VirtualBox 6.1.34 How to have LPT access ?

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Linux hosts.
Post Reply
aug7744
Posts: 6
Joined: 19. Oct 2021, 10:01
Primary OS: Ubuntu other
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Ubuntu

VirtualBox 6.1.34 How to have LPT access ?

Post by aug7744 »

Ubuntu 20.04.3 updated.
Parallel Port enabled in BIOS using ECP mode DMA3.
Linux show how being parport0.

I want install an OS in VIrtualBox having access to parallel port in host OS, but in VirtualBox GUI not have settings to configure an parallel port.

How to create and Virtual Box machine with parallel port access ?
Need others commands in host OS (Ubuntu) to allow LPT access ?

Thanks for your reply.
Have an nice week.
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: VirtualBox 6.1.34 How to have LPT access ?

Post by mpack »

aug7744
Posts: 6
Joined: 19. Oct 2021, 10:01
Primary OS: Ubuntu other
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Ubuntu

Re: VirtualBox 6.1.34 How to have LPT access ?

Post by aug7744 »

Thanks for your reply.
I will try it.
Have an nice week.
aug7744
Posts: 6
Joined: 19. Oct 2021, 10:01
Primary OS: Ubuntu other
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Ubuntu

Re: VirtualBox 6.1.34 How to have LPT access ?

Post by aug7744 »

I have done the command below
VBoxManage modifyvm 1(machine name) --lpt1 0x378 7
VBoxManage modifyvm 1(machine name) --lptmode1 parport0

Host LPT use 0x378 and irq 7 and the lp and lpadming are in user group.
Loading an machine with the command above not have LPT access in guest.
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: VirtualBox 6.1.34 How to have LPT access ?

Post by mpack »

I'm not a Linux user, but I'm pretty sure that "parport0" is not a valid device name in Linux. My understanding is that Linux devices have a "/dev/" prefix.

I also don't know what "1(machine name)" signifies. I.e. I don't know what that digit is doing there nor why you obscured the VM name.

For further discussion I will require a VM log. Make sure the VM is fully shut down, then right click it in the manager UI. Select "Show Log" and save "VBox.log" (no other file) to a zip file. Attach the zip here.
aug7744
Posts: 6
Joined: 19. Oct 2021, 10:01
Primary OS: Ubuntu other
VBox Version: OSE other
Guest OSses: Ubuntu

Re: VirtualBox 6.1.34 How to have LPT access ?

Post by aug7744 »

Thanks for your reply.
I has created an VM named "3" for Ubuntu 20;04.
Not is possible start machine being showed an error message about not being possible access LPT.
I has added an log.
Attachments
VBox.log
(42.51 KiB) Downloaded 22 times
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: VirtualBox 6.1.34 How to have LPT access ?

Post by mpack »

00:00:03.801381 ERROR [COM]: aRC=NS_ERROR_FAILURE (0x80004005) aIID={872da645-4a9b-1727-bee2-5585105b9eed} aComponent={ConsoleWrap} aText={Parallel#0 could not open 'parport0' (VERR_FILE_NOT_FOUND).
I already commented above on having a device called "parport0" - I think it should be "/dev/parport0". But, I'm not a Linux expert so someone else will need to comment.
fth0
Volunteer
Posts: 5668
Joined: 14. Feb 2019, 03:06
Primary OS: Mac OS X other
VBox Version: PUEL
Guest OSses: Linux, Windows 10, ...
Location: Germany

Re: VirtualBox 6.1.34 How to have LPT access ?

Post by fth0 »

The VirtualBox User Manual suggests to use /dev/lp0, which is one level higher than /dev/parport0 (*). It also suggests to use --lptmode before --lpt (see 8.8.3. Miscellaneous Settings):

Code: Select all

VBoxManage modifyvm 1 --lptmode1 /dev/lp0
VBoxManage modifyvm 1 --lpt1 0x378 7

(*) Check which of the devices exist in the filesystem on your host.
Post Reply