Guest Add-on For Debian Linux Client

[cmennens]

I'm getting ready to stand-up a GNU/Debian Linux 6.0 (yes I know 7.0 releases this weekend) VM on my VirtualBox host (OS X). I need to make sure the 'Guest Add-on' package is installed or gets installed at some point before the VM is utilized by my team. Can someone please let me know if this (Guest Add-on) is available via Apt (Debian's pkg mgr) or I can download it manually and install it on the VM.

Anyone done this before on a recent version of Debian Linux? If so, can you tell me the easiest process to get this pkg loaded on my VM?

[Perryg]

The OSes specific repository version of VirtualBox does not have the guest additions by default.

You can download the GAs from http://download.virtualbox.org/virtualbox/ (matching your build)
But for support here you would be better off using the version of VirtualBox from VirtualBox.org (the one we support)

[cmennens]

I am using the OS X version of VirtualBox on my host. Why would that be an issue if I'm running VirtualBox downloaded straight from virtualbox's site? I think you're assuming I downloaded some OSE version of VirtualBox on a Linux host or something? Your post confused me more actually...

I just have a Linux VM on OS X host running a supported / official release of VirtualBox v4.2.12. I want to install Debian Linux as a "guest" and was wondering how difficult it is to get the Guest Add-on pkg installed in the guest and if I need to do anything before hand to the guest and or host.

[Perryg]

The apt from debian repo threw me off, sorry


If you have installed the version of VirtualBox from VirtualBox.org then you in fact have the guest additions. All you should need to do is to start the guest and click the devices tab at the top and then install guest additions. Make sure that you do not already have a version of the GAs installed (some distros include a version)

You will more than likely need to install a few extra packages on the Debian guest before the GAs will actually install.

dkms build-essential linux-headers-$(uname -r)

[cmennens]

Thank you. I've read the Guest Additions page but still really don't see the point. What am I gaining here? I fail to see the functionality of deploying the package to my "guest" OS. Also what are GA's

[Perryg]

GAs = Guest Additions

The benefits are shared folders, clipboard, D'n'D host to Linux guest, much better screen resolution, and mouse integration. All in all the stuff you really want.