virtualbox.org

Where can I find a list of the packages required for a minimum installation on a Linux host? I'm looking for the packages that are installed on the host, not the guest.

Please note that I have consulted the manual, specifically Chapter 2 (including 2.3. Installing on Linux hosts) and Chapter 10, as well as the table of contents, but I did not see the information I seek.

It depends on what the Linux host really is. There are several but the main ones Debian based, RPM,bases and Solaris based should be respectfully the same.

Normally these days the main requirement is dkms which should bring in the other necessary packages but to be able to give you a better answer we would need to know the Distro and version.

Perryg wrote:Normally these days the main requirement is dkms

Not since 5.1.0. From the release notes for 5.1.0:

Release notes for 5.1.0 wrote:• Linux installers: no longer rely on DKMS for module rebuilding

It sounds like it applies to both hosts and guests.

Very well. Let me know how that goes.

Thank you both for your posts. And the information about DKMS is good to know for future reference. (I will add revision histories and changelog information to my reading list - thanks.)

What I am seeking is reliable documentation, and not something specific to one distro. Section 10.2 of the manual might actually be on point (https://www.virtualbox.org/manual/ch10. ... components) as well as the list of binaries under technical documentation (https://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Binaries_overview).

Perryg wrote:Very well. Let me know how that goes.

Not sure what you're referring to, but I tried it on a Mint 17 x64 VM that I have hanging around. Uninstalled the existing GAs via the "uninstall.sh" command, removed (purged) dkms via Synaptic, rebooted.

Installed the 5.1.17 GAs (I hate 640x480), rebooted. Installed VirtualBox-5.1.6-110634~Ubuntu~trusty_amd64.deb, added an old VM (that doesn't require VT-x). Everything was peachy. VM inside a VM. 'dkms' shows as uninstalled in Synaptic.

Below is what I was referring to:

Without knowing what is meant by "minimum installation on a Linux host" and without knowing what the host is there is no real way of telling. Different distros have different requirements like header, devel packages, Etc.

While dkms truly was never actually needed it is a convenience which I call a requirement to have. I guess I should have worded that better. Also the OP never was concerned about the guest as they stated, not to mention they never stated the version they want and since VirtualBox 5.0.26 is still valid and supported this comes into consideration. Below is what happens when you try installing version 5.1.6 in Ubuntu ( debian based ) 16.04 server which is what I would consider a minimal install. Even then the packages are different on RPM and Solaris which some consider a Linux distro.
Want to hear something really convoluted? You can force the install without some of these packages. I don't support doing it but yes it can be done and yes I have done it before on a lark.

Just for completion in case others see this and wonder how to fix the install ( Debian based ) without knowing the exact packages needed, run apt-get -f install and apt-get install gcc make, then run /sbin/vboxconfig. This will get you a working install.