USB filters inoperable on Ubuntu 9.04

[Sublimation]

Good afternoon,

before I begin to explain my problem let me mention that I have searched these forums for a suitable answer to my problem. I have also read the included manual extensively yet every, "solution" returned the same problem. So far I have added myself to the vboxusers category, attempted to add myself to the usbfs category (unsuccessfully), and attempted to modify some Linux base files (again, unsuccessfully). None of the above resolved my issues.

I located and attempted to perform some of the methods found in these threads:
http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=21100
http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=21029
http://forums.virtualbox.org/viewtopic.php?f=7&t=16529

I also tried to follow some of the steps found in the manual. To be specific, steps located in chapters 2.3.3 and 11.5.7.

The problem, so similar to others, is that USB devices listed are all grayed-out. I cannot select them from the list produced while the VM is running. No, I did not make a specific filter for the USB devices, I made 4 blank filters (4 USB ports). Yet whenever I plug in the USB device I wish to use, it is immediately grayed-out. My assumption is that Ubuntu has taken ownership of the device in turn locking it from use by the VM. The problem is that I don't know how to tell Ubuntu to release the device for other applications.

Does anyone have any ideas or suggestions which will aid me in my efforts? Thanks in advance!

[Sublimation]

Well, I don't know what happened. Now the USB devices are working flawlessly. The USB options are no longer grayed out and I'm able to pass through any device of my choosing.

Sorry for the extra thread.

[calimocho]

I am also running Ubuntu 9.04, and USB devices are all greyed out for me. I've restarted the guest, virtualbox gui, etc. Did you reboot the host or is there anything you can think of that might have done to change it?

Thanks

EDIT: this is Ubuntu 9.04 Host, winXP guest

[calimocho]

I rebooted the host and things seem to be working now. I had not rebooted since installing VBox 3.04.

[Girts]

I've got the same problem.

9.04 host, XP guest. The VB shows 5 devices connected by USB (including the keyboard and mouse). XP shows all 5 greyed out, but the keyboard and mouse both work anyway! I've tried re-booting the whole PC, but it made no difference. Yet.

I tested this way of working on a Toshiba laptop, and had the same thing initially, then suddenly everything was fine and has stayed that way. Can't remember if I rebooted, but don't think so.

So we're not quite there yet folks, any ideas gratefully experimented.

Girts

[Stonebot]

Hmmm, I have also been experiencing the same problem, everything is greyed out ect.

I have been trying different things to no avail, if anyone figures this out please post.

[Stonebot]

Hey guys, I have been working on it and I figured it out.

If you start virtualbox as root the usb works!!

so you open up terminal and type in

sudo VirtualBox

then enter your password, and it works!!

[kevinkr]

I tried sudo VirtualBox and quickly discovered that doing this prevented virtualbox from see the VM with windows XP SP1 installed on it. I am trying to access some usb resources such as a memory stick and an M-Audio Transit USB which I have gotten to the point of being recognized in Ubuntu 9.04. (firmware installed) All USB resources are grayed out when the VM is running. No USB device other than the virtualbox USB root devices are recognized in windows.

[kevinkr]

Well I got it working, using information from this site that was directly applicable to Ubuntu 9.04. I got the M-Audio Transit USB functioning as well. Note that you may need to unplug and replug to get some hardware recognized. Note that I installed madfudload first, and got that working.

The information to enable USB support for VirtualBox 3.04 is here and basically elevates usb users privileges so that VB can access USB devices:

My inspiration was found here: http://www.hooto.com/home/rui/blog/archives/1326.html

What I did differed slightly and is very specific to 9.04:

sudo groupadd usbfs

sudo gedit /etc/group

Scroll to very last line and you will see something like:

usbfs1001:

edit to read as follows:

usbfs1001:user (where user is the name you use to login)

save and note that number and substitute it for the value listed by devgid in the fstab script below..

Then:

sudo gedit /etc/udev/rules.d/z80_user.rules

This file will most likely be empty. Copy and paste following line:

SUBSYSTEM=="usb_device", GROUP="usbfs", MODE="0664"

Save...

Next:

sudo gedit /etc/fstab

copy and paste, then edit devgid to reflect the correct number from your group usbfs:

none /proc/bus/usb usbfs devgid=1001,devmode=664 0 0

Save

Reboot


It has worked over several reboots, and anything that gets plugged in is detected and enumerates correctly in windows. Note that you have to enable the resource in the VM menu when you plug in a new device for the first time, and to make it automatic in the future add it to the USB devices dlalog when you stop the VM and before you exit VirtualBox.

[razy60]

This worked for me.

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/VirtualBox/USB

Raz

[adrians]

I experienced the same problem. What I did is

System -> Administration -> Users and Groups

Click to make changes -> Manage Groups -> lookup vboxusers group -> Properties -> check the box of my login ID

Reboot my machine.

[bonkoski]

Hello ..
You have to edit and change the following...

AS ROOT:
vi /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

excuse my bad English, I'm Brazilian.
I have helped!