install extension pack or reinstall VB?

[Daniyal]

Hi
I want to know, when i install new version of extension pack is equal to reinstall new version of VB or not?

[socratis]

You have to do both. If you install VirtualBox 4.3.12 you have to install Extension Pack 4.3.12. If your VM has guest additions installed, you will have to update the guest additions as well to 4.3.12. So everything has to match.

[mpack]

If your VM has guest additions installed, you will have to update the guest additions as well to 4.3.12. So everything has to match.

Actually, unlike the extension pack, there is no requirement to update the Guest Additions version to match the VirtualBox version. I generally only do it if there's a particular bugfix or feature I want, otherwise I resist the temptation to fix things that 'aint broke.

The VirtualBox host software implements an API, obviously the purpose of an API is to provide a fixed (version independant) specification. A wide variety of guest drivers will make use of that API, it isn't a 1:1 mapping. As an analogy, think of the Win32 API: despite what Microsoft might tell you, you aren't required to update all your apps every time Microsoft makes an addition to Win32.

On the other hand the extension pack is just a convenience - a way for Oracle to include closed source features in an open source GPL project. Think of this as equivalent to system DLLs in the Windows\WIN32 folder. These are expected to be matched to a specific main software version.

[socratis]

Oh, definitely, it's an optional thing. Otherwise you would have a cyclic-problem; you wouldn't be able to boot your guest in order to update the GAs. It belongs in the "Good Idea"™ area in order to a) avoid the warning about GA updates being available and b) if you try to troubleshoot something later down the road the most typical question is "have you updated the GAs?".