Page 1 of 1

[Solved]Cannot share development folder on desktop with VBox

Posted: 3. Nov 2014, 17:55
by 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?

Re: Cannot share development folder on desktop with VirtualB

Posted: 4. Nov 2014, 14:43
by Korfer
No one willing to help?

Re: Cannot share development folder on desktop with VirtualB

Posted: 4. Nov 2014, 15:53
by 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.

Re: Cannot share development folder on desktop with VirtualB

Posted: 4. Nov 2014, 16:08
by 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.

Re: Cannot share development folder on desktop with VirtualB

Posted: 4. Nov 2014, 16:34
by Martin
Vbox shared folders cannot be used as working directory for a web server. Not all needed features are implemented.

Re: Cannot share development folder on desktop with VirtualB

Posted: 4. Nov 2014, 16:35
by loukingjr
Martin wrote: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.

Re: Cannot share development folder on desktop with VirtualB

Posted: 7. Nov 2014, 10:34
by Korfer
loukingjr wrote: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.