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I have a Windows 7 host with a Linux VM (Ubuntu 12.10 Server). I would like to share files between the two systems an I understand that in order to do that I need the guest additions. I don't even know where to start. All of the documentation that I see has various menu items that I don't see and installation options that I don't have. Is there a definitive step by step guide?

Detailed instructions for Linux guests can be found in the user manual. I don't think I can improve on them.

In this case (guest being a Linux server) the normal installation will lead you to havoc.

You will need to install them manually and with specific flags.
First you need to install (on the guest) Mount the guest additions ISO and install the proper GAs (use the amd64 for 64-bit)
then run (from terminal) with the flag --nox11 at the end.

Reboot and setup your shared folders. You can add your manual mounts to the /etc/rc.local to make them permanent.

Note: I find it much better to *NOT* use the auto-mount. Also use the -o rw,uid=<your id),gid=<your id> in your mount statement for better permission control.

Perryg wrote:In this case (guest being a Linux server) the normal installation will lead you to havoc.

Mount the guest additions ISO and install the proper GAs (use the amd64 for 64-bit)
then run (from terminal) with the flag --nox11 at the end.
Note: I find it much better to *NOT* use the auto-mount. Also use the -o rw,uid=<your id),gid=<your id> in your mount statement for better permission control.

Thank you very much. I am in the middle of havoc. Where do I get the guest additions ISO? This whole step I am not clear on. the -nox11 flag is a flag to what command? This is on the guest?

The guest additions are included with your Windows VirtualBox install. You click on the devices tab at the top and select install guest additions. This will make them available to you in the guest.

Next step is to mount the CD and then run the following (All commands are run from the guest.): You will get errors about missing Xorg, but that is normal since you don't have any and way the flag is necessary.

mpack wrote:Detailed instructions for Linux guests can be found in the user manual. I don't think I can improve on them.

The manual states:

/etc/init.d/vboxadd setup

But there is not vboxadd in the init.d folder.

Also it states:

Insert the VBoxGuestAdditions.iso CD file into your Linux guest's virtual CD-ROM drive, exactly the same way as described for a Windows guest in Section 4.2.1.1, “Installation”.

I don't see a virtual CD-ROM drive on my VM. Where do I get VBoxGuesAdditions.iso? Is it supposed to come with the apt-get? If so that part didn't work.

The documentation also states:

In the "Devices" menu in the virtual machine's menu bar, VirtualBox has a handy menu item named "Install guest additions", which mounts the Guest Additions ISO file inside your virtual machine. A Windows guest should then automatically start the Guest Additions installer, which installs the Guest Additions into your Windows guest. Other guest operating systems (or if automatic start of software on CD is disabled) need manual start of the installer.

I don't see a menu anywhere on the virtual machine's "box". Where is this menu?

It's there on your VM window.

Perryg wrote:The guest additions are included with your Windows VirtualBox install. You click on the devices tab at the top and select install guest additions. This will make them available to you in the guest.

Next step is to mount the CD and then run the following (All commands are run from the guest.):

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sudo VBoxLinuxAdditions.run --nox11

You will get errors about missing Xorg, but that is normal since you don't have any and way the flag is necessary.

What is the command to mount from the guest? As I see it I don't have a CD-ROM on my VM.

There is no command called VBoxLinuxAdditions.run on my machine.

mpack wrote:It's there on your VM window.

I don't have this menu on my VM.

I can send you a screenshot of what I see but I am not sure how to do that.

Oh my. From the sounds of it you don't really know Linux or their commands. I don't mind helping you but what is the purpose? Would you be more comfortable with the graphical version of Linux?

AFAIK, the only way the menu bar will be invisible is if you are running in fullscreen or seamless modes, or if you used the VBoxManage setextradata noMenuBar option described in the user manual. But if you created this VM then you ought to know if you did any of that, and if so you haven't mentioned it above.

mpack wrote:AFAIK, the only way the menu bar will be invisible is if you are running in fullscreen or seamless modes, or if you used the VBoxManage setextradata noMenuBar option described in the user manual. But if you created this VM then you ought to know if you did any of that, and if so you haven't mentioned it above.

Found the "advanced" settings and got the menu back. But when I click on "Install Guest Additions" I get an error that "Unable to mount the CD/DVD on image C:. . . . ."

Perryg wrote:Oh my. From the sounds of it you don't really know Linux or their commands. I don't mind helping you but what is the purpose? Would you be more comfortable with the graphical version of Linux?

I know the commands but the device is not there.

rkb wrote:So given that it is gone. How do I get it back?

If running in fullscreen or seamless mode then the aforesaid Devices menu is available on the mini toolbar (bring VM window to foreground and hover over gray line at bottom). Or you can use the host+F or host+L commands to come out of fullscreen/seamless modes. If you used setextradata then you'll need set it again, without the noMenuBar option.

I had a feeling of deja vu. I see you have had at least one previous thread about installing guest additions, apparantly you were able to do it before?

mpack wrote:If running in fullscreen or seamless mode then the aforesaid menu is available in the mini toolbar (bring VM window to foreground and hover over gray line at bottom). If you used setextradata then you'll need set it again, without the noMenuBar option.

I had a feeling of deja vu. I see you have had at least one previous thread about installing guest additions, apparantly you were able to do it before?

I recreated a new image and I cannot do it again.