Package:VirtualBox

VirtualBox is an application that allows to run a guest O/S inside a host O/S.

Glossary of Terms

Host O/S

system running on computer you are actually on;

Guest O/S

system installed within VirtualBox;

Guest Additions

drivers for the Guest O/S.

Versions of VirtualBox

VirtualBox is available in two versions :

1. Source based package : app-emulation/virtualbox;
2. Binary package : app-emulation/virtualbox-bin.

Binary package contains extensions which are not available with the source one. When we install the source based package, we must refer to the USE flags list hereafter.

USE flags

Use flag	Default	Recommended	Description
additions	Yes	Yes	Install Guest System Tools ISO.
alsa	Yes	Yes	Add support for media-libs/alsa-lib (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture).
doc	No		Add extra documentation (API, Javadoc, etc). It is recommended to enable per package instead of globally.
extensions	No	Yes	Install extension module packages.
headless	No		Build without any graphic frontend.
java	No	No	Add support for Java.
opengl	Yes		Add support for OpenGL (3D graphics).
pam	Yes	Yes	Add support for PAM (Pluggable Authentication Modules) - DANGEROUS to arbitrarily flip.
pulseaudio	Yes		Add support for PulseAudio sound server.
python	Yes		Add optional support/bindings for the Python language.
python_single_target_python2_7	Yes		Build for Python 2.7 only.
python_targets_python2_7	Yes		Build with Python 2.7
qt4	Yes	Yes	Add support for the Qt GUI/Application Toolkit version 4.x. No GUI when not set.
sdk	Yes		Enable building of SDK.
vboxwebsrv	No	No	Build and install the VirtualBox webservice.
vnc	No		Enable VNC (remote desktop viewer) support.

   Important

Depending on desktop environment, some USE flags may already be set or unset. Set USE flags as per Recommended column when unset.

Installation

   Important

This tutorial deals with installation of source based package.

root # echo ">=app-emulation/virtualbox-extpack-oracle-4.3.8 PUEL" >> /etc/portage/package.license/virtualbox
root # emerge app-emulation/virtualbox

Installation of app-emulation/virtualbox implies app-emulation/virtualbox-extpack-oracle. That is why PUEL license must be enabled.

Guest Additions

Make sure that user running X session belongs to vboxguest group. Create group when it does not exist. Add user to the group. That will enable :

• Shared clipboard;
• Display resizing;
• Seamless mode;
• Drag & Drop.

root # groupadd vboxguest
root # gpasswd -a ''user'' vboxguest

Windows Guests

You must enable additions USE flag when you intend to install Windows as a guest O/S. That will also install the ISO image containing all necessary Windows guest drivrers.

Linux Guests

If you want to run Funtoo GNU/Linux as a guest O/S, emerge app-emulation/virtualbox-guest-additions in the Funtoo GNU/Linux guest O/S. For other GNU/Linux, please refer to VirtualBox documentation.

Post Installation

You will not be able to run and use VirtualBox as a regular user if you are not a member of the vboxusers group.

root # gpasswd -a ''user'' vboxusers

You must re-log so changes take effect.

Loading Modules

Required and optional modules must be loaded before launching VirtualBox. You can do that as root or upon boot.

   Note

vboxnetadp and vboxnetflt are optional.

As root

root # modprobe vboxdrv
root # modprobe vboxnetadp
root # modprobe vboxnetflt

Upon boot OpenRC

Edit /etc/conf.d/modules :

modules="vboxdrv vboxnetadp vboxnetflt"

Upon boot systemd

root # echo 'vboxdrv' >> /etc/modules-load.d/virtualbox.conf
root # echo 'vboxnetadp' >> /etc/modules-load.d/virtualbox.conf
root # echo 'vboxnetflt' >> /etc/modules-load.d/virtualbox.conf

Kernel Driver

Each time a new kernel is installed, vboxdrv kernel module must be recompiled. To ensure Portage knows about that, look at /var/lib/module-rebuild/moduledb. The following record must be present.

a:1:app-emulation/virtualbox-modules-''version''

Running emerge @module-rebuild will recompile VirtualBox driver after installation of new kernel.

It is strongly recommended to install sys-kernel/dkms. This package keeps track of Linux kernel changes. It recompiles vboxdrv if necessary.