virtualbox.org

I installed CentOS 5.3 (x86) as a VirtualBox 2.2.2 virtual machine, however, I cannot find a solution for enabling some sort of full screen mode.

I tried to hack around with the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file and update the command suggested within the forum post (see Related links #1) in order to set the screen resolution to 1024x768, however, they were unsuccessful.

Environment notes
Installed as virtual machine within VirtualBox 2.2.2
RAM: 512MB
Video Memory: 12MB

Guest machine runs Windows Server 2008 (64 bit)
Processor:AMD Athlon 64x2 4600+ @ 2.40 Ghz

This is annoying because I intend to use it as a development machine, which requires me to use the most of my screen.



Related links:
1. http://www.centos.org/modules/newbb/vie ... ic_id=8101 - Setting screen resolution to 1024 x 768

Have you installed the guest additions?

Perryg wrote:Have you installed the guest additions?

I can confirm this with CentOS 5.3 i386 in VirtualBox 2.2.2 on Ubuntu 9.04 64-bit. Guest Additions are installed in the virtual machine, but the resolution of the guest does not change when going into full screen mode. This is very likely to be the exact same problem where the guest resolution cannot be changed. X server in CentOS is version 7.1.1, kernel version is 2.6.18-53.1.14.el5PAE.

On install of the Guest Additions, a warning appeared about OpenGL and that a higher kernel version was required for this to work. Could this be the cause of the problem?

Edit: Guest Additions version is 2.2.2 build 46594

Having similar problems with CentOS 5.3 guest (kernel 2.6.18-128.4.1.el5, all software up to date as of 8/20/2009) in VirtualBox 3.0.4 running under CentOS 5.3 host, on a Dell tower with 1920x1080 LCD monitor. Installed 3.0.4 guest additions, /var/log/vboxadd-install.log wraps up with Shared folder works, mouse integration works, but dynamic resizing of the screen does NOT work, not even after following Sasquatch's sage advice, to the letter, on repeated trials--it's 1024x768, period.

If I resort to specifying resolutions, either by using system-config-display or manual editing of xorg.config, the best I can get out of this thing is 1280x800. Allowing for the toolbars at the top and bottom of the host's display, and the space taken up by VirtualBox's own drag bar, tool bar, and status bar, I would have expected it to handle 1440x900. Attempts to allocate areas larger than 1280x800 to the display either revert to the original 1024x768, or give me a viewport onto a larger scrollable desktop (shades of AmigaDos when the old Commodore color monitor's limited resolution was outpaced by the amount of RAM one could allocate to the desktop . . .). When that happens, I can see the full horizontal extent of the guest's desktop, but the top is clipped. If I run the mouse pointer up to the top of the viewport, the guest's desktop "scrolls" down in intermittent, jerky fashion, over the course of many seconds, until the top edge of the guest's desktop is reached. If I drag the cusor down to the bottom of the viewport, the guest's desktop scrolls jerkily upward until its bottom edge appears.

When the virtual machine boots, the mouse pointer sometimes appears as two arrows, separated by a vertical displacement that is proportional to the vertical distance from the top of the virtual machine's desktop--that is, the separation between the two images increases if I drag the cursor down, and decreases if I move it up. This double cursor phenomenon occurs only if I have used system-config-display or xorg.config to specify a screen resolution larger than 1024x768.

Video memory doesn't seem to matter--happens with 12 MB, 64 MB, 128 MB.

OK I finally got time to install the latest CentOS 5.3 and it does in fact have a problem with the screen size.
I will create a ticket tomorrow and send you the number here so you can add yourselves to the ticket.
Please remember when you add your name to the ticket that you include you Vbox log as well as the /var/log/vboxadd-install.log and the /var/log/Xorg.0.log.

Ticket created http://www.virtualbox.org/ticket/4830
Be sure to add the additional files as I mentioned.

Thanks. Attached the files, after some fumbling around.

For those having problems with the screen size of your CentOS 5.3, here is a copy of my /etc/X11/xorg.conf that I have entered most of the standard resolutions in. This will allow you to set the screen size manually until there is a determination of problem. All you should need to add is the line that says Mode and the size entries.

Thanks Perryg - that worked for me

You're welcome dhorne,

Just so everyone knows, the reason is CentOS 5.3 is using a lower version of XRandR 1.2 is required to be able to auto-resize.

Perryg wrote:Just so everyone knows, the reason is CentOS 5.3 is using a lower version of XRandR 1.2 is required to be able to auto-resize.

Having the same problem, and I just came across this thread. Read both the thread and the ticket posted.
Just curious, cause my knowledge of linux isn't very extensive, but is there a way to upgrade the version of XRandR 1.1 that is currently in CentOS 5.3 to version 1.2?
And if so could someone post a walk-through? Or a link?

Any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

audiosyncracy wrote:

Perryg wrote:Just so everyone knows, the reason is CentOS 5.3 is using a lower version of XRandR 1.2 is required to be able to auto-resize.

Having the same problem, and I just came across this thread. Read both the thread and the ticket posted.
Just curious, cause my knowledge of linux isn't very extensive, but is there a way to upgrade the version of XRandR 1.1 that is currently in CentOS 5.3 to version 1.2?
And if so could someone post a walk-through? Or a link?

Any help would be appreciated, thanks in advance.

You can always grab a newer version from the project site or grab the source code from a different location (like a similar distro) and compile and install the program manually.