[Debian] Can I compile mount.vboxsf?

[DrTanelorn]

I am trying to get the shared folders functionnality working on a Debian guest by using OSE packages.

Since this guest has no X server, I cannot use apt-get install virtualbox-ose-guest-utils, which would pull too much dependencies.

So I chose to build guest additions myself, by using:

Code: Select all

apt-get install build-essential linux-headers-`uname -r` virtualbox-ose-guest-source
module-assistant prepare
module-assistant --text-mode --non-inter auto-install virtualbox-ose-guest
modprobe vboxvfs
echo "vboxvfs" >> /etc/modules

This builds the vboxadd and vboxvsf modules, which are properly loaded. But I still cannot mount shared folders, since mount.vboxsf does not seem to be built from this package. Actually, looking at the package description, it is only meant to provide kernel modules.

Any advice? I know about the VBoxLinuxAdditions-x86.run way, which works fine, but I would like to avoid dependencies on an external ISO.

Regards.

[Sasquatch]

There are no additional dependencies with the PUEL GA. See my Howto: Install Linux Guest Additions + Xorg config, it states that you get an error when it gets around the X11 modules when you don't have X installed and just skips that part.

[DrTanelorn]

There are no additional dependencies with the PUEL GA. See my Howto: Install Linux Guest Additions + Xorg config, it states that you get an error when it gets around the X11 modules when you don't have X installed and just skips that part.

Thanks for your answer! I should have explained myself better. Your procedure works fine, it's just that I would like to avoid mounting the Guest Additions ISO. More precisely, since I am trying to perform an unattended install, only depending on .deb would be easier for me.

So I was pleased to find the virtualbox-ose-guest-source, and surprised to discover that it only contain kernel modules. I have difficulties understanding the goal/usefulness of this package, if mount.vboxsf is not provided?

A nice thing would be to split virtualbox-ose-guest-utils between X11 and no-X11 components, but the last time I looked, this was still stuck in the unstable Debian distribution.

Regards.

[Sasquatch]

That split is also in Ubuntu, separate x11 package. If you want to have that changed, complain at the package maintainer at Debian. Oracle doesn't do anything other than supplying the source code.

Did you also check if you can use mount -t vboxsf instead? Not all mount filesystems get a separate mount.fs alias.

[DrTanelorn]

That split is also in Ubuntu, separate x11 package. If you want to have that changed, complain at the package maintainer at Debian. Oracle doesn't do anything other than supplying the source code.

No offense intended; this is indeed not upstream's work. I won't criticise Debian for stabilising their packages, either... even if this is sometimes agonizingly long ^^

Did you also check if you can use mount -t vboxsf instead? Not all mount filesystems get a separate mount.fs alias.

It does not work, mount.vboxsf is actually needed.

Well, I resolved to use the ISO installer; not so much of a constraint anyway if the ISO is present in the (virtual) drive before booting the VM (I am fiddling with FAI and PXE installs, BTW).

Regards.