USB Problems

[markcynt]

Using openSUSE 11.1 (Host), VirtualBox 2.2.2, Windows XP Professional as Guest

If someone can help me figure out how to enable USB in VirtualBox as a limited user that would be great. I easily enabled USB running VirtualBox as su but when I go to shutdown XP it hangs and I can't quit by restarting openSUSE either. When I try to restart openSUSE I get a message that says "Logout canceled by /usr/lib/virtualbox/VirtualBox".

So a solution to either of these two problems is fine with me since I only need to use the USB function occasionally.

Thanks

[fixedwheel]

figure out how to enable USB in VirtualBox as a limited user

the old "howto" is found in the manual 11.5.7. USB not working, there are instructions for Suse10.0 and maybe they could help you (i dont know: the debian etch part there is for me and still works for me with lenny).

but caution: OTOH some release ago they have introduced two new lines in /etc/udev/rules.d/10-vboxdrv.rules dealing with USB but disable USB on the host side for me so that i have to comment them out every new release ...

[markcynt]

I don't really understand what you said. I'm kind of new to Linux but the problem with XP freezing on shutdown was either because I didn't physically remove the device or because I shutdown too soon for Windows to unload all of the startup items. Either way it shuts down normally now.

But I would like to get USB working as a limited user. I'll look into that manual.

[Sasquatch]

Did you check the VirtualBox FAQ? That fstab line should be all you need. Just make sure you use the correct devgid, that of vboxusers group. You have to be a member of that group too. It's all in that link.

[markcynt]

I looked at the manual and it doesn't look too hard but I don't know how to open the editor for that. Like I said, I'm fairly new but do know how to follow instructions.

[fixedwheel]

problem with XP freezing on shutdown was either because

i think that has to do with running it from root account, and thats not the way it should be run

[markcynt]

I tried all the tips, links, manuals, and FAQ's but nothing seems to work.

[fixedwheel]

what exactly did you try?

[markcynt]

what exactly did you try?

Everything that was linked or posted in this thread, mainly edit /etc/fstab.

This - http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?t=8669

Everything listed for openSUSE 11.0 here. - http://en.opensuse.org/Virtualbox_USB_Support

I didn't do the step in the manual that says to edit /etc/udev/rules.d/50-udev.rules for two reasons:

1) The step is for openSUSE 10.0

2) Because the editor came up with a blank screen and I wasn't sure if I was supposed to be editing something that was already there or creating something.

[Sasquatch]

On the link you provided for OpenSuSE, there are two things for fstab. Add only one of them. I suggest the one found in the FAQ here, that is noted at the bottom of the page you provided. And you must be sure that you are a member of the vboxusers group, else it won't work. The installer doesn't do that for you, you have to do that manually yourself. Also noted in the FAQ.

[hank_se]

An alternative in openSuSE 11.1 is this:

Have whatever you whish in fstab, but don't mount it, neither in /etc/init.d/boot.local or at the command line.
Create the following file /etc/udev/rules.d/11-vboxdrv.rules

KERNEL=="vboxdrv", NAME="vboxdrv", OWNER="root", GROUP="root", MODE="0600"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb_device", GROUP="vboxusers", MODE="0664"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ENV{DEVTYPE}=="usb_device", NAME="VirtualBox/$env{BUSNUM}/$env{DEVNUM}", GROUP="vboxusers", MODE="0664"

[markcynt]

On the link you provided for OpenSuSE, there are two things for fstab. Add only one of them. I suggest the one found in the FAQ here, that is noted at the bottom of the page you provided. And you must be sure that you are a member of the vboxusers group, else it won't work. The installer doesn't do that for you, you have to do that manually yourself. Also noted in the FAQ.

I am a member of vboxusers. I only added one thing for fstab at a time, replacing each edit when chenging it. None of the edits worked.

[Sasquatch]

An alternative in openSuSE 11.1 is this:

Have whatever you whish in fstab, but don't mount it, neither in /etc/init.d/boot.local or at the command line.
Create the following file /etc/udev/rules.d/11-vboxdrv.rules

KERNEL=="vboxdrv", NAME="vboxdrv", OWNER="root", GROUP="root", MODE="0600"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb_device", GROUP="vboxusers", MODE="0664"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ENV{DEVTYPE}=="usb_device", NAME="VirtualBox/$env{BUSNUM}/$env{DEVNUM}", GROUP="vboxusers", MODE="0664"

That file should already exist in 2.2.2, found in /etc/udev/rules.d/10-vboxdrv.rules.

[hank_se]

Sasquatch wrote:

That file should already exist in 2.2.2, found in /etc/udev/rules.d/10-vboxdrv.rules.

No, notice the different content:
My suggestion /etc/udev/rules.d/11-vboxdrv.rules:

KERNEL=="vboxdrv", NAME="vboxdrv", OWNER="root", GROUP="root", MODE="0600"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb_device", GROUP="vboxusers", MODE="0664"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ENV{DEVTYPE}=="usb_device", NAME="VirtualBox/$env{BUSNUM}/$env{DEVNUM}", GROUP="vboxusers", MODE="0664"

/etc/udev/rules.d/10-vboxdrv.rules contains this:

KERNEL=="vboxdrv", NAME="vboxdrv", OWNER="root", GROUP="root", MODE="0600"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb_device", GROUP="vboxusers", MODE="0664"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ENV{DEVTYPE}=="usb_device", GROUP="vboxusers", MODE="0664"

My suggested 11-vboxdrv.rules will override 10-vboxdrv.rules.

[markcynt]

An alternative in openSuSE 11.1 is this:

Have whatever you whish in fstab, but don't mount it, neither in /etc/init.d/boot.local or at the command line.
Create the following file /etc/udev/rules.d/11-vboxdrv.rules

KERNEL=="vboxdrv", NAME="vboxdrv", OWNER="root", GROUP="root", MODE="0600"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb_device", GROUP="vboxusers", MODE="0664"
SUBSYSTEM=="usb", ENV{DEVTYPE}=="usb_device", NAME="VirtualBox/$env{BUSNUM}/$env{DEVNUM}", GROUP="vboxusers", MODE="0664"

Thanks hank_se, that worked beautifully.

Thanks to everyone for your replies.