additions can't find Linux headers? (Ubuntu 11.04)

Posted: 17. May 2011, 21:23
by Sasquatch
Check my howto in the tutorials section (or just see my signature) for how to install the GA.

Re: Guest Additions can't find Linux headers? (Ubuntu 11.04)

Posted: 18. May 2011, 04:19
by hackerNovitiate
Thanks Sasquatch.

My system was missing dkms. Error message is gone now.

I'm just surprised that the GA installer apparently managed to build DKMS modules before without it! :?

Re: [Solved] Guest Additions can't find Linux headers?

Posted: 18. May 2011, 19:58
by Sasquatch
It didn't build dkms modules, because they don't exist. Dkms is a tool that helps in creating kernel modules. It's not required, but highly recommended in it's use, as it automatically builds the new modules registered with it for the when you update the kernel.