USB in Kubuntu 8.04 and Windows XP guest

pepe_eloy · Post by **pepe_eloy** » 24. Sep 2008, 00:59

Hello!

I'm newbie using VB.

Reciently I've downloaded and installed the VB 2.0.2 (PUEL) in kubuntu 8.04. All works fine. I configured an Windows XP pro VM and works very well. I can install programs, view web pages, use the CD ROM, etc. The only thing I can't use are the usb devices. I checked the manual and when I use the VBoxManage command I get the following:

pepe@pepe:~$ VBoxManage list usbhost
VirtualBox Command Line Management Interface Version 2.0.2
(C) 2005-2008 Sun Microsystems, Inc.
All rights reserved.

Host USB Devices:

<none>

What am I doing wrong? I need configure another thing?

I've using the VBoxManage as root (using sudo) and I get the same answer

Please, if somebody can help me and tell me how to configure the USB devices in my kubuntu.

Thanks in advanced

Post by **stefan.becker** » 24. Sep 2008, 07:29

Search Forum, FAQ and User Manual for correct setup of USBFS in fstab.

For Ubuntu the FAQ has some Additions to User Manual.

Post by **Sasquatch** » 24. Sep 2008, 20:47

See https://help.ubuntu.com/community/VirtualBox#USB for USB in Ubuntu (applies to all variants like Kubuntu and Xubuntu too).

pepe_eloy · Post by **pepe_eloy** » 25. Sep 2008, 07:11

Thanks for the help. I could use correctly the usb devices

Todaro · Post by **Todaro** » 26. Sep 2008, 02:03

Dear experts,

As suggested above I've followed these instructions:

https://help.ubuntu.com/community/VirtualBox#USB

But my virtual machine with Windows XP keeps not recognizing the USB ports.

Could anyone give me another tip?

Thanks!

Post by **Sasquatch** » 26. Sep 2008, 22:09

Maybe adding the following line in your /etc/fstab will help. You are able to select the USB devices, that is, they are not grayed out?

Code: Select all

none                            /proc/bus/usb   usbfs   devgid=505,devmode=664
## usbfs is the group that is the owner of the mount
## devgid is the group ID of the owner

Todaro · Post by **Todaro** » 27. Sep 2008, 02:46

Thanks Sasquash but nope. No success.

I can't select USB devices on Windows because they simply don't appear. Nor on VB settings.

I've also got a Macintosh computer with VB. On VB for Mac there's a specific group of settings for USB ports that don't exist on VB for Ubuntu.

Is that correct or am I doing something wrong?

Post by **Sasquatch** » 27. Sep 2008, 19:39

Don't compare those systems on that level. If you would involve Windows, where there is no group for USB devices, you will lose track completely.

If you followed the guide, it should work just fine. You did enable USB support in the VB Guest Settings and added a filter?

Todaro · Post by **Todaro** » 27. Sep 2008, 19:43

Sasquatch wrote:You did enable USB support in the VB Guest Settings and added a filter?

That's the point, as I said on my previous post: there's no USB settings on my VB install on Ubuntu.

If I hadn't a similar install on Mac OS, I'd never know there should be USB settings on VB.

Comments?

Post by **Sasquatch** » 27. Sep 2008, 20:00

You must have installed the OSE version. That does not have USB support. You have to install the PUEL version you can find on the website.

Todaro · Post by **Todaro** » 27. Sep 2008, 20:10

Well I downloaded the only version available on Ubuntu's repository.

Besides, the download page at...

http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Linux_Downloads

...has only one for my system (Ubuntu hardy 64 bits).

Should I assume that the only version available has no USB support?

Post by **Sasquatch** » 27. Sep 2008, 23:20

See http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Editions for info about the versions. Then download the right one. Ubuntu repo is the OSE.

Todaro · Post by **Todaro** » 28. Sep 2008, 04:04

Right. I didn't know there are differences. Thanks.

Well I completely wiped the old one, donwloaded the new one with USB support, installed, enabled USB support, added a filter, installed Windows again and guess what: USB still does NOT work on Windows.

Any new tip will be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Post by **Sasquatch** » 28. Sep 2008, 23:10

Tried a new VM and use the existing VDI? You have to release the current VDI from the existing VM.

Todaro · Post by **Todaro** » 28. Sep 2008, 23:15

No it's not the same VDI. As I said I restarted from scratch. I deleted the old VDI, created a new one and installed Windows again.

I wonder if the problem has to do with this (from VB manual):

In order to use VirtualBox's USB support, the user account under which you intend to run VirtualBox must have read and write access to the USB filesystem (usbfs).

I don't know how to check that. Could you help me?

Thanks!

USB in Kubuntu 8.04 and Windows XP guest

USB in Kubuntu 8.04 and Windows XP guest

it works!