virtualbox.org

I'm working on a cross-platform game using SDL (www-libsdl-org/) and OpenGL (planning to target 3.3). I'm hoping to use my guest machine to test our game on Linux. Virtualbox version is 4.2.12. Video card is a Geforce GT 555m.

As a test to see if everything is set up properly, I use the exact tutorial from sdl's website (www-opengl-org/wiki/Tutorial1:_Creating_a_Cross_Platform_OpenGL_3.2_Context_in_SDL_%28C_/_SDL%29). This should open a window which flashes red, green, blue and then exit.

The program runs fine on my Win7 host, but on my Linux guest I get the error "Unable to create window: No OpenGL support in video driver". I've got guest additions 4.2.6 installed and 3D acceleration is enabled.

output from "lspci":
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 440FX - 82441FX PMC [Natoma] (rev 02)
00:01.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82371SB PIIX3 ISA [Natoma/Triton II]
00:01.1 IDE interface: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 IDE (rev 01)
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: InnoTek Systemberatung GmbH VirtualBox Graphics Adapter
00:03.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82540EM Gigabit Ethernet Controller (rev 02)
00:04.0 System peripheral: InnoTek Systemberatung GmbH VirtualBox Guest Service
00:05.0 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corporation 82801AA AC'97 Audio Controller (rev 01)
00:06.0 USB controller: Apple Inc. KeyLargo/Intrepid USB
00:07.0 Bridge: Intel Corporation 82371AB/EB/MB PIIX4 ACPI (rev 08)
00:0d.0 SATA controller: Intel Corporation 82801HM/HEM (ICH8M/ICH8M-E) SATA Controller [AHCI mode] (rev 02)

Attached are:
output from "glxgears -info"
output from "glxinfo"
VBox.log

In vbox.log the proper graphics card listed in a couple places (GeForce GT 555m), though I don't know how to read the rest of the file.

One last note, one of my team mates is running the same version of linux as I am using virtualbox and is able to get it to work fine. He wasn't able to find anyplace where his graphics card was listed either (though we didn't know about VBox.log when we were looking). I've tried to install the latest drivers for my video card from nvidia's website and it says it doesn't detect a compatible video card. My teammate did the same thing only it worked fine. We spent a few hours trying to figure it out earlier but were not able to make any progress, thus why I am here.

NOTE: Due to the restriction that I have to have been a member for one day and have one post to be able to post URLs I've had to change dots in the addresses provided above to slashes.

Help is much appreciated!

You do not see the host GPU for a very simple reason : it is not presented to the VM. Only a emulated graphicard is, nothing more. You will NOT see your host GPU.
There is an experimental feature in Virtualbox that required VT-d extension, on which you could do this, but is not supported.

So if you two are having the same config, and not using VT-d, there is no way you friend is able to see the host GPU.

Also be aware of two things :
- 3D is experiemental in Virtualbox, so don't expect things to work - expect the opposite
- There is an known issue with the latest VB version, Nvidia card and 3D rendering.

So all in all, I think you shouldn't do this in Virtualbox at the moment, you'll be loosing time against bugs.

Just to clarify - my friend is unable to see his gpu in any of the output I gave as well, the only thing that worked is that our program ran on his computer.

I appreciate the advice and will look elsewhere for a method to test our Linux build.

Thanks for your time!