virtualbox.org

I tried to install virtualbox 3.0.0 but I get an error compiling vboxdrv the following is the /var/log/vbox-install.log:

** Compiling vboxdrv
Attempting to install using DKMS

Creating symlink /var/lib/dkms/vboxdrv/3.0.0/source ->
/usr/src/vboxdrv-3.0.0

DKMS: add Completed.

Error! Your kernel source for kernel 2.6.27-7-generic cannot be found at
/lib/modules/2.6.27-7-generic/build or /lib/modules/2.6.27-7-generic/source.
You can use the --kernelsourcedir option to tell DKMS where it's located.
Failed to install using DKMS, attempting to install without
Makefile:147: *** Error: unable to find the sources of your current Linux kernel. Specify KERN_DIR=<directory> and run Make again. Alto.


I already have installed
build-essential
linux-headers-generic

any ideas?

Thanks!

Type uname -r and see if the kernel you are using matches the one that is being asked for.
I found that the grub update in my Ubuntu 9.04 failed (when the last kernel was updated) to update and caused this very problem.
I simply edited my /boot/grub/menu.lst to include the new kernel and all was right with the world once again.
Be sure not to deleted any lines until you are sure it works, and make a backup of this file before you start or you could be reloading the OS!

uname -r gives me:

2.6.27-7-generic


and the grub

title Ubuntu 8.10, kernel 2.6.27-7-generic
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.27-7-generic root=UUID=c55ce624-30fb-4254-895e-b8b375c563d5 ro quiet splash
initrd /boot/initrd.img-2.6.27-7-generic

so I think they are ok...

thanks!

They are not ok. Ubuntu 8.10 uses 2.6.27, 9.04 uses 2.6.28. That line isn't there, you have to manually add it.

Solution is easy. You need some parts of kernel source (heacders) to compile VB drivers.

On Ubuntu just do:

apt-get install build-essential

Hey thanks. I was tearing my hair out over the same error. All I did was:

sudo gedit /boot/grub/menu.lst

and changed the top lines to reflect the new kernel version on my system (2-6-28-13-generic)

After restart, the Virtualbox kernel module compiled with no hitch.

Thanks again.