VirtualBox Running Slow on MacOSX

Discussions related to using VirtualBox on Mac OS X hosts.
red66
Posts: 12
Joined: 16. May 2021, 13:41

VirtualBox Running Slow on MacOSX

Post by red66 »

I recently started using VirtualBox on my Mac but I am experiencing lag and it is very slow especially when using the browser in the guest OS. I have installed Kali Linux as my guest OS and I have also installed the additional files for Linux.

Host:
macOS BIgSur 11.3.1
MacBook Pro 16 (2019)
2.6 GHz Intel Core i7
16 GB RAM

Guest:
Kali Linux -64 bit

I have attached my log, hopefully, I can get some guidance to see if there is anything else I need to do to my configuration.
Attachments
KaliLinux-2021-05-16-17-30-04.log.zip
(40.55 KiB) Downloaded 15 times
scottgus1
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Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
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Re: VirtualBox Running Slow on MacOSX

Post by scottgus1 »

RAM is possibly being squeezed too much:
00:00:02.784243 Host RAM: 16384MB (16.0GB) total, 8818MB (8.6GB) available
00:00:02.864510 RamSize <integer> = 0x0000000200000000 (8 589 934 592, 8 192 MB, 8.0 GB)
00:00:02.864730 VRamSize <integer> = 0x0000000004000000 (67 108 864, 64 MB)
Video settings:
00:00:02.864724 3DEnabled <integer> = 0x0000000000000001 (1)
Regular RAM may be too near available RAM for the host to have space to operate. Yet, video RAM may be too small for 3D acceleration. Try reducing regular RAM to 4GB, and max out video RAM.
00:00:02.784115 VirtualBox VM 6.1.22 r144080 darwin.amd64 (Apr 28 2021 18:46:07) release log
00:00:21.838320 VMMDev: Guest Additions information report: Version 6.0.0 r127566 '6.0.0'
With 3D enabled, Guest Additions version should match the Virtualbox version. See the manual, https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch04. ... ions-linux and prerequisites https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch02. ... nux-prereq.

If these don't help, we'll need a Mac guru to look in.
red66
Posts: 12
Joined: 16. May 2021, 13:41

Re: VirtualBox Running Slow on MacOSX

Post by red66 »

I did the changes as you mentioned but it didn't work as much. It still lags. I reduced the RAM to 4GB and VRAM all the way up to 128MB.
mpack
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Re: VirtualBox Running Slow on MacOSX

Post by mpack »

We need a new log showing that you made the changes, so we can see the effects.
red66
Posts: 12
Joined: 16. May 2021, 13:41

Re: VirtualBox Running Slow on MacOSX

Post by red66 »

Here is the updated log
Attachments
KaliLinux-2021-05-16-15-00-50.log.zip
(44.56 KiB) Downloaded 7 times
mpack
Site Moderator
Posts: 39156
Joined: 4. Sep 2008, 17:09
Primary OS: MS Windows 10
VBox Version: PUEL
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Re: VirtualBox Running Slow on MacOSX

Post by mpack »

Before I look at anything else, you seem to have several problems with the Guest Additions.
00:00:36.853661 VMMDev: Guest Log: vboxguest: host-version: 6.1.22r144080 0x8000000f
00:00:36.854424 VMMDev: Guest Additions information report: Version 6.0.0 r127566 '6.0.0'
00:00:36.854465 VMMDev: Guest Additions information report: Interface = 0x00010004 osType = 0x00053100 (Linux >= 2.6, 64-bit)
00:00:36.854549 VMMDev: Guest Additions capability report: (0x0 -> 0x0) seamless: no, hostWindowMapping: no, graphics: no
Those Guest Additions are positively ancient. It's likely that they were bundled with your Debian VM. In any case they need to be updated.

That brings us to our next problem with the GAs. You have this file mounted in the VM's virtual CD/DVD drive: "'/Users/xxx/Desktop/VBoxGuestAdditions_6.1.16.iso'". Why are you downloading outdated versions of the GAs when the correct version comes bundled with VirtualBox and all you need do is click the Devices|Insert Guest Additions CD... menu item?

Which brings up a third problem with the GAs. Simply mounting the CD will do nothing on Debian. You need to run the installer. There are probably requisites that you need to install first, such as the headers for your kernel, and gcc toolchain etc. There is some info in the VBox user manual.


Returning to the original problem.

The log provided still shows 8GB RAM and 64MB graphics RAM, not the recommended changes you said you had made. The point of the second log was to prove that you made the recommended changes, in fact you appear to have proved the opposite.
red66
Posts: 12
Joined: 16. May 2021, 13:41

Re: VirtualBox Running Slow on MacOSX

Post by red66 »

I made the changes but it appears like I have attached the previous logs. Could you please tell me where I can get the latest log.
P.S I also installed the latest guest addition as you said but I am not sure if I am providing the correct log here.
mpack
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Re: VirtualBox Running Slow on MacOSX

Post by mpack »

VirtualBox keeps a log for each of the last 4 sessions. The file date/time stamp will tell you their order.
red66
Posts: 12
Joined: 16. May 2021, 13:41

Re: VirtualBox Running Slow on MacOSX

Post by red66 »

Here is the latest log. I have made those changes and I have also installed the Additionals provided along with the VB as you mentioned earlier
Attachments
KaliLinux-2021-05-17-16-00-46.log.zip
(38.5 KiB) Downloaded 6 times
mpack
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Primary OS: MS Windows 10
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Guest OSses: Mostly XP

Re: VirtualBox Running Slow on MacOSX

Post by mpack »

I have also installed the Additionals...
The log says otherwise. The GAs are still 6.0.0. Search the log for the string "Additions", you will see this:

Code: Select all

00:00:18.240572 VMMDev: Guest Additions information report: Version 6.0.0 r127566 '6.0.0'
Perhaps you are confusing the Guest Additions, which is a driver bundle for the guest OS that you must install into every guest, with the extension pack, which extends the host software and so only needs to be installed once, usually at the same time that you install or update VirtualBox.
red66
Posts: 12
Joined: 16. May 2021, 13:41

Re: VirtualBox Running Slow on MacOSX

Post by red66 »

Here’s what I did
After powering up my machine I went to devices>Insert Guest additions cd image i copied all those files to a new folder in my desktop then i opened up terminal and run this command sudo sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditons.run then it asked me to reboot my system.
fth0
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Re: VirtualBox Running Slow on MacOSX

Post by fth0 »

Copying the files should not be necessary. Run the command directly from the mounted DVD image, and especially pay attention to potential error messages in the command output.
red66
Posts: 12
Joined: 16. May 2021, 13:41

Re: VirtualBox Running Slow on MacOSX

Post by red66 »

fth0 wrote:Copying the files should not be necessary. Run the command directly from the mounted DVD image, and especially pay attention to potential error messages in the command output.
I ran the command through the mounted DVD drive but still, the log shows the same prob though the terminal said Guest Additional version 6.1.22. But still, the lag issue is not resolved yet
Attachments
KaliLinux-2021-05-17-16-00-46.log.zip
(38.5 KiB) Downloaded 5 times
fth0
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Re: VirtualBox Running Slow on MacOSX

Post by fth0 »

KaliLinux-2021-05-17-16-00-46.log wrote:
00:00:18.240572 VMMDev: Guest Additions information report: Version 6.0.0 r127566 '6.0.0'
[...]
00:00:18.864319 VMMDev: Guest Log: 10:15:10.819714 main     VBoxService 6.1.22 r144080 (verbosity: 0) linux.amd64 (Apr 28 2021 18:43:39) release log
The installation of the VirtualBox Guest Additions (GA) is still not ok. And you did not react on my suggestion regarding the "pay attention" part ...

This is important because there are only three possibilities: Either the VirtualBox kernel modules were not successfully built, or they could not be installed, or the Linux distribution still preferred its pre-installed VirtualBox kernel modules. Usually the first of those is the problem, in combination with the user not paying attention to the corresponding error messages.
red66
Posts: 12
Joined: 16. May 2021, 13:41

Re: VirtualBox Running Slow on MacOSX

Post by red66 »

fth0 wrote:
KaliLinux-2021-05-17-16-00-46.log wrote:
00:00:18.240572 VMMDev: Guest Additions information report: Version 6.0.0 r127566 '6.0.0'
[...]
00:00:18.864319 VMMDev: Guest Log: 10:15:10.819714 main     VBoxService 6.1.22 r144080 (verbosity: 0) linux.amd64 (Apr 28 2021 18:43:39) release log
The installation of the VirtualBox Guest Additions (GA) is still not ok. And you did not react on my suggestion regarding the "pay attention" part ...

This is important because there are only three possibilities: Either the VirtualBox kernel modules were not successfully built, or they could not be installed, or the Linux distribution still preferred its pre-installed VirtualBox kernel modules. Usually the first of those is the problem, in combination with the user not paying attention to the corresponding error messages.


It didn’t show any error and said to reboot to apply changes
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