[Solved]Cannot share development folder on desktop with VBox

[Korfer]

I'm doing a tutorial through lynda on setting up linux using virtualbox.

It was going fine until I had to create a file in my development folder. It's been set up as a shared folder so I can write files straight on to the virtual server (I think).

I'm writing small scripts in to the shared folder and I'm getting a 404 error for each. For something like sandbox-dot-dev:8080/errors.php or sandbox-dot-dev:8080/hello.html (with just a 'hello world' in there).

Additional Info;

In VirtualBox if I go settings - >shared folders - >machine folders, my 'sandbox' folder is definitely the one being used.

When I go to [mydevelopmentserver][slash]]server-status - it works as expected. Information about the server.

I have installed Ubuntu 14.04 LTS. I've installed a lot of packages. Things started going wrong on the 'Configuring the Apache web server' section so maybe it's an apache problem.

I have looked on the server through the command line at /var/www/html. It's looks nothing like the shared folder. Just one index page which, when looking at it in nano, tells me it's the default ubuntu homepage. But I cannot navigate to it in the U-R-L at all.

Can someone help?

[Korfer]

No one willing to help?

[mpack]

I know that you can write to a shared folder from a VM, provided you (the person that runs the VM) has write access to that folder. So, help does seem unlikely in a VirtualBox forum unless you can pose the question in terms that demonstrates a VirtualBox problem.

I assume you did install the Guest Additions, right? Because that kind of shared folder is a GAs feature, so won't work if you haven't installed the GAs in the guest. Installation details for Linux guests can be found in the user manual.

If you want to discuss this further then provide a VM log file: Minimum information needed for assistance.

[loukingjr]

The other thing is to use shared folders from your Ubuntu guest you have to add your user name to the vboxsf group.

Code: Select all

sudo adduser username vboxsf

replace username with your Ubuntu login name. Then reboot Ubuntu.

[Martin]

Vbox shared folders cannot be used as working directory for a web server. Not all needed features are implemented.

[loukingjr]

Vbox shared folders cannot be used as working directory for a web server. Not all needed features are implemented.

Good Point. Time to set up a real network share.

[Korfer]

Good Point. Time to set up a real network share.

Errr.. Not really. Unless that's the next step after grasping MAMP?

In any case, it was a Guest Additions problem. I hadn't set it up right the first time. When I re-did it, it worked. Thank you.