Installing VirtualBox OSE on Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon

by Toor, October 6th, 2007 | 33 Comments

VirtualBox is a powerful virtual machine software. The VirtualBox OSE is open source edition of VirtualBox. It is functionally equivalent to the full VirtualBox, except for a few features that primarily target enterprise customers. Currently, VirtualBox OSE was already in the Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon repositories.

1. To enable universe repository, you can click System → Administration → Software Sources and check Community-maintained Open Source software (universe) option in Ubuntu Software tab.

2. Now you need to update sources, run this command in your terminal:

sudo apt-get update

3. Install VirtualBox OSE:

sudo apt-get install virtualbox-ose virtualbox-ose-source

4. Install VirtualBox OSE kernel module:
sudo apt-get install module-assistant sudo m-a prepare sudo m-a a-i virtualbox-ose sudo modprobe vboxdrv

5. Automatically load the kernel module:

sudo gedit /etc/modules

Then add:

vboxdrv

6. Add your username to “vboxusers” group:

sudo adduser [your username] vboxusers

To run VirtualBox OSE, you can click Applications → System Tools → InnoTek VirtualBox menu item.

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Tags: HOWTOs

33 responses so far ↓

1 fando // Oct 10, 2007 at 2:58 am

Hi there.

Thanks for you howto. It really helped with the last kernel version on gutsy. But since the latest upgrade today even your hints don’t work any longer. Hopefully you can help me on this. What I did was to apply the few lines under 4. and 5. But m-a auto-install dies on me complaining about conflicts:
dpkg: regarding …/virtualbox-ose-modules-2.6.22-14-generic_1.5.0-dfsg2-1ubuntu1+2.6.22-14.41_i386.deb containing virtualbox-ose-modules-2.6.22-14-generic:
virtualbox-ose-modules-2.6.22-13-generic conflicts with virtualbox-ose-modules
virtualbox-ose-modules-2.6.22-14-generic provides virtualbox-ose-modules and is to be installed.
dpkg: error processing /usr/src/virtualbox-ose-modules-2.6.22-14-generic_1.5.0-dfsg2-1ubuntu1+2.6.22-14.41_i386.deb (–install):
conflicting packages - not installing virtualbox-ose-modules-2.6.22-14-generic
Errors were encountered while processing:
/usr/src/virtualbox-ose-modules-2.6.22-14-generic_1.5.0-dfsg2-1ubuntu1+2.6.22-14.41_i386.deb

Do I have to remove 22-13-generic modules before hand? If so, how?

Thanks,
fando.
2 toor // Oct 10, 2007 at 3:25 am

@fando: You can run this command:

sudo dpkg -r virtualbox-ose-modules-2.6.22-13-generic

Then execute step 4.
3 fando // Oct 11, 2007 at 12:09 pm

Thanks, man. Removing the modules package (-r) did it!
4 ekips // Oct 12, 2007 at 1:00 am

Hello,
I am receiving an error in step #4 as well, but slightly different from fando’s. I am using 2.6.22-14-generic, and the command

$ sudo m-a a-i virtualbox-ose

is crapping out right after the dialogue that asks to view the log, continue or cancel. Right after selecting CONTINUE, i first received:

unpack
The source tarball could not be found!
Package virtualbox-ose not installed?
Running “m-a -f get virtualbox-ose” may help.
“/usr/share/modass/packages/default.sh” build KVERS=2.6.22-14-generic KSRC=/usr/src/linux KDREV=2.6.22-14.43 kdist_image
find: /usr/src/modules/: No such file or directory

and one similar to this, complaining about a missing directory /usr/src/modules/virtualbox*. So, I first created the directory /usr/src/modules, and then /usr/src/modules/virtualbox-ose

then, the command dies at the same point, but with this error message:

unpack
The source tarball could not be found!
Package virtualbox-ose not installed?
Running “m-a -f get virtualbox-ose” may help.
“/usr/share/modass/packages/default.sh” build KVERS=2.6.22-14-generic KSRC=/usr/src/linux KDREV=2.6.22-14.43 kdist_image

for what it’s worth, i ran
$ sudo m-a -f get virtualbox-ose
which updated 1 package (after following the original instructions listed above).

so… is virtualbox working on the latest kernel (2.6.22-14)? and if so, does anyone have any tips i could try?

Thanks!
5 ekips // Oct 12, 2007 at 11:43 am

also, i tried removing the old modules (-r, as above), but they weren’t installed on my machine.
6 toor // Oct 12, 2007 at 10:51 pm

@ekips: Have you installed virtualbox-ose on your system?
7 Fábio // Oct 13, 2007 at 2:32 pm

Thanks for your help.

Solved my problem!
8 ekips // Oct 14, 2007 at 6:40 pm

@toor:
i have, and i can run it. i add my existing VMWare disk to the config, and then create a new machine using that .vmdk. however, i cannot get the image to start. pleaes let me know if there’s any more information i can provide, or if you have any information regarding the installation of virtualbox modules with the latest ubuntu (gutsy, 7.10, 2.6.22-14) kernel.

Thank you!
9 Mini0n // Oct 20, 2007 at 4:41 pm

Yep, it’s “-” and not “_” my e-mail, ok. I just wanted to know if you could help with this VirtualBox Mess, I delete my old installation and did a new one using your steps, it function well but I’m having the same problem I used te have. My Virtualbox doesn’t recognize my CD Driver :(. Do yo know any trick?
10 Tony Maro // Oct 22, 2007 at 4:04 pm

I just installed a 64 bit 7.10 server and after configuring my network, I went straight to this tutorial. Unfortunately I’m having the same problems as those above, even after following this directly.
11 rosler // Oct 31, 2007 at 7:55 pm

hope someone can help. I’m trying to install virtualbox on gutsy gibbon. I tried to follow the commands above but unable to execute “sudo m-a prepare” but I got this mesage “sudo: m-a: command not found.

thanks
12 rosler // Oct 31, 2007 at 8:04 pm

Before that, when I do step 3 “sudo apt-get install virtualbox-ose virtualbox-ose-source” I got the following message:………..

….
…..

The following information may help to resolve the situation:

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
virtualbox-ose: Depends: libqt3-mt (>= 3:3.3.8really3.3.7) but it is not installable
virtualbox-ose-source: Depends: debhelper (>= 5) but it is not installable
Depends: dpatch but it is not installable
E: Broken packages
—————————————-

hope someone can help
kernal 2.6.22-14-generic
13 rosler // Oct 31, 2007 at 10:47 pm

Just to share………

found this site : https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/restricted-manager/+bug/134918

I have enable the Multiverse and Universe repositories ….. so far I don’t have problem as in comment #12
14 rosler // Oct 31, 2007 at 11:01 pm

performing comment #13 also resolve my previous #11 problem……….. hmmmm
15 nokitel.co.uk - BITCHFEST » Blog Archive » Ubuntu + Windows XP + VirtualBox // Nov 4, 2007 at 11:53 am

[…] Network >> VirtualBox Shared Folders”. Useful websites: Installing VirtualBox On Ubuntu Installing VirtualBox OSE on Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon Installing Virtualbox and Windows in Ubuntu Vista on Ubuntu Using VirtualBox Create and Manage […]
16 samuel // Nov 20, 2007 at 11:14 am

thank you very much
i finally was able to make it working
i would include that for me i had to do this first
sudo nautilus
then go to /etc/
and there was v-something file
and i just changed it so i had read write persmissions and everything was fine
thanks!
17 Eric // Dec 4, 2007 at 2:23 pm

thank you very much!!! extremely useful! make sure you get the updated version from http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads

everything works better than running virtual box in vista thou… thank you for the guide!
18 bobby // Dec 14, 2007 at 1:37 pm

Step 4.. the last
sudo modprobe vboxdrv

i get

FATAL: Module vboxdrv not found.

any suggestions?
19 mahalie // Dec 29, 2007 at 11:13 am

Thanks for these instructions, they worked for me!! I just had to remove the old GuestAdditions.iso but everything seems to be working as before I upgraded to Gutsy. Saved my rear!!
20 Paul // Jan 1, 2008 at 5:03 pm

These are great instructions. However, when I follow them, virtualbox 1.50 gets built and the latest is 1.54. How can I make sure to get the latest version of virtualbox using this install method?

Thanks.
21 debby // Jan 4, 2008 at 12:53 pm

Hi.

I had installed the kernel modules previously but never ran the kernel module using modprobe..
thnx a lot.
22 mike russo // Feb 3, 2008 at 1:22 pm

dpkg -Ei /usr/src/virtualbox-ose-modules-2.6.22-14-386_1.5.0-dfsg2-1ubuntu3+2.6.22-14.47_i386.deb
dpkg: regarding …/virtualbox-ose-modules-2.6.22-14-386_1.5.0-dfsg2-1ubuntu3+2.6.22-14.47_i386.deb containing virtualbox-ose-modules-2.6.22-14-386:
virtualbox-ose-modules-2.6.22-14-generic conflicts with virtualbox-ose-modules
virtualbox-ose-modules-2.6.22-14-386 provides virtualbox-ose-modules and is to be installed.
dpkg: error processing /usr/src/virtualbox-ose-modules-2.6.22-14-386_1.5.0-dfsg2-1ubuntu3+2.6.22-14.47_i386.deb (–install):
conflicting packages - not installing virtualbox-ose-modules-2.6.22-14-386
Errors were encountered while processing:
/usr/src/virtualbox-ose-modules-2.6.22-14-386_1.5.0-dfsg2-1ubuntu3+2.6.22-14.47_i386.deb

I: Direct installation failed, trying to post-install the dependencies

I get a simular error. Itried this line
sudo dpkg -r virtualbox-ose-modules-2.6.22-13-generic

but it said it was not installed. There must be another conflict I don’t understand
23 gregory malsack // Feb 18, 2008 at 11:37 pm

followed instructions on site keep getting message:

FATAL: Error inserting vboxdrv (/lib/modules/2.6.22-14-generic/misc/vboxdrv.ko): Invalid argument

Any ideas?
24 kardas // Apr 1, 2008 at 2:30 pm

thanx a lot !!
25 Freo as in freedom » Installing VirtualBox OSE on Ubuntu // Apr 4, 2008 at 5:14 am

[…] sudo apt-get install module-assistant sudo m-a prepare sudo m-a a-i virtualbox-ose sudo modprobe vboxdrv 相关链接： Installing VirtualBox OSE on Ubuntu 7.10 Gutsy Gibbon […]
26 Kasia // May 18, 2008 at 9:50 pm

I kept getting this error:

Media change: please insert the disc labeled ‘Ubuntu 7.10 _Gutsy Gibbon_ - Release i386 (20071016.1)’ in the drive ‘/cdrom/’ and press enter

On another site , I found a way to fix it:

If you want to get rid of it you should comment out the line that point to the “CD-ROM” Source.

Type the following in the terminal:

gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

Locate the line that reads:

deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 7.10 _Gutsy Gibbon_ - Release i386 (20071016)]/ gutsy main restricted

and comment it out

#deb cdrom:[Ubuntu 7.10 _Gutsy Gibbon_ - Release i386 (20071016)]/ gutsy main restricted

Save the file, close the editor, back in the terminal window type:

sudo apt-get update

(The site that’s taken from: http://evalinux.wordpress.com/2008/01/14/getting-rid-of-insert-ubuntu-disc-message/)

That solved the problem! From that point everything went smoothly.

Thanks!
27 knmcnulty // Jun 17, 2008 at 12:16 pm

Super Good!!! Worked for me in v.8.04 when no other tutorial would! Thanks!
28 pdemaers // Aug 13, 2008 at 3:23 am

I am getting the same errors as #22 and #18, but it might be that #18 is consequence of #22. Any ideas on how to solve #22 ?

Cheers !!
29 Millicent // Aug 13, 2008 at 7:58 am

I keep getting to this point “sudo m-a a-i virtualbox-ose”
and it will start installing everything and then i read this, “Build of the package virtualbox-ose-source failed! How do you wish to proceed?”

i am running “hardy 8.04″ i am a newb and have been checking many forums for the solution. so far, i keep getting this response and a non-working virtualbox. any help is greatly appreciated.
30 Angie // Aug 23, 2008 at 3:51 am

Hello,

followed the stops on this site… after getting to command….

sudo modprobe vboxdrv

I get, FATAL vboxdrv not found.

////
ANy ideas? Btw. when using Add/Remove manager and installing the thing through there… the program itself at a later time informs me of lack of vboxdrv

As far as I know vboxdrv(.ko and others) is somewhere on the hd(ithink) but ubuntu is not seeing it (i think)
31 jyoseph // Oct 10, 2008 at 8:12 am

By far the most straight forward tutorial on how to get VirtualBox running. Thanks a ton!
32 Installare VirtualBox OSE o PUEL su Ubuntu 8.10 « Pensadife // May 1, 2009 at 12:05 pm

[…] [fonte: PHOROLINUX.COM] […]
33 vijay // Jun 27, 2009 at 11:12 pm

thank you very much. you are my hero!!!!!!!

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