Ubuntu 9.04 alpha6 and Virtualbox video driver for X

[kimec]

Hi guys, I tried to install Guest Additions in Ubuntu 9.04 alpha6 few minutes ago. After executing the installer:

Code: Select all   Expand viewCollapse view

sudo sh ./VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run x11

it complains:

Warning: unknown version of the X Window System installed. Not installing
X Window System drivers.

One possible explanation to this is that the 2.1.4 vbox video drivers do not yet support Xorg version which ships with Alpha 6. However, I found that according to this post viewtopic.php?f=3&t=12415&start=15 , 2.1.4 vbox video drivers should work with Xorg 1.6RC. Sadly it seems Alpha 6 ships with the final verison of Xserver 1.6 which was released on feb. 25., a week and two days after VBox 2.1.4 release.

Anybody experiencing the same issue? I may be mistaking.

[nabamer.]

Yep, I have the same problem exactly, although I installed the additions through:

Code: Select all   Expand viewCollapse view

sudo ./VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run

i.e. no "x11" at the end...

Rebooted and xorg reverted to "low graphics mode" Can't get it to do anything with the virtualbox driver.

Guess we'll have to wait

[Sasquatch]

Hmm, I have a fully updated Jaunty in a VM, no problems with the GA driver. I do have the GA from 2.1.2 installed there though, but that shouldn't matter all that much. I'll update them now to see how it goes.

I see the problem. It doesn't know the 1.6 version of xserver. The beta, which was version 1.5.99 was still working. It checks for a version and that doesn't match the installed version. You might want to edit the file yourself and change the version check. You have to unpack the run file first.

More info for how to install it properly. First you need to extract the installer. So run VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86/amd46.run --target ~/ga (you need the destination folder first of course). Then check the install.sh file, on line 415, you will see this:

15 1.5.99.* | 1.6 )

Now after the 1.6, add a .0. This is needed, because the version that is returned by X -version is 1.6.0, not 1.6.

After you've fixed the install script, run it like you would install the GA.run file. So sudo ./install.sh.

[mjulienw]

wow - i've been fighting with this issue for a while. This is the problem! Thanks!

[The MAZZTer]

Thanks, I have this problem too.

However there is clearly another bug in the installer if it changes your xorg.conf WITHOUT actually installing the video drivers (explains why X has to start in safe mode to work).

[Edit: Actually it says 1.5.99.* | 1.6.* so it should work even without the .0?]

[Edit: Adding the .0 doesn't work, drivers still aren't installed]

[Edit: You might have to replace the * with a 0... /var/log/vboxadd-install.log will display the detected version of xorg. I just removed the case test entirely except for the branch I wanted to execute.]

[Edit: /etc/X11/xorg.conf isn't being updated so it still uses the vesa drivers.]

[Edit: Looks like installing the drivers doesn't change anything, display is still broken and ends up in safe mode.]

[Sasquatch]

Mazzter, if the GA installer already have that line (1.5.99 | 1.6.*), then you're probably using 2.2 beta, and not 2.1.4. Please report this error in the Beta forum, not here.

[dm6257]

I followed the process above and everything appeared to work. During the restart I received the following error message:

"/etc/gdm/XSession
Setting IM through im-switch for locale = en_us

Start IM through

/etc/x11/xinit/Xinput.d/all_ALL linked to /etc/x11/xinit/xinput.d/default.mkdtemp private socket dir:permission denied"


Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Dale

[The MAZZTer]

Sasquatch: I figured an ubuntu alpha wouldn't exactly be supported so I was gonna wait until 9.04 final to actually report anything...

Anyways other than the 2.2.0b1 GA installer not matching 1.6.* with 1.6.0 (and I don't do bash scripts so I don't know why, could be a bash bug for all I know), something else is keeping the drivers from working and I have no clue what. Can't exactly file a good bug report.

[Sasquatch]

I will check this for my own VM. If I have no issues with it, there might be something broken on your Guest.

Edit:
There is definatly something wrong with the VboxVideo driver in 2.2 beta. Please report the errors in the beta forum, not here. For now, use the 2.1.4 GA.
Edit:
2.2 beta video discussion here: viewtopic.php?f=15&t=15712

[Perryg]

Sasquatch

You are amazing!

I edited the install.sh and added the .0 to the end and reinstalled. Worked without a problem!
I have a 24" wide screen monitor set at 1920x1200 and working with Jaunty in 800x600 was like looking at a postage stamp.
Thank you my friend.

[vbuser123]

Thanks Sasquatch, your solution worked fine for me aswell!
/vbuser123

[vaidyabala]

1.6.0. did not work. I added 1.6.*. Everything worked great. Thanks.

I ditched Opensuse 11.1 after several attempts to get GA working. Installed Ubuntu 9.0.4 beta. Installed GA. everything woks including SEAMLESS windows. AWESOME.

I am ditching Opensuse 11.1 kde forever and settling for Ubuntu GNOME. Very clean interface.

Thanks sasquatch.

[x-Na]

Well, my experience with Jaunty Beta as guest is that the only resolutions it will give out are 640x480 and 800x600 with the VirtualBox GA installed.

EDIT: Well it seems that the display size is automatically resized when resizing the guest window, so it seems to work, I guess.

[vaidyabala]

hm. interesting....

This is what i did.

- installed 9.0.4 beta
- booted the machine (guest OS VM)
- installed the OS updates, i forgot the option. it is in one of menu items.
- booted the machine (guest OS VM)
- used sasquatch's command to extract the GA into a directory. (this installs the GA as well). but do not reboot at this point.
- change the 1.6 to 1.6.*
- installed GA once again (make sure it does NOT display an error message about unrecongnized X or something)
- rebooted

All the options in the Main Menu, full screen, seamless, auto resize etc. were automatically enabled.

When I expand/contract the window, the resolution is automatically adjusted.

I did not have to monkey around with xorg. conf at all. Also I did not install any packages like dkms, kernel source. all of them were automatically made available somehow.

[vaidyabala]

I am going to try kubuntu beta 9.0.4 as well. Will post if see anything different there.