I have been playing with Virtualbox but the official manual download link hasn't been working for days. I am lost....I can boot from CD drive but how can I access my hard drives from within the virtual machine...

Could maybe someone possibly upload the manual somewhere, I think it's only 3 MB...

Thanks!

Just tried it, but I can just download it from the virtualbox.org site. You can't?
I can't access ftp servers from here though, so I can't upload it for you.

I believe that's impossible with the OSE version, you have to download the "closed version" under the 'puel' licence (personal use and evaluation license) or sth like that.

You then also need the additions. Then you can load your system's HD (outside VM) through 'map network drive' (inside VM).

Man, that is quite the serious drawback of the OSE version! I checked it and you are right. Is there a way to install the more fully featured version apart from having to compile your own binary?

I looked at the guest additions but they are Linux files and I am simulating Windows. So no use, right? You certainly can't double click and execute them. Did maybe by accident get the wrong additions included in MCNlive...?

Goto http://virtualbox.org/wiki/Downloads
en look under VirtualBox binaries > VirtualBox 1.3.6 for Linux Hosts: All distributions
or the direct link: http://virtualbox.org/download/1.3.6/Virtu...6_Linux_x86.run

Dowload this .run file to where-ever,
next open a console and cd to the directory where you put it.

Next, do

sh ./VirtualBox_1.3.6_Linux_x86.run

and the thing should install.
Some dependencies and a kernel module was needed, but since you already had the OSE version installed, just doing the command above should do the trick.

If you then install e.g. Windows XP in a VM (I had it running well with 192MB RAM assigned yet no other software installed) If you then add the additions, you will have the windows installer you were looking for.

Succes, don't hesitate to ask further questions.

That easy? Nice, I will give it a try.

>If you then install e.g. Windows XP in a VM (I had it running well with 192MB RAM >assigned yet no other software installed) If you then add the additions, you will have >the windows installer you were looking for.

You mean I need to install the full version before I can use guest add-ons? I could mount the guest add-ons ISO but the problem was that they were all Linux files and I am running XP as the guest OS...

OSE version only contains the Linux (OSS) add-ons. Therefore you only saw source files.
The binary (closed) version contains the Linux and Windows add-ons. You will find a win executable when you install XP as a guest OS.

OK, I got it

It doesn't work, I get this:

[root@localhost hda6]# sh ./VirtualBox_1.3.6_Linux_x86.run install
Verifying archive integrity... All good.
Uncompressing VirtualBox for Linux installation........
VirtualBox Version 1.3.6 (Tue Feb 20 13:26:32 CET 2007) installation
Please install GNU make.
Please install the build and header files for your current Linux kernel.
The current kernel version is 2.6.17-8mdv
Please install the GNU compiler.
Problems were found which would prevent VirtualBox from installing.
Please correct these problems and try again.

It seems that some additional stuff is needed. But I'm a newbie and I can't deal with this on my own, however, I would LOVE to have the fully featured version! If you wouldn't mind, could you help me further with this one? Thanks!

Try 'urpmi kernel-source-2.6.17-8mdv'

When I put that I get this:

unable to access hdlist file of "update_source", medium ignored
no package named kernel-source-2.6.17-8mdv

Also, Virtualbox gives me huge trouble with larger fixed virtual disks (larger than 3 GB). It says:

Falied to create a hard disk image '/mnt/win_d/WinXP-12G.vdi' (VERR_UNRESOLVED_ERROR).

It's not a permission issue, permissions are fine. I tried it with a vfat and then a ext3 partition, newly formatted, just very frustrating. The reason I want a larger fixed disk is to restore an image to it (of my old Windows OS). Does anyone have any experience with this?

Don't try to install a different (the closed sourced Vbox) vbox edition in Live mode. It is hard for someone new to Linux.

@davo and Michel: he is running a Live system. And the kernel is updated to .8mdv on VirtualCity. Meanwhile we are on kernel .11mdv, in the update repos. Please try to do what you suggest, on the Live CD ..., hint: check the name of the package

Your probem.
Check your partition, is there enough space left?
A FAT32 partition: run a defrag program onder windows.

The VirtualBox OSE version in VirtualCity is an early version. We can't make a new release every so often. Meanwhile VirtualBox has a new version, with many bug fixed.

Suggestion. Install the VirtualBox software in Windows (the windows version, the full edition). Create in Windows vdi's. In Windows as a host, install MCNLive as a guest, from the .iso file.
You will get a full Mandriva 2007 system. In non-live mode.

Thanks, I fixed the problem, probably a fragmentation issue.

Are there any plans to upgrade to the non-OSE version for the next MCNlive? Because currently you cannot exchange data or copy/paste between host and guest system, which is a great limit (well, unless you burn to CD/DVD each time...).

The license of VirtualBox (Innotek) does not allow to distribute or redistribute the commercial version:

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

But the OSE version will improve, sooner or later, I guess.

Ooops!

Well, if I'm not mistaking, you were trying to create a >3GB file on a FAT32 filesystem. This is impossible, because of this filesystem. FAT32 has a maximum of 2GB (4GB on some NT formatted versions).
I guess that the windows version of VirtualBox keeps this in mind, and chops the virtual disk into multiple files, whereas the Linux version just might try to create one big file (which obviously doesn't work because of this filesystem limitation).

You must be right as my solution was to put the virtual disks on an ext3 partition. The limitations of OSE are a real pity.

Chris, do you think with some willingness and effort I could do a remaster with the full version? Any chances...? I got a friend who is really interested in MCNlive if it had that feature, and for me it would make quite a difference as well.

With the assistence of davo and HighKing iit sure is doable, and you got enough RAM.
But be aware that you need to install a LOT (kernel-sources, development packages, compiler etc).

It is much easier on a normal (non-live) system).

Oh, and you won't be allowed to distribute it, not even to one single person.
Linux folks differ from the windows world also in following and respecting licenses.

Well, I am keen on a virtualiser that enables data exchange and mounting external usb drives. I also do wonder if VMWare is an alternative? Does vmware support Mandriva 2007 though? I couldn't run it as a guest system under Windows (using vmware). Do you guys have experience using vmware under MCNLive? Can it be installed on the LiveCD?

What I have been trying to do is to image my "real" Windows system and copy it onto the "virtual" Windows under Virtualbox. But that hasn't been working, a direct image leads to a corrupt virtual drive (probably because it restores the old MBR which has partition info from the old drive stored in it), and copying it from my C drive leads to a blue screen with little info on it - probably to due to entirely different hardware environment. VMware however has a free converter that supposedly can turn your OS virtual. That's what makes VMware quite interesting in my eyes...

I have installed Mandriva 2007 Free as a client OS in Windows as host OS, with VMWare as virtualization software on a colleagues laptop Runs perfectly!

please try it, and post your results over here. I would be interested in this too.

Well, I downloaded the vmwareplayer rpm from the vmware website (strange that it's not shown in the MCC software interface...) and installed it but now. What now? That is the question. There is a vmware folder /union/usr/lib/vmware with a "bin" folder and two executables, and when I try to run on it says

"error while loading shared libraries: libsigc-2.0.so.0: cannot open shared object file: No such file or directory". Even though that library exists in a directory in the vmware folder. The .htm help files say nothing about how to install it...

I guess I am just used to double click on an install file and then expect the app to show up in the menu, and I click on in....etc. Linux is very nice, until you are....stuck....

Do you think you can help?

try as super user (root):

"urpmi libsigc++2.0", this contains the needed sourcefile and will put in on the correct location.
You'll probably need other dependencies like kernel-source, linux-kernel-headers, gcc, make, glibc-devel but these might already be installed.

See what happens and report here

Don't forget this:

./vmware-config.pl

to configure.



You must be in the dir where this file is located to do this, and it may be needed to do this as root as well, not sure, first try as regular user... it will say so if it must be su.


//edit default for the config should be fine i guess. I installed it two days ago on a RHEL4 system without any problems.

Thanks! I will give it a try. And will most likely post more questions soon...

Just a question: why does one have to do kernel stuff when installing software? Why is that necessary for some software and not for other?

i'm a kernel noob, so i can't answer your question, although i think it has to do with the fact that the changes have to be made in the kernel (adding some modules) in order to allow virtualization...

My report:

- urpmi libsigc++2.0 worked fine
- I ran /usr/bin/vmware-config.pl as root (I am pretty sure you have to be root because of what it does). It says that it can't find a suitable vmmon module for your running kernel and asks if you want it to build it for your system.
- Next thing it says it needs "make" so I installed it.
- Then it needs "gcc" and now the going gets tough. In the MCC there is a confusing host of options of something-gcc and none of them can be installed. Typing the urpmi command line reveals they can't be installed because they depend on an older version of glibc (they need 2.4-4, installed is 2.4-7) - and if I say to continue installation anyway then it says that "gcc" is already installed. MCC says that gcc-cpp is installed, but is that what is needed? After doing a search of the whole system, the only thing that seems vaguely similar to me is
/union/usr/lib/gcc/i586-mandriva-linux-gnu/4.1.1/cc1
so I tell vmware to use that one.
- But then the script stops with the message:
"cc1: warning: unrecognized gcc debugging option: u
cc1: warning: unrecognized gcc debugging option: e"

Ok Davos, your help is much appreciated . This could be an exciting thing if it works!!!

cc1 is a c compiler, not c++.

do in a console:

"which gcc", if it is in your user path, it will show the location. Give this location in the config script of vmware.

If not, you want to do first as (su): "updatedb", which will take a while. Then do "locate gcc", and if this doesn't spit you a location, something is wrong i would ssay (gcc not installed?)

What you could try next is to update your urpmi sources:

"urpmi.update -a" (as su) and update gcc

"urpmi --update gcc" and see what happens... (report here if problems)

locate gcc gives this:

/changes/home/guest/.kde/share/apps/RecentDocuments/.wh.gcc.html.desktop
/changes/home/guest/.kde/share/apps/RecentDocuments/gcc4.1.1.desktop
/union/home/guest/.kde/share/apps/RecentDocuments/gcc4.1.1.desktop
/union/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libcomphelp4gcc3.so
/union/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libcppuhelper3gcc3.so
/union/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libcppuhelpergcc3.so
/union/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libcppuhelpergcc3.so.3
/union/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libgcc3_uno.so
/union/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libi18nisolang1gcc3.so
/union/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libi18nregexpgcc3.so
/union/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libi18nutilgcc3.so
/union/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libjvmaccessgcc3.so
/union/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libjvmaccessgcc3.so.3
/union/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libsalhelper3gcc3.so
/union/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libsalhelpergcc3.so
/union/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libsalhelpergcc3.so.3
/union/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libstlport_gcc.so
/union/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libucbhelper3gcc3.so
/union/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libuno_cppuhelpergcc3.so
/union/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libuno_cppuhelpergcc3.so.3
/union/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libuno_salhelpergcc3.so
/union/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libuno_salhelpergcc3.so.3
/union/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libvos3gcc3.so
/union/usr/lib/gcc
/union/usr/lib/gcc/i586-mandriva-linux-gnu
/union/usr/lib/gcc/i586-mandriva-linux-gnu/4.1.1
/union/usr/lib/gcc/i586-mandriva-linux-gnu/4.1.1/cc1
/union/usr/lib/gcc-lib
/union/usr/lib/perl5/5.8.8/i386-linux/linux/compiler-gcc.ph
/union/usr/lib/perl5/5.8.8/i386-linux/linux/compiler-gcc3.ph
/union/usr/lib/perl5/5.8.8/i386-linux/linux/compiler-gcc4.ph
/union/usr/lib/vmware/lib/libgcc_s.so.1
/union/usr/lib/vmware/lib/libgcc_s.so.1/libgcc_s.so.1
/union/usr/share/ghostscript/8.15/Resource/CMap/HKgccs-B5-H
/union/usr/share/ghostscript/8.15/Resource/CMap/HKgccs-B5-V
/union/lib/libgcc_s-4.1.1.so.1
/union/lib/libgcc_s.so.1
/initrd/loopfs/home/guest/.kde/share/apps/RecentDocuments/gcc.html.desktop
/initrd/loopfs/lib/libgcc_s-4.1.1.so.1
/initrd/loopfs/lib/libgcc_s.so.1
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/gcc
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/gcc/i586-mandriva-linux-gnu
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/gcc/i586-mandriva-linux-gnu/4.1.1
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/gcc/i586-mandriva-linux-gnu/4.1.1/cc1
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/gcc-lib
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libcomphelp4gcc3.so
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libcppuhelper3gcc3.so
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libcppuhelpergcc3.so
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libcppuhelpergcc3.so.3
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libgcc3_uno.so
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libi18nisolang1gcc3.so
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libi18nregexpgcc3.so
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libi18nutilgcc3.so
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libjvmaccessgcc3.so
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libjvmaccessgcc3.so.3
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libsalhelper3gcc3.so
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libsalhelpergcc3.so
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libsalhelpergcc3.so.3
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libstlport_gcc.so
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libucbhelper3gcc3.so
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libuno_cppuhelpergcc3.so
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libuno_cppuhelpergcc3.so.3
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libuno_salhelpergcc3.so
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libuno_salhelpergcc3.so.3
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/ooo-2.0/program/libvos3gcc3.so
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/perl5/5.8.8/i386-linux/linux/compiler-gcc.ph
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/perl5/5.8.8/i386-linux/linux/compiler-gcc3.ph
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/perl5/5.8.8/i386-linux/linux/compiler-gcc4.ph
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/vmware/lib/libgcc_s.so.1
/initrd/loopfs/usr/lib/vmware/lib/libgcc_s.so.1/libgcc_s.so.1
/initrd/loopfs/usr/share/ghostscript/8.15/Resource/CMap/HKgccs-B5-H
/initrd/loopfs/usr/share/ghostscript/8.15/Resource/CMap/HKgccs-B5-V

but none of that is the gcc executable, right?

When I type "urpmi --update gcc" it says

unable to access hdlist file of "update_source", medium ignored
The following packages can't be installed because they depend on packages
that are older than the installed ones:
glibc-devel-2.4-4mdk
gcc-4.1.1-3mdk
Continue installation anyway? (Y/n)

Any ideas?

OK, your update source is not activated, that's defaulted in MCNLive.

Goto MCC, Software, and select the icon to edit your sources. Turn on the update flag (cross) for the update source, click apply, ok or whatever it is (maybe it will download some stuff).

Return to console and repeat what i wrote above.

Ok, that worked and I downloaded gcc. Now comes the next problem. The script says:

"What is the location of the directory of C header files that match your running
kernel? [/usr/src/linux/include] "

Then I typed "/union/usr/include/" (since /usr/src/linux/include doesn't exist on my system)

The response:

"The directory of kernel headers (version 2.6.17) does not match your running
kernel (version 2.6.17-8mdv). Even if the module were to compile successfully,
it would not load into the running kernel."

I tried various directories - apparently it must have a subdirectory linux and a file version.h - so I searched for version.h on the drive but there are only two directories that have both a subdirectory linux and a file version.h in it: /union/usr/include and changes/usr/include. Both of them yields the above error message.

Now remember I am running a LIVE system - which may have some implications.

Your help is much appreciated !

'urpmi kernel-source-2.6.17-8mdv'

When I type that then I get: "no package named kernel-source-2.6.17-8mdv"

Your update source is not yet configured as I said before.

The kernel-2.6.17.8mdv-1-1mdv2007.0.i586.rpm package is in the update source.

Goto MCC, Software, Bronnen selecteren: in de kolom updates, de source update aanvinken...

en dan opnieuw 'urpmi kernel-2.6.17.8mdv'

DOUBLE POST

Your update source is not yet configured as I said before.

The kernel-2.6.17.8mdv-1-1mdv2007.0.i586.rpm package is in the update source.

Goto MCC, Software, select sources; enable the update sources by ticking the checkbox in the update column...

and then again

'urpmi.update -a' (updates all sources lists)
'urpmi kernel-source-2.6.17.8mdv' (install kernel source) (it's ~ 52 MB)

Oh but wait...

Are you still running the live system, or are you running a full installed mandriva now...? i'm confused.

I am still on the live system as I said. That might make a significant difference...should I go ahead with your advice?

I did urpmi kernel-source-2.6.17.8mdv with the --no-install option just to see. The baby wants to download 238 MB !!!

In detail:
gcc-4.1.1-3mdk.i586
glibc-devel-2.4-7mdv2007.0.i586
kernel-source-2.6.17.8mdv-1-1mdv2007.0.i586
libncurses5-devel-5.5-1.20051029.4mdv2007.0.i586

Hey Chris, you seem to be the expert - want to give a second opinion on this?

It's very simple. If you can remaster the live system (i guess for a liveUSB setup) after doing everything, you'll be fine. But rebooting the live system without a remaster just resets everything you did.

I guess if you want to start playing with all this, you better make a real install on your harddisk from mandriva free edition, of mcnlive copied to your HD.

One thing you could try is install mcnlive to your harddisk (if you have free space), set it up as you want, and then remaster it back to a live.iso, just as is explained on mcnlive.org by kris:



I think this is the easiest to do if you want to make such drastic changes...

I'm happy to mess with the live system and do a remaster after I'm done without a hd install. No problem since there is no need to reboot. Unless a hd install is NECESSARY for all this - please tell me if that's the case!

Just - I wonder if this exercise will bloat my live usb by 238 M or if I can remove some or all of the downloads after vmware is installed. That would make quite the difference! Thanks for all your help Davos, I'll keep you posted.

On a HD install this would be a bit easier, but if you want to keep doing it with live, fine for me.
I THINK that after installing vmware, you can remove some stuff again.
What you have installed using urpmi package-name, can easily be removed using urpme package-name.

So... go ahead, try, make sure you have enough free disk to roll the remaster, and post your experiences here!!

THANK YOU! It worked, I got vmware to run. The gcc/kernel install wasn't 238 MB as announced but only about 60 MB were downloaded. And vmware worked after uninstalled it again, the total added "weight" compared to my previous remaster was about 50-60 MB, not too bad. I even managed to use the vmware converter to image my existing windows system and boot it under MCNlive! Quite the feat...

But....I won't use vmware. Firstly it runs really slow, at maybe 30-50% of the speed of the original system, the mouse really drags. Very disappointing and no comparison to Virtualbox which is fast. Secondly, it only recognised my external harddrive as USB 1 and transfer speeds were really slow. Thirdly, Virtualbox is FAR more user-friendly in terms of configuring your virtual machines, virtual disks, etc. etc. So....maybe others can try it and see if it works better since vmware is supposed to be fast and good! Unless the setup wasn't right. But it works fine, it's just slow. Maybe others can do the same and see what they get.

Thanks for all your help davo!

I am trying now to upgrade to Virtualbox full version - uninstalled OSE first and installed the full one, worked OK.

Now when I try to start a Virtual machine I get this error:


VirtualBox support driver version mismatch.
VBox status code: -11 (VERR_VERSION_MISMATCH).
Result Code:
0x80004005
Component:
Console
Interface:
IConsole {1dea5c4b-0753-4193-b909-22330f64ec45}

Maybe an issue of the old version not fully cleaned out. Can anyone help ?

I've just installed the Mandriva 2007.1 RPM of VirtualBox on my Mandriva 2007.1 RC1 system, without a hitch.
As for dependencies, it also installed libxerces-c0 ans libcalan-c0. Do you have those dependencies installed also?

denk dat je de kernel module niet gedeinstalleerd heb,

virtualboxOSE-kernel-2.6.17-?mdv-1.3.6-070221.2007mcnl.i586
of
dkms-VirtualboxOSE-1.3.6-070221.2007mcnl.i586.rpm

I solved the issue: uninstalled full version, searched all files for "virtualbox" and deleted them, re-installed full version, did new virtual machine. I didn't go for the 2007.1 version because I run 2007.0. But the compiling was no problem with the kernel and gcc stuff. By the way, I don't speak Dutch .

So....success! Virtualbox OSE to be honest is a bit of a ClosedBox because nothing you create in it can get out, unless maybe via the internet. The full version with usb support is great!

Yihaa!! I'm glad you got VMWare and VirtualBox Full (PUEL) running after all the efforts. You're really not giving up easily, which is good if you start tinkering with Linux.
I hope to see you more often here, whether you speak dutch or not

That's a feature! It is exactly what many users want when running a virtual machine: it should not communicate at all with the host.

Can you imagine, why?

Thanks, that indeed is a requirement for Linux. But the more you mess the more comfortable you get with it. Thankfully the same kernel downloads that VMWare needed also worked for Virtualbox, that was a relief .



Thanks, I'll be around, and I can try to guess Dutch as I am German . Are most of you from Holland? This forum has been very helpful thanks to you guys, that makes a big difference for me using MCNlive, and is a major reason for recommending it to others. Because - what good is a great Linux system if there is no newbie-friendly support?




Actually, now that you say it I agree, that is a feature that works really well for some purposes - depending what one wants to do.

Virtualbox runs very nicely, I don't understand why VMWare is so slow since it is supposed to be pretty much the best product and everyone talks about how fast it is supposed to be. I wonder if that is just an issue of running it on Mandriva, or on my remaster of MCNlive, or what it is. If more people would try it we would know...

I have tried to make an image of my C drive and then restore it under Virtualbox but the disk won't boot, maybe because the MBR contains partition information that differs from the virtual disk partition. Has anyone successfully tried something like that?